Peggy Kan Pui-kei
Speech Therapy Specialist, Division of Speech Therapy, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery & Institute of Human Communicative Research
15-Year Award
13 May 2026
Since joining CUHK in 2007, Peggy Kan Pui-kei has often felt as though she were living in a world of dreams, “rather like the story of Alice in Wonderland”. When she first arrived, she was a young woman who had just started working and felt uncertain about what lay ahead. With the encouragement of her team, she overcame one challenge after another, eventually growing into both a Clinical Coordinator and a Speech Therapy Specialist.
She was first drawn to work at CUHK by its picturesque campus. “Nestled against the hills and facing the sea, it is one of the best environments among the local universities,” she said. But what persuaded her to stay was the University’s distinctive culture of striving for excellence, a spirit that continually inspires people to improve themselves. “Our colleagues encourage one another, share openly and work collaboratively.” Over the years, this atmosphere has enabled her to keep stretching her limits and to carve out professional paths she had never imagined before.
Kan majored in psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. When she first joined CUHK, she served as a research assistant on an autism project within the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine. The Department was planning to expand the speech therapy division, so her then supervisor, Professor Kathy Lee Yuet Sheung encouraged her to pursue a career in the field. She was unsure whether she could handle the challenge. “But my supervisor and the team saw potential in me. Around that time, Hong Kong’s first master’s programme in speech therapy had just been launched, and they encouraged me to enrol.”
She switched to part-time work, balancing her studies with her professional duties. After completing her master’s degree, she not only took on private treatment and research support responsibilities within the Department, but also helped establish CUHK’s first Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology programme. Although the workload was demanding, her team was full of drive and determination, often working overnight together to meet pressing deadlines. They also possessed a remarkable can-do spirit. She still vividly remembers the difficulties they encountered when trying to secure practicum placements for students, with setbacks arising at every turn, she and her team worked together to overcome the obstacles. Gradually, the programme found its footing, expanding from 30 study places to 70 today, while the number of speech therapists in the team grew from 4 to 13.
Once the programme had been launched, Kan also had to take on teaching duties – a considerable challenge for someone who had long been afraid of public speaking. With the support and encouragement of two successive supervisors and her colleagues, she eventually found the courage to step beyond her comfort zone. The first cohort of students has now been practising for nearly six years, and some have even joined the team. “It is deeply rewarding to witness the torch being passed on,” she says. In addition to her already demanding workload, she has recently begun pursuing a PhD in Otorhinolaryngology and Communication Sciences at CUHK, continuing to equip herself for the future.
No matter how difficult the circumstances, every teammate supports the others and faces challenges with composure. “That is why we rarely feel discouraged,” says Kan. They share close bonds, meeting up socially outside work, including to play sports, and even travelling together; they also arrange a yearly retreat. When other organisations have tried to recruit her, Kan has politely declined. “I never forget where my opportunities came from. I am so grateful for the support and mentorship my supervisors gave me. CUHK’s culture has enriched me in so many ways, and the team is always willing to venture into unknown territory. Working here gives me an immense sense of fulfilment. Even after retirement, I would still like to continue contributing to CUHK in some other capacity.”
By Ella Cheung
Photos by Yau Hung-kee, courtesy of interviewees
