Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
City University of Hong Kong
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS)

News

  • 24 NOV 2023

    Research Team Earns 2nd Runner-up at 2023 Huawei Developer Competition with Innovative Livestock Farming Solutions

    Under the mentorship of Dr. Kai Liu and Dr. Kate Flay, our dynamic team of researchers made their mark at the 2023 Huawei Developer Competition - Asia Pacific, securing the 2nd Runner-up position.



    The team, including Mahejabeen Hossain Nidhi, Axiu Mao, Li Lyu, Zhaojin Guo, and Zheng He, showcased their innovative research on precision livestock farming at the event in Dongguan, China. Their presentation highlighted the use of cloud computing in creating practical solutions for livestock farming.

    This accomplishment underscores their technical prowess and pioneering spirit. Their work exemplifies how cutting-edge technologies can address real-world problems in animal health and welfare. We're immensely proud of their achievement and remain committed to fostering such innovative research. Join us in celebrating this significant milestone and stay tuned for more exciting updates from our team.


  • 26 SEP 2023

    CityU's Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme, the first dual accredited veterinary programme in Asia

    (Official news by the CityU JCC)

    CityU's first and only vet school in Hong Kong takes immense pride in receiving dual accreditation for the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).



    Dean Prof. Vanessa Barrs said, "We are thrilled to join the global network of AVBC and RCVS accredited schools. As the first veterinary degree in Asia to have dual accreditation, we also look forward to supporting and building strong collaborations with other schools in the region".

    This significant accomplishment reflects a vision that began in 2009, when former President Way Kuo instigated the first plans by signing an agreement with Cornell University. The journey to this point has seen many challenges, some seemingly insurmountable. Yet, the dedicated efforts of numerous individuals within and beyond the College has turned what might have seemed impossible into a remarkable reality.

    Gratitude is extended to all who have played a role in this historic achievement. The contributions and steadfast support of every individual have been instrumental in reaching this significant milestone.

    For CityU's press release, please click here.

  • 8 AUG 2023

    Professor Colin McDermott received 2022-2023 Veterinary Clinical Teaching Award

    The Veterinary Clinical Teaching Award acknowledges academic faculty with outstanding clinical teaching performance and promotes best teaching practices in the Department.

    With the highest Teaching & Learning Questionnaire (TLQ) overall score rated by the students, Prof. Colin McDermott is the recipient of this Award in the academic year of 2022-23.

    Congratulations to Professor McDermott on this well-deserved award!

  • 8 MAR 2023

    Veterinary Clinical Skills Team receives CityU Teaching Excellence Award 2022/23 for "Tech-to-Vet: Clinical Skills for Tomorrow's Vets"

    We are delighted to share that our Veterinary Clinical Skills Team has been selected as one of the three CityU Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA) recipients for 2022/23 for "Tech-to-Vet: Clinical Skills for Tomorrow's Vets" among 23 nominations.

    Big congratulations to the team represented by Professor Rebecca Parkes as team leader, and Professor Vanessa Barrs, Professor Gareth Fitch, Professor Kate Flay and Mrs Susanna Taylor as team members. We are all very proud of you and everything you have been doing for our students.

    Special thanks to all Clinical Educators, Scientific Officers and the Technical Team led by Tom Chan whom are always supporting us with our mission and are an integral part of the team. We also thank our PhD student Qiaochu Wang and BVM student Ruby Cheung for their contributions.

  • 10 JAN 2023

    Appointment of Head of Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

    We are pleased to announce that Professor Paulo MORTENSEN STEAGALL, currently Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, will serve as Acting Head of the Department from 5 January 2023. Professor STEAGALL is a specialist by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA).

    We would like to take this opportunity to record a vote of thanks to Professor Julia BEATTY for her contribution as Head of Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences over the past years.


  • 16 NOV 2022

    Official Opening of the CityU Farm in Lam Tsuen

    On November 16, the City University of Hong Kong marked the opening of the CityU Farm which currently houses 24 Jersey Heifers imported from Australia in September.

    Professor Vanessa Barrs, the Acting Dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, said the dairy farm will provide valuable learning opportunities for the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) students in animal handling, animal husbandry and bovine veterinary medicine.

