Simon K Y Lee Professorship in Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology focuses on the digestive system and its disorders, including the stomach, the intestine, the liver and the pancreas. Digestive disorders are interlinked with nutrition, obesity, alcohol, the human microbiome, and many aspects of everyday life.

Professor Wai Kay Walter Seto, Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine, has dedicated his career to Gastroenterology research, especially with respect to chronic liver diseases. He has investigated on viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and liver cancer, with interdisciplinary collaborations in the fields of health economics, the gut microbiome, biotechnology innovation and artificial intelligence. At the time of endowment, he has published more than 300 research articles, including in the Lancet, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Global Health, Journal of Hepatology, Gut and Hepatology as leading author, has more than 130 invited lecture speakerships, and is ranked annually by Clarivate Analytics in the top 1% worldwide by research citations.

Professor Seto graduated in 2003 with MBBS from The University of Hong Kong (HKU). He obtained his specialist qualification in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2010. In 2012, he received his Doctor of Medicine, HKU and joined the University as a Clinical Assistant Professor, and was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor and Clinical Professor in 2016 and 2021 respectively. He received his Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (London) in 2016, as well as both Chief Physician (Guangdong Province) and the American Gastroenterological Association Fellowship in 2021.

On a professional level, he is currently the Assistant Dean (Interdisciplinary Collaboration) of the LKS Faculty of Medicine. He was previously the Assistant Hospital Chief Executive (Research) and Director, Clinical Trials Center of The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, having led efforts in securing National Medical Products Administration accreditation for conducting drug and medical device trials in the Hospital. He is also Vice-President of the Hong Kong Society of Gastroenterology, committee member of the World Gastroenterology Organization, and sits in multiple advisory panels of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporations. He has been awarded the HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award, the Guangdong Province Outstanding Young Medical Talent Award, and the Asia-Pacific Digestive Week Emerging Leader Award.

Above all else, he is blessed to be the husband of Kimmy, and the father of Grace, Daniel and Anna.