Dr Abraham Wai, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), is a dynamic force in the field of emergency medicine. His journey from specialist training to impactful research and innovative teaching has left an indelible mark on the healthcare landscape.

A Journey of Excellence:

Before joining HKU in 2017, Dr Wai honed his skills during specialist training at a teaching hospital. His commitment to clinical excellence led him to post-specialist service at the Hospital Authority Head Office and an emergency department. These experiences broadened his perspective on clinical service and its management, setting the stage for his impactful career.

Armed with external funding, Dr Wai spearheaded community health projects that resonate far beyond hospital walls. Revive-a-Life Programme (RALP), focusing on chest compression and automated external defibrillator (AED) use, lays the groundwork for future resuscitation education in secondary school curricula. Driven by empathy, Jockey Club Community Programme on Elderly Emergency Care (JCCPEEC) aims to enhance the health of Hong Kong’s elderly population. It equips caregivers, service providers, and seniors themselves with the knowledge and preparedness to respond effectively to stroke, heart attacks, and fall injuries. Its geragogic approach empowers seniors to become peer instructors and service providers.

Dr Wai firmly believes that doctors play a pivotal leadership role in society. In addition to his clinical service at HKU, he ventured into uncharted territory. Dr Wai’s commitment to public health leadership took him to Dali, Yunnan, where he facilitated enriching experiences for students. His passion for community engagement knows no bounds. Launching Common Core courses in population medicine and health policy, Dr Wai’s engaging approach attracted a surge of enrollment. His dedication earned him the Faculty Teaching Medal and the Early Career Excellent Teaching Award in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Real-World Data Research: A Lifelong Mission

Dr Wai’s research interests intersect with the urgent needs of emergency medicine and patient care:

1. Impact of Pandemics on Emergency Medicine Services and Individual Health;
2. Novel Medications in Emergency Medicine;
3. Data-Driven Decision-Making.

Dr Abraham Wai’s legacy extends beyond the classroom and the emergency room. His unwavering commitment to evidence-based medicine and compassionate leadership continues to inspire colleagues, students, and the broader healthcare community.

• Wai A, Wong D, Cheung R, Joynt G.Medical Law & Ethics in Hong Kong. Sweet & Maxwell,, 2016

• Rotheray KR1, Cheung PS, Cheung CS, Wai AK, Chan DY, Rainer TH, Graham CA. What is the relationship between the Glasgow coma scale and airway protective reflexes in the Chinese population? Resuscitation. 2012 Jan;83(1):86-9.

• Wai AK. Tintinalli’s emergency medicine: a comprehensive study guide 7th ed. [Book Review]. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012 Dec; 19(6):411

• Wai AK. Prehospital Trauma Life Support: 7th ed. [Book Review]. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012 Dec; 19(6):412

• Wai AK. Education at a crossroads. Emergency Physicians International. 2011:23-4

• Wai AK, Cattermole GN, Graham CA, Lo AD, Rainer TH. How much do Hong Kong emergency physicians know about common legal situations? J Forensic Leg Med. 2010 Feb;17(2):111-22009 (Poster presentation in Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Conference V, 2009, Valencia, Spain and Oral presentation in Scientific Symposium of Emergency Medicine 2009, Hong Kong. Awarded Best Oral Presentation) 

• Wai AK. Roberts and Hedges: Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine (5th edition) [Book Review]. Eur J Emerg Med. 2010 Dec; 17(6):358

• Wai AK, Chor CM, Lee AT, Sittambunka Y, Graham CA, Rainer TH. Analysis of trends in emergency department attendances, hospital admissions and medical staffing in a Hong Kong university hospital: 5-year study. Int J Emerg Med. 2009 Sep 8;2(3):141-8. 

• Wai AK, Kwok WO, Chan MS, Graham CA, Rainer TH. Patients’ perceptions of nasopharyngeal aspiration in a teaching hospital emergency department in Hong Kong. Emerg Med J. 2007 Jan;24(1):35-6.

• Wai AK, Graham CA, Rainer TH. Undergraduate Emergency Medicine Training in Hong Kong: The Past, The Present & The Future. Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine. 13(3):178-84, 2006.

• Wai AK, Cameron P, Cheung CK, Mak P, Rainer TH. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong: Descriptive study using the Utstein style. Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine. 12(3):148-55, 2005.