INTRODUCTION TO DR PAUL LEE
Dr Lee graduated from HKU in 2006. After graduating, he joined Queen Mary Hospital as a trainee, then an endocrinologist. Since 2015, Dr Lee has rejoined HKU as a clinical professor, specializing in endocrinology.
DAY IN LIFE OF DR LEE
Dr Lee’s day begins at 7 am, earlier than most students in fact. The majority of his work is based on research, especially clinical research. Besides, he does rounds with junior doctors like other senior doctors, as well as outpatient and consultation work.
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their related diseases, such as diabetes, menopause, and thyroid problems. Dr Lee admits that one of the reasons why he became an endocrinologist is that he is not good with his hands, hence abandoning the idea of becoming a surgeon. His interest in endocrinology arises from secondary school biology, where he would be invested in the endocrine system. Another reason is his love of communication with patients. “I like talking, and so do some of the patients. It’s important to let them know that they are not alone in this journey,” Dr Lee says. Last but not least, endocrinology is intertwined with other branches of medicine, requiring more critical thinking and analyzing skills, which is what Dr Lee enjoys doing.
CHALLENGES
Dr Lee believes that most of the challenges he faces are from clinical research rather than the patients. “Research is difficult because it is to discover something new. A lot of the time, our hypothesis may not match the results of the clinical study. It takes work to find out what’s wrong and make adjustments,” Dr Lee states.
TREATMENT FOR DIABETES
In the past 10 years, the treatments for diabetes have been advancing, getting more personalized and varied. Injecting insulin is a huge part of treatment, but the amount is adjusted by endocrinologists according to the patients’ conditions. The hardest part of treatment is to explain to patients with no symptoms of diabetes, especially those who are still young and strong, as most of the ‘evidence’ is simply numbers. “It takes a lot of talking and explanation to convince those patients to go into treatment as early as possible,” Dr Lee admits.
WORDS TO FUTURE MED STUDENTS
Like other doctors we have interviewed, Dr Lee advises students to experience more before making any important career decisions. He suggests students apply for clinical attachments so as to understand different fields of study.