“This autobiography and lesson on medical ethics reveals how Professor Yuen has strived and overcome many adversities to complete his university education and work as a doctor in a public hospital, how fate has made him turn to an academic career and paved the way for him to become a clinician scientist to pursue research. With his curiosity, talents, perseverance, devotion, and excellent leadership he has made his team the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ for emerging infectious diseases. I must say he was the right person at the right time and the right place.

Despite his lifelong outstanding achievements, he is a modest person, well aware of his own shortcomings and attributes most of the credit to his teammates.”

—Professor Rosie Young Tse-Tse, former pro-vice-chancellor and senior pro-vice-chancellor, The University of Hong Kong 

Foreword by Professor David D. Ho ix

Preface xi

Life’s twists and turns take you to unimagined places

A Note on Romanization xiv

Chapter 1: Tiger Mom 1

Growing up poor, happy, and loved in cramped Hong Kong

Chapter 2: Mulberry Silkworm 10

A primary education of curiosity, reward, adventure, and growth

Chapter 3: Queen’s College 14

Exploring the galaxy and a magical world of ideas

Chapter 4: Searching for Bearings 23

Entering medical school and confronting challenges

Chapter 5: Distinction Viva 31

Learning the science and art of healing while making lifelong friends

Chapter 6: Living and Dying 39

Internship joy and heartache: Saving the ill, losing those you cannot

Chapter 7: United Christians 45

Internal medicine and Christianity: Duty calls and needy cases

Chapter 8: Operating Room 52

Scalpels and sutures: Putting lives back together again

Chapter 9: Patient Stories 60

Diagnosing, healing, and comforting: Days in the life of a clinician

Chapter 10: Ultimate Reality 66

Searching for a heart of wisdom

Chapter 11: Louisa 73

Nightmares, love, music, and back to Queen Mary

Chapter 12: Global Studies 86

Learning in the lab and around the world

Chapter 13: Detective Stories 95

Five cases: Finding clues, identifying suspects, solving mysteries

Chapter 14: Our Legacies 109

Looking back to see the way forward and focus on a mission

Chapter 15: SARS-CoV-1 121

Finding a new virus in the battle against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Chapter 16: Time Bomb 133

The perils for people from the animal kingdom

Chapter 17: Novel Microbes 145

Probing into the world of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites

Chapter 18: Rest in Peace 163

Remembering lives and deaths in the family

Chapter 19: COVID-19 167

A new virus, a new disease, and a response focused on containment

Chapter 20: The Fifth Wave 179

From zero-COVID to living-with-the-virus

Chapter 21: Moving On 191

Coping with adversities and building a global research network

Epilogue 206

Sapientia et Virtus

Acknowledgments 211

Appendix: Response to the Medical Council Complaint 215

References 236

About the Author 250