Professor Bruce Ransom sets up new Neuroscience department at CityU Professor Bruce Ransom, renowned American neurologist and an avid mineral collector, had planned to study geology. But when he accidentally stumbled into neurology back in his early days at the University of Minnesota, he came to see another path of life ahead of him.
in his life in Hong Kong by establishing a new Department of Neuroscience under the Jockey Club of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC). The new department will be developed based on JCC Department of Biomedical Science’s existing faculty, which has many neurologists from around the world.
As he recalled, “The brain is the most amazing part of human body, for it dictates how your arms and legs move, and how you develop a certain skill. Even if you had studied law all your life in the UK, you will find yourself facing a totally different legal system in China. That’s because these rules are created by humans. The brain, on the contrary, stays exactly the same regardless of race or nationality. I liked that absolute certainty – Holy smoke, I fell in love with it immediately!”
“There are currently 8 to 9 neurologists at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, all of whom are outstanding, passionate and young scholars. Their remarkable profile was what made me accepted CityU’s invitation back then. Some of them will transfer to the new Department of Neurology while I will keep recruiting international experts. I expect we will have 20 to 25 faculty members.” According to Professor Ransom, these scientists aren’t only focused on research. They are also educators who are dedicated to nurturing the young generation. They will join hands to design a unique neurology degree programme, which he expects will take 3 to 4 years. Master and PhD programmes in neurology will also be provided in the long run.
After obtaining his PhD degree in neurophysiology from the Washington University School of Medicine, Professor Ransom taught at Stanford University and Yale University. In 1995, he helped to found the Department of Neurology for the Washington University School of Medicine, with a faculty of 85 professors at its peak, where he worked as a professor for 24 years.
A veteran educator with more than half a century’s experience, Dr Ransom said it takes an institute sweat and blood to establish a new discipline. The key is the vision and mission of the university management. He recalled, “When I first discussed this project with CityU, I could feel everyone’s passion and dedication to bring this university forward. The president and the provost were very eager to build this new department. It was hard to resist.”
Designing the CityU Neuroscience bachelor degree curriculum Having taught neurology at the Yale University and the University of Washington for years, Professor Ransom had students that came from around the world. In July, 2019, he embarked on a new chapter 賽馬會動物醫學及生命科學院 I 2020 春季
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