Medical pioneer restores hearts' rhythm

Dr Michael Lee Kang-yin
Consultant (Medicine) / Head of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

“Cardiologists work at a fast pace. We provide one-stop treatment to patients and build long-term relationships with them, bringing an unparalleled sense of challenge and satisfaction.” Dr Michael Lee Kang-yin recalls his original intentions of joining the cardiology specialty, and also his reasons to keep his passion for work for over 30 years.

“I feel happy every day going to work because I am able to restore patients’ weak heartbeat to normal.” The responsibility and accomplishment keep pushing him to improve medical services. Throughout his career, he has constantly introduced new technologies and medical equipment to Hong Kong, leading the cardiology team of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in unprecedented procedures. He performed the first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) in the Greater China Region in 2010, bringing hope to aortic stenosis patients, particularly the elderly people, who are not suitable for traditional open-heart surgery. TAVI is a minimally invasive procedure, in which an artificial bioprosthetic valve is inserted through a catheter in the thigh, increasing the survival rate.

Dr Lee proactively promoted the implementation of the 24-hour Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI) service. He designed and conducted test-run for the first cluster-based 24-hour PPCI service in Kowloon Central Cluster in 2018. “There was a teacher in his 40s who stepped on the brink of death due to cardiogenic shock in the early hours. He would have died without immediate intervention. Fortunately, surgeries were quickly arranged with the establishment of the PPCI service. One or two months after discharge from the hospital, the patient was able to resumed teaching, and even participated in a half marathon.” Dr Lee says. The PPCI service has expanded to other clusters in recent years, allowing more patients with acute coronary syndrome to be treated during the golden hours.

Dr Lee hopes to pass on the spirit of perseverance and innovation by nurturing the next generation. “Cardiology is a field where everyone is always prepared for emergencies. Don’t be afraid of hardship. The harder you work, the more you learn. After all, there is no profession other than doctor who can save a life by sacrificing two hours of sleep.”