Hong Kong’s healthcare system stands at a critical juncture as it witnesses the burgeoning of the Greater Bay Area. The city’s unique position as an international medical hub with deep connections to mainland China presents both challenges and opportunities for healthcare advancement. Professor Justin Wu’s distinguished career exemplifies the type of visionary leadership needed to navigate this complex landscape, demonstrating how Hong Kong can leverage its strengths while embracing regional collaboration.

Professor Wu’s journey illustrates the evolving nature of healthcare leadership in Hong Kong. After obtaining his medical degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and completing specialty training at Prince of Wales Hospital, Professor Wu’s early academic career took unexpected turns that would later prove pivotal in cultivating his comprehensive worldview. His research ventures into diverse realms of functional gastrointestinal disorders and traditional Chinese medicine—which initially seemed to be detours—proved valuable in his dedication to the development of integrative healthcare. These experiences laid the foundation for his later establishment of the Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine in 2013, which sought to bridge Chinese and Western medicine.

During his teaching years at CUHK from 2007 to 2012, Professor Wu recognised the growing importance of technology in medical education. Despite initially facing considerable scepticism within the field, he pioneered the Global Physician Stream programme to incorporate technological competencies into young physician training. This initiative highlighted his willingness to advocate innovative ideas even when they challenged conventional wisdom. His subsequent leadership roles, ranging from Director of CUHK Medical Centre to involvement in venture capital and non-governmental organisation boards, demonstrated his commitment to viewing healthcare as an interwoven ecosystem rather than isolated institutions.

The development of the Greater Bay Area presents unprecedented opportunities for Hong Kong’s healthcare sector. As a management consultant, Professor Wu has substantially contributed to international healthcare collaborations in the rapidly developing Qianhai area, helping to shape this special economic zone’s medical landscape. Notably, Prince Bay is emerging as Shenzhen’s new Central Business District, strategically located just 30 minutes from Hong Kong’s New Territories West. This area has the potential to become an extension of Hong Kong’s private healthcare sector and a testing ground for integrating medical technologies from both sides of the border.

Hong Kong’s healthcare system possesses distinct advantages that complement mainland China’s strengths. The city’s rigorous clinical training produces highly skilled specialists, and its hybrid healthcare model successfully combines universal coverage with private sector efficiency. Furthermore, mainland China excels in rapidly integrating research innovations into clinical practice, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence–driven diagnostics and large-scale clinical trials. The cost-effectiveness of advanced medical treatments in mainland China, such as cell and gene therapy offered at a fraction of Western prices, presents additional opportunities for collaboration.

Professor Wu’s leadership approach offers valuable lessons for Hong Kong’s medical community. His ability to connect diverse stakeholders—from clinicians to engineers to policymakers—mirrors Hong Kong’s historical role as a bridge between East and West. The paradigm of professional empathy that he champions transcends conventional didactic medical education, promoting interdisciplinary perspective taking as a catalyst for substantive innovation. This skill is gaining importance as healthcare becomes more multidimensional and as Hong Kong medical professionals engage with counterparts in the region and beyond.

Professor Wu’s career demonstrates how visionary leadership, coupled with practical collaboration, can translate the potential for integrated, innovative healthcare into reality. The challenge for Hong Kong’s medical community comprises embracing this opportunity while maintaining the city’s renowned standards of excellence, thereby ensuring that healthcare integration benefits patients throughout the region.