    Visit our University and College webpages for more information.


  • 15 NOV 2022

    Professor Paulo Steagall awarded the World's Top 2% Scientist

    Professor Paulo Steagall is listed among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists in the latest report by the Stanford University, reflecting the high academic standard of our faculty and our excellent research performance.

    As a board-certified anaesthesiologist and pain management specialist, Professor Steagall is always committed to improve pain management in animals with a strong benefit to animal welfare.

    Professor Steagall and his team developed Feline Grimace Scale, a tool that uses changes in facial expressions to assess acute pain in cats.

    To learn more about his research work, please click here.

  • 14 NOV 2022

    Career Talk by Professor Angel Almendros & Professor Colin McDermott

    Organized by the CityU student organization Veterinary Medicine Society, Professor Angel Almendros and Professor Colin McDermott were invited to give a career talk to the BVM students to share their highlights and lowlights of their careers, including the pathway to get into their respective field and advice for prospective vets.

  • 31 OCT 2022

    Professor Alan McElligott (PH), Professor Kate Flay (VCS), and Dr Hannah Mumby jointly awarded HK$2M Lantay Conservation Fund for research project on buffalo

    We are delighted to share that Professor Alan McElligott (PH), Professor Kate Flay (VCS) and Dr Hannah Mumby have been jointly awarded a new grant of HK$2M from the Lantau Conservation Fund (LCF) for their 3-year research project of "The role of Buffalo in Lantau Biodiversity Conservation".

    The project aims to assess how the buffalo and their behaviours affect Lantau biodiversity and to assess how buffalo-human relations influence buffalo in their conservation role.

    For details, please click here.

  • 19 OCT 2022

    Professor Vanessa Barrs awarded the title of BOCHK Chair Professor of Veterinary Medicine

    We are proud to share that Professor Vanessa Barrs was awarded the title of BOCHK Chair Professor of Veterinary Medicine supported by the BOCHK Charitable Foundation, in addition to her current roles as Acting Dean and Director of Veterinary Affairs of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) and Chair Professor of Companion Animal Health and Disease in the Department of VCS.

    As the only female professorship holder, Professor Barrs was joined by 17 other outstanding faculty members representing One Health, Digital Society, Smart City, and Matter at the first-ever Inauguration Ceremony of Named Chair Professorships of CityU, officiated by Council Chairman and President, for the conferment.

    The Named Chair Professorship Scheme of CityU demonstrated the University's commitment to excellence in research and professional education for the benefit of society and the world. The Scheme is progressing very well thanks to the donors' staunch and generous support.

    As one of the generous donors, the BOCHK Charitable Foundation has been an active supporter for CityU in particular in contributing to the advancement of veterinary medical research and education. It is believed that the establishment of the Chair Professorship in Veterinary Medicine will help to promote public health, the study of zoonotic diseases and food safety in Hong Kong for achieving "OneHealth" for people, animals and the environment.

    For more information, please visit:
    - Professor Vanessa Barrs: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/vcs/staff/prof-vanessa-barrs.htm
    - The CityU Named Professorship Scheme: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/named-professorship/



  • 13 OCT 2022

    We support Green Living @ CityU 2022!

    The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) is implementing the 5Rs: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Restore, Recycle. We have signed up to the CityU's WasteSmart Money$mart Pledge, and the CityU Green Footprint Pledge to demonstrate our commitment to preserve a Bottled Water Free campus.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sustainability/.

  • 11 OCT 2022

    Professor Stefan Hobi awarded the ECVD Resident Support Award 2022

    We are delighted to share that our board-certified dermatologist Professor Stefan Hobi has been awarded the ECVD Resident Support Award 2022 in recognition for his contribution on the organization of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD) Resident Day, the resident care and the communication between the residents and the college.

    The ECVD, established in 1992, strives to provide the veterinary and profession general public with expert care for animals with dermatological diseases through residency trained European Specialists in Veterinary Dermatology.

    Congratulations to Professor Hobi on this well-deserved award!

  • 26 SEP 2022

    Review article on Pain Management in Farm Animals led by Professor Paulo Steagall being selected as candidate for the Animals 2023 Best Paper Award

    The review article "Pain Management in Farm Animals: Focus on Cattle, Sheep and Pigs" led by Professor Paulo Stegall has been selected as a candidate for the Animals 2023 Best Paper Award for Research and Review Articles.

