Is it an overnight camp?

No, it is not. The Surgical Taster Day spans two days as two day camps at the respective campuses of the two medical schools in Hong Kong. All activities for the day will end in the evening. Participants will not be provided with facilities for overnight stays.

Will I get a certificate from the activity?

Yes. Both participants and helpers will receive an official certificate from SSAHK as proof of their participation.

Can I join if I am an undergraduate medical student?

Unfortunately, you may not join Surgical Taster Camp as a participant. However, you are more than welcome to join the activity as a helper. We will begin recruiting helpers before the activity on Instagram, so please follow us @ssahongkong for the most up to date announcements. Our other activities such as the Careers Night and Surgical Workshops are targeted at medical students.

STC page

Surgical Taster Camp

The Surgical Taster Camp - the flagship event of SSAHK - is held annually over two days and across both the HKUMed and the CUHK campus. For many years, this event has engaged thousands of motivated secondary school students, offering them invaluable exposure to the experiences of medical students and surgeons. Through small-group workshops led by esteemed surgeons and volunteers from Hong Kong’s two medical schools, participants gain practical training in clinical skills and advanced suturing techniques.

STC is tentatively scheduled to take place on November 7-8 this year. Applications are expected to open in around late September to early October, and the link to the application form will be available in our Instagram bio as well as our website.

Open to F.4-6/Year 11-13 secondary school students.

Applications CLOSED

Highlights

Experience life as a medical student

You will enjoy the 2-day event at HKUMed and CUHK campuses. Led by students from both medical schools, you will have a try at a PBL session which is part of the HKU MBBS curriculum. Moreover, you will explore the human anatomy with a variety of specimens, as well as the vast campus of CUHK (including various canteens!) during campus tracing.

Bond with students, doctors and professors

As a part of Surgical Taster Camp, practicing doctors and surgeons are invited to share about their passion and work in an interactive manner. You will have a chance to hear from surgeons from diverse backgrounds and raise questions regarding the career paths and everyday routine.

You will also meet a lot of like minded students who are as passionate about medicine as you!

A hands-on practice of clinical skills

The knot-tying and suturing workshop is a hands-on tutorial on various surgical techniques. You will have the chance learn from practicing surgeons in a small group setting.

In the clinical skills session, you will learn basic clinical skills, from using a stethoscope, to manually measuring blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer, and even carrying out ECG heart assessment!

Testimonials

Esther (CUHK MBChB 2027)
Surgical Taster Camp Participant

During the Surgical Taster Camp, I became close friends with my Joba/Joma (group coordinators) who are current medical students from HKU/CUHK. This experience gave me insight into the lives of medical students in Hong Kong; and prepared me for my studies now at CUHK Medicine.

If you are a secondary school student interested in studying medicine, I highly recommend you join this event!

Nicole (CUHK MBChB 2029)
Surgical Taster Camp 2022 Participant

Before the camp, I did not know much about surgery and thought only medical knowledge is emphasised. Yet, the camps opened doors of opportunity for me to understand the dextrous handiwork surgeons do. It was eye-opening to learn suturing and clinical skills! Having had a taste of PBL, my understanding in both medicine and surgery deepened. I defintely recommend secondary school students joining this event!

STC Even Details

Sample Timetable & Details

Day 1 @ CUHK

Time	Activity
08:45-09:00	Registration
09:00-09:45	Ice Breaking
09:45-10:30	CUHK Faculty Professor Sharing Session
10:30-12:45	Campus Tracing
12:45-14:00	Lunch
14:00-15:45	Basic Surgical Workshop
15:45-17:00	Human Anatomy Workshop
17:00-18:45	Basic Life Support Workshop
18:45-19:00	Debriefing and Dismissal

Day 2 @ HKU

Time	Activity
08:45-09:00	Registration
09:00-09:45	Curriculum Talk
09:45-10:30	HKU Faculty Professor Sharing Session
10:30-11:45	Mock PBL and Bioethics Tutorial
11:45-13:00	Lunch
13:00-14:30	Jeopardy and Laparoscopic simulation
14:30-16:00	Advanced Surgical Workshop
16:00-17:30	Clinical Skills Workshop
17:30-19:00	Closing Ceremony

*details subject to change

Frequently asked questions

General

Application