[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Wongs.jpg” caption=”Henry and Sylvia Wong”]While Henry Wong was becoming a physician at McMaster's medical school, his wife Sylvia, who had graduated in psychology with a minor in sociology in 1969, worked in the Health Sciences library.

Their tribute to their alma mater is the Henry and Sylvia Wong Forum in Medicine, an innovative annual forum for the advancement of research and public education in medicine, being held for the first time today.

The inaugural seminar will be given by a U.S. leader in the field of hematology. Harvey Alter, who is chief of the immunology section of the department of transfusion medicine of the National Institute of Health, will talk on the Natural and Unnatural History of Hepatitis C Virus Infection. The session will be held from 12-1 p.m. in Rm. 3020 of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery.

Alter has been a leader in the improvement of blood safety and his investigations have been instrumental in the virtual elimination of transfusion-associated hepatitis. For his groundbreaking work as a clinical scientist he has received many awards including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the 2000 Lasker Award for clinical medical research.

John Kelton, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences and dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, said alumni sponsorship of new academic endeavors is very important to the enhancement of the University's programs.

“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,” he said. “This will promote the exchange of ideas, as well as the development of new research collaborations.”

In subsequent years, the forum speaker will also give a public lecture geared to current public issues and interests in medical research, as well as the academic talk.

Wong said the couple wanted to set up the forum in repayment of both the education and enjoyment they had as McMaster students.

“McMaster is one of the best schools in the world,” said Henry Wong, who was a member of the medical school's second graduating class of 1973. He is now a radiation oncologist in California.

“I really enjoyed the problem-based learning method, where we used our leaders as resources, and studied on our own and with the help of fellow students in small groups. Tutorials were fun. It really is the best way to learn.

“We wanted to set up an annual lecture that would enhance our university.”