Clinical Academic Team

Professor TONG Chi Fai Michael

Professor

Head of Graduate Division of Otorhinolaryngology and Communication Sciences

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Director

Institute of Human Communicative Research

 

Professor Tong, a clinical professor of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, as well as the Director of the Institute of Human Communicative Research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is specialized in the fields of otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. He was the chief of the Division of Otorhinolaryngology of the Department of Surgery from 2003 to 2007, the Head of Academic Divisions of the Department from 2007 to 2015, and the Chairman of the Department from 2015 to 2024.

Recently, Professor Tong has been pioneering the development of advanced endoscopic ear surgery techniques, medical robotics, and the application of artificial intelligence in medicine and technological tools for neurosciences. Paralleled with that, his interest has extended to the broader field of medicine, including epidemiology and public health, especially in elderly health. He is also a key member of the Brain and Mind Institute, the Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, the INNOHK Multiscale Medical Robotics Centre, and the CUHK T-Stone Robotics Institute.

Having led the relevant clinical research teams, Professor Tong has numerous successful grants and over 280 peer-reviewed publications, which have resulted in a national and international reputation for his department in the field of general otology, cochlear and auditory brainstem implantation, and nasopharyngeal cancer research. He has also been interested in developing technical innovations for minimally invasive surgery in otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery.

Professor Tong has been visiting globally as an educator for the past 30 years, sharing his clinical and surgical experience in hearing implants, endoscopic ear surgery, and related fields of the specialty. He has been a key leader in chairing international conferences and committees, and he co-founded the World Chinese Academy of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the sole notable organization to represent greater China for IFOS, the international ENT community.

Apart from teaching, research, and clinical work, Professor Tong advocates for community service to educate the public on health issues related to the ear, nose, and throat. As the Founder and Chairman of a non-profit organization, Hear Talk Foundation, since 2003, he has enlisted voluntary service from professionals to offer service to the underprivileged. The Foundation has operated regular charitable missions to mainland China to provide free medical and surgical treatment to the poor and surgical training to local specialists. Professor Tong has also established an organization, the Asia Pacific Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Training Group (APOST) since 2016, to train otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgeons in the Asia-Pacific region to foster specialty development in Asia through collaboration between academic and industrial partners. 

Academic and Professional Qualifications

  • MBChB (CUHK)
  • MD (CUHK)
  • Dip Epidemiology and Applied Statistics (CUHK)
  • Certificate from Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates in USA
  • FHKAM (Otorhinolaryngology)
  • FHKCORL
  • FCSHK
  • FRCS (Edin)
  • DLO (RCPI & RCSI)

RESEARCH AREA

  • Otology
  • Neurotology
  • Hearing Implants,
  • Skull Base Surgery
  • Robotics
  • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • Epidemiology and Public Health Education Especially in Elderly Health
  • Development of New Techniques of Minimally Invasive Surgery

HONORARY APPOINTMENT

  • Honorary Clinical Supervisor, Vocational Training Programme in Family Medicine, The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians
  • Honorary Consultant in ENT, New Territories East Cluster, Hosptial Authority
  • Honorary Consultant in ENT, United Christian Hospital, Hospital Authority
  • Honorary Consultant, Macau Oncology Association
  • Honorary Consultant in ENT, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of The Nanjing University Medical School
  • 深圳市龍崗中心醫院耳鼻咽喉 – 頭頸外科醫院名譽醫學顧問
  • 寧波市第二醫院耳鼻咽喉 – 頭頸外科名譽主任
  • 深圳市耳鼻咽喉研究所名譽副所長
  • Honorary Corresponding Member, Italian Society of Rhinology
  • Honorary Consultant, Department of Neurosurgery, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hospital Authority
  • Honorary Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong
  • Honorary Consultant, Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

  • Chairman of Board of Directors and Chairman of Executive Committee, Hear Talk Foundation
  • Member, Hong Kong Surgical Laser Association
  • Member, Hong Kong Medical Association
  • Member, Hong Kong Society of Sleep Medicine
  • Member, Georges Portmann Institute
  • Member, Hong Kong Society of Minimal Access Surgery
  • Education Committee Member, Hong Kong College of Otorhinolaryngologists
  • Overseas Scientific Committee Member, School of Otolaryngology, Capital Medical University
  • Honorary Consultant, Macau Oncology Association
  • Vice-President, Committee of Head and Neck Tumor Surgery, Chinese Anticancer Association
  • Member, Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum
  • Vice-Chairman and Council Member, World Chinese Academy of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
  • Member, Committee of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Shenzhen Medical Association
  • Consultant, Macao Association of Otorhinolaryngology
  • Honorary Consultant in Otorhinolaryngology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
  • Member, Hong Kong Voice Foundation
  • Member, Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association
  • Member, Hong Kong Convention Ambassador of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
  • Member, Committee of Charitable Outreach Programme, Union Hospital
  • Expert Witness, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
  • Honorary Consultant, Longgang Central Otolaryngology Hospital
  • Honorary Consultant in Otolaryngology, Ningbo No.2 Hospital
  • Vice Director, Shenzhen Otolaryngology Institute
  • Honorary Consultant, Musician's Clinic
  • Member, Federation of The Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organizations
  • Honorary Clinical Supervisor for the Vocational Training Programme in Family Medicine, Hong Kong College of Family Physicians
  • Honorary Coresponding Member, Italian Society of Rhinology
  • Member, Medical Advisory Board, Advanced Bionics Asia Pacific Ltd.
  • President, 內鏡與微創專業技術全國考評委員會,中國醫師協會內鏡醫師分會,世界內鏡醫師協會中國協會耳鼻喉科內鏡與微創專業委員會