幕後功臣系列：史大齡 Backstage Hero Series: Arthur E. Starling

香港中文大學設立醫學院的建議早於1974年在立法局通過，由於經濟不景，直至1976年大學始委任醫學教育諮詢委員會，協助大學訂定醫學課程大綱及籌建醫科大樓。在整個籌劃過程中，特別是基本醫學大樓及臨牀教學醫院的工程編排管理、醫療設備及環境配套，還有人手編配、與政府或大學各部門的接洽工作等，首任醫學院策劃主任史大齡先生都擔任著重要角色。

史大齡在倫敦南部出生，畢業後一直從事醫院行政工作。1958年11月，初次踏足香港，加入醫務衛生署1，1969年起擔任醫務衛生署總院務主任，至1977年2月1日正式加入中大，獲聘為醫學院策劃主任至1987年8月1日退休，伴隨醫學院十載。

1978年時任醫學院院長蔡永業教授與精通法語的史大齡被安排到英國及法國，參觀當地教學醫院，以制定中大醫學院的發展及配備所需。令史大齡印象最深刻莫過於諾定咸大學醫學院，該醫學院與中大醫學院的成立背景極其相似，也是當地首個由政府和大學聯合策劃及發展的教學醫院項目。

1980年10月政府確定即將落成的沙田威爾斯親王醫院為中大的教學醫院。1981年中大招收第一批醫科生，1982年1月李卓敏基本醫學大樓開幕。1982/83年度是醫學院艱鉅的一年，因為教學醫院建築工程的延誤，嚴重影響第一屆醫科生的實習安排，幸好得到九龍醫院和聯合醫院的支持，臨床實習的安排問題才得以解決，特別是聯合醫院表現出與中大醫學院聯繫的熱誠。由於該院原非教學醫院，大學只得利用醫院前的空地，擺放租用的貨櫃充當研討室、教授辦公室、學生休息室及洗手間，這段臨時教室的日子直至1984年5月威爾斯親王醫院全面投入服務才得以終結。

中大醫學院今年迎來四十周年，回顧這些年來的成就，實有賴一眾教職員、學生、校友努力和各界熱心人士的支持。

The Hong Kong Government published the white paper on the Further Development of Medicine and Health Services in 1974, which approved CUHK to establish the Faculty of Medicine. Due to the economic recession, the Medical Academic Advisory Committee was set up in 1976 to advise the University on curriculum outline, medical teaching building requirements, and staffing.

Through the whole project, Mr. Arthur E. Starling, the Planning officer of the Faculty of Medicine, played an important role, especially in preparing schedules of accommodation, supervising building works, ordering and installing equipment, and liaising with Government sectors, University departments and non-Government agencies.

Born in South London, Arthur Starling started his career in hospital administration in his early days. After years of experience in England and British Guiana (now Guyana), he joined the Hong Kong Government Medical & Health Department in late 1958, and promoted as the Chief Hospital Secretary of Medical & Health Department in 1969. He joined the University since 1977. He looked after the growth of the Faculty of Medicine for a decade till his retirement in 1987 summer.

In 1978, Starling and Faculty Dean Professor Gerald Choa visited a number of medical schools in the United Kingdom and France to see the latest developments of medical education. The Medical School of the University of Nottingham caught their attention, because its background was similar to the establishment of CUHK medical school. For example, both were the first local university medical school project collaborating with Government health department to build, design, equip and commission of a new hospital specifically designed as a teaching hospital. Many issues which University of Nottingham had experienced could be shared.

In 1980, the Government approved the teaching hospital to be known as the Prince of Wales Hospital. In 1981, intake of the first batch of students took place and a year later, Choh-Ming Li Basic Medical Sciences Building was fully operational.

The faculty faced a crisis in 1982 when the construction delay of teaching hospital affected clinical training for the first batch of medical students. Fortunately, with the support from Kowloon Hospital and the United Christian Hospital the problem was solved. The University was impressed by the level of helpfulness from the United Christian Hospital and its passionate staff. To fulfil the needs of a “University Centre”, cargo containers became temporary faculty offices seminar rooms and rest rooms, until 1984 when the Prince of Wales Hospital went into operation.

The achievements which the faculty have accomplished today, rely on the hard work of teaching staff, students and alumni, and support from the public. This year is the Ruby Jubilee of the CU Medicine, let’s commemorate.

參考資料：
中大醫學院四十周年網頁 Website of the CU Medicine 40^th Anniversary
Starling, A. E. The Chance of a Lifetime : The Birth of a New Medical School in HongKong. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1988. Print. 
Report of the Medical Development Advisory Committee, 1973. Hong Kong: Govt. Printer, 1973. Print., 1973

李卓敏基本醫學大樓平面圖 
Site Layout Plan of the Choh-Ming Li Basic Medical Sciences Building

蔡永業院長致送紀念牌予聯合醫院院長巴治安醫生，
以紀念聯合醫院暫借作中大臨牀教學醫院之用
Faculty of Medicine founding Dean Prof. Gerald Choa handing a plaque to
Dr. E.H. Paterson, Medical Superintendent, United Christian Hospital,
to express appreciation for support from the hospital

貨櫃內的臨時講室
Temporary seminar room in a cargo container

立法局議員黃夢花有關香港醫療服務與醫生問題的講稿(1974)
Speech by legislator Dr. Denny M.H. Huang
on Hong Kong medical services and doctors training

中大醫學院醫學教育諮詢委員成員: (左起)陳鈞潤先生, 傅禮修爵士, 顏諾德爵士,
杜達雲爵士, 蔡永業教授, 施德若敎授, 史大齡先生
Medical Academic Advisory Committee members: Mr. Andrew Chan,
Sir A.P. McEwen Forrest, Sir Melville Arnott, Sir William Trethowan,
Prof. Gerald Choa, Sir Charles Eric Stroud, Mr. Arthur Starling