Henry and Sylvia Wong, both alumni of McMaster University, have established the Henry and Sylvia Wong Forum in Medicine. This innovative annual forum aims to advance research and public education in medicine.
Henry was a member of McMaster’s medical school’s second graduating class in 1973. He is now a radiation oncologist in California.
His wife, Sylvia, graduated in psychology with a minor in sociology in 1969. She also worked in the Health Sciences library during her time at McMaster.
The couple’s motivation for establishing this forum stems from their desire to give back to the university that provided them with an exceptional education and enjoyable experiences. They recognize McMaster as one of the best schools globally and wanted to create an annual lecture that would enhance the university’s impact in the field of medicine.
The Henry and Sylvia Wong Forum in Medicine serves as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the advancement of medical research—a testament to the Wongs’ commitment to their alma mater and the pursuit of excellence in healthcare education and practice.
The forum provides a platform for physicians, nurses, medical and graduate students, and other healthcare professionals to exchange ideas and foster research collaborations. In subsequent years, the forum will include both an academic talk and a public lecture on current medical research issues.
“Dr. and Mrs. Wong are giving us the opportunity to bring in an eminent practitioner or researcher to talk shop with a group of physicians, nurses, medical and graduate students as well as other health care professionals. This will promote the exchange of ideas, as well as the development of new research collaborations.”
John Kelton, dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine
The inaugural seminar featured Dr. Harvey Alter, a prominent figure in hematology. Dr. Alter, chief of the immunology section at the National Institute of Health, discussed the Natural and Unnatural History of Hepatitis C Virus Infection.
You can read more about this new forum and its inaugural seminar here.