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Clarivate has named a record-breaking 32 researchers from HKUMed as ‘Highly Cited Researchers 2024’ today (19 November 2024). This accolade further affirms our steadfast commitment to innovation and excellence in medical and health research. Hong Kong has proudly secured its position as the 8th highest-ranking region globally, with 134 researchers recognised as Highly Cited Researchers (HCRs). Among them, 55 are HKU scholars, and HKUMed accounts for 58.2% of the HKU total (32 out of 55) and 23.9% of the Hong Kong total (32 out of 134), respectively. This research accolades highlighted HKUMed’s significant role in contributing to the city’s ascent into the global Top 10 and is yet another example of our global academic excellence and research prowess. Record number of HKUMed scientists named Highly Cited Researchers 2024 by Clarivate In economics, GDP per capita is an important indicator of economic prosperity. In the context of research impact, the number of HCRs per capita provides a likewise metric for global scientific and technological progress. In this regard, Hong Kong leads the world with the highest number of HCRs per capita, boasting an impressive 18.4 HCRs per one million population. As a major driver to this success, HKUMed ranked 8th globally, surpassing major countries / regions like Germany and France.[i] This underscores the extraordinary concentration of top researchers and eminent scientists among us in the Medical Faculty. I extend my heartfelt commendation to our scholars and researchers for their unwavering dedication and hard work! At the same time, members may have observed a proliferation of university rankings, with each ranking system emphasising different criteria and catering to diverse perspectives and purposes. For instance, the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) released most recently by Shanghai Ranking evaluates universities worldwide by subjects using a unique methodology. The six subjects applicable to HKUMed included Human Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medical Technology. Interestingly, HKUMed ranks 15th in the Public Health subject and >100 in Clinical Medicine. This stands in stark contrast with some university ranking systems which use more comprehensive metrics such as Times Higher Education (Clinical & Health) and QS World University Rankings (Life Sciences & Medicine), which respectively ranked HKUMed as 19th and 31st in the world in 2024 and consistently amongst the top medical schools worldwide years after years. It is therefore crucial to interpret such multi-faceted ranking results with a discerning eye. I will provide more details on the relevant rankings at the upcoming Dean & Heads Advisory Committee and Faculty Board meetings. HKUMed’s recent achievements, including our leadership roles in The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, as well as our membership in the World Health Summit Academic Alliance, have strategically positioned us to tackle new and emerging challenges. These successes not only advance Hong Kong’s health agenda but also allow us to make a substantial impact on global health.