    Commissioned by the WVA Animal Welfare group, the review highlights the critical issues of pain in husbandry practices and provide a roadmap to the future on how we can improve animal welfare for these animals. (Full article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8223984/)
    (Co-author: Dr Hedie Bustamante, Dr Craig B. Johnson and Dr Patricia V. Turner)

    To learn more on the Award, please visit: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/awards/1983.

  • 8 AUG 2022

    Collaborative equine welfare research funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club

    Assistant Professor Rebecca Parkes, an equine veterinarian with research interests in equine biomechanics and welfare, is collaborating on work funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation to enhance and promote equine care through academic research.

    Read the full story here.



  • 24 JUN 2022

    Chair Professor Vanessa BARRS awarded the World's Top 2% Scientist

    Chair Professor Vanessa Barrs is listed among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists in the latest report by the Stanford University, reflecting the high academic standard of our faculty and our excellent research performance.

    To learn more about Professor Barrs' research work, please click here.



  • 14 JAN 2022

    Chair Professor Vanessa BARRS named the recipient of The President's Awards 2021

    We are proud to share the news that our Chair Professor Vanessa Barrs has been named the Recipient of The President's Award 2021 along with other 6 outstanding faculty at the City University of Hong Kong, in recognition of their remarkable achievements in their respective academic arena in support of the University's enhancement and development.

    A big congratulations to Professor Barrs on this well-deserved Award!



  • 14 JAN 2022

    Clinical Associate Professor Stefan HOBI serves at the WAVD Administrative Committee

    Congratulations to Professor Stefan HOBI on his new role as the AiCVD Representative at the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology Administrative Committee.

    The Association has a mission to promote the worldwide advancement of veterinary dermatology, they also offer a series of free educational webinars for veterinary students and general practitioners: https://wavd.org/continuing-education/webinars/.



  • 1 DEC 2021

    Professor Kate Flay interviewed by the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation (HKALPO) on animal welfare

    Assistant Professor Kate FLAY is featured at the lateat "Tell Me More" instalment by the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation (HKALPO) to share her views on the animal welfare of feral cattle and buffalo.

    Read the full article here: https://www.hkalpo.com/news/tmm-understanding-ungulate-welfare



  • 4 NOV 2021

    Professor Rebecca Parkes awarded Fellowship of Higher Education Advance

    Assistant Professor Rebecca PARKES has been awarded the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in recognition of her attainment against the the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for teaching and learning support in higher education.

    Professor Parkes joined us in 2019 to pursue her passion for research and teaching, one of her current research projects focuses on the development of novel technologies for teaching clinical skills to veterinary students.



  • 12 JAN 2021

    Health and medical research funding for three Covid-19 projects

    Three projects at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have been granted $8.3 million in funding by the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) ...

    READ MORE  


  • 8 JAN 2021

    Professor Kate Flay joined VCS in January 2021

    Professor Kate Flay, Assistant Professor in Production Animal Health, joined the VCS team in January 2021. Kate comes to CityU from the Veterinary School at Massey University, New Zealand where she was Lecturer in pastoral livestock health. Kate's research program aims to improve the health, welfare and productivity of farmed animals. Hong Kong, typically known for its vibrant cityscape, is also home to cattle, buffalo and goats. Kate is developing JCCs ruminant ambulatory service to assist the local community as well as providing student learning and research opportunities.



  • 17 OCT 2020

    Opening of Clinical Skills Laboratory

    We are delighted to announce the opening of JCCs updated clinical skills laboratory, a project ably led by Assistant Professor Rebecca Parkes. The models and simulators in the lab allow students to practice skills from basic animal handling to surgery and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The unlimited opportunities for hands-on skills development before encountering live animals improves both student confidence and animal welfare. Our team is also actively involved in developing novel veterinary simulators and conducting pedagogical research to evaluate their effectiveness.



  • 9 APR 2020

    New Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

    The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) was established on 31st March 2020 in the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at CityU, Hong Kong...

    READ MORE