Dr. Sum P. Lee Receives
2010 AASLD Distinguished Achievement Award
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the leading international organization of scientists and healthcare
professionals for preventing and curing liver disease, has selected Sum-Ping Lee, M.D., Ph.D., to be the recipient of their 2010
Distinguished Achievement Award. Dr. Lee, currently Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong,
was an active member of our GI Division for 23 years (1985-2008) and was the Cyrus E. Rubin Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of
Gastroenterology from 1995 to 2007.
Dr. Lee graduated from the University of Hong Kong and has an illustrious career spanning Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, the UK,
and the US. This Award recognizes his prolific multidisciplinary research on hepato-biliary (patho)physiology, that includes the biochemistry
of bile secretion, the physical chemistry of biliary lipids, and the cell biology of the biliary epithelium, all correlated with clinical
observations in patients suffering from biliary diseases and gallstones. Dr. Lee has also served as an advisor to editorial boards of several
major scientific journals, as well as to national and international research funding agencies. Besides the AASLD, Dr. Lee has also received
recognition awards from the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the World Congress of
Gastroenterology.
While Dr. Lee is recognized internationally for the impact of his research, our Division will remember him as a visionary leader, inspiring
colleague, and generous mentor. Three faculty members in our Division, fortunate enough to be his mentees, have the following testimonials
on this occasion:
Testimonials
“We were very fortunate to be able to witness first-hand his extraordinary scientific prowess and creativity. Despite his many accomplishments,
Dr. Lee was always humble and generous, guiding us patiently as we negotiated the many challenges inherent in the scientific enterprise.
He served as the consummate model of the ideal physician-scientist: philosophical to a fault; deeply caring for the welfare of his colleagues,
his trainees, and his patients; and breathtakingly innovative in his thinking.”
“I will always remember Dr. Lee’s generosity. He was generous with his time, generous with his advice and generous with his ideas, which still
drive our research group. In the Division, he put everybody’s interests before his own, everyone’s problems were his problems, and he still
managed to have a smile always on his face. He is a fearless visionary, a philosopher of life and science, and an eternal optimist and I am
sure that his best work is still to come.”
“Sum inspired me to choose a career in academic gastroenterology and has provided invaluable mentorship from the time I started as a fellow.
He has wonderful insight into the needs of his trainees and junior faculty. He provided thoughtful guidance and support through all stages of
my career. He knows when to give advice and when to step back and allow his junior colleagues to follow their own paths. He is a wise and
thoughtful leader and mentor. In his time as Division Chief, he brought about tremendous growth in the gastroenterology division, strengthening
and invigorating basic science and clinical research, and clinical care. Yet, I believe his true legacy is in the leadership and mentorship he
has provided to fellows and junior faculty over the years, asking and expecting the best from those around him, and helping us to succeed.”
Please join me in applauding our former colleague and leader on the occasion of this most deserved honor.
Toan Nguyen, M.D.
Professor of Medicine & Acting Head, GI Division