Alumni Profile: Valerie Chu’s Story
Our alumni go on to make a real difference in the world. Whether it is through academic positions, leadership in international settings or influential positions in the private sector, we are proud of the impact our former students make.
We recently caught up with alumna Valerie Chu, one of our international graduates who studied the Master of Chiropractic MChiro course, to hear what she’s been doing since graduating from AECC University College.
Valerie graduated in 2009 and currently practices in Hong Kong. She tells us more:
Photo: Valerie Chu
Life Since Graduating
Can you tell us about your career since graduating?
“For the past 13 years, I have been practicing as a medical director for New York Medical Group, a member of EC Healthcare, which is one of the largest non-hospital medical service providers in Asia and is publicly listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange (HKEX.2138).
“I have also been serving as a member of the executive committee of the Chiropractic Doctors’ Association of Hong Kong (CDAHK) since 2013.
“In 2020, I was elected as the Chair of the Hong Kong Chiropractors Council (HKCC), the statutory body in Hong Kong which governs all matters relating to the practice of chiropractic, a position which I’m still currently serving.
“Most recently in 2023, I received an invitation to join the Medical & Health Committee, Council of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau, to promote chiropractic in Mainland China.”
What is your biggest professional achievement?
“Having the honour to be elected as the Chair of the HKCC is definitely my biggest professional achievement to date. Not only have I been able to take part in steering the development of the chiropractic profession here in Hong Kong, but also managed to bring awareness to the Central Chinese Government.
“This year, I visited the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China as a chiropractic representative and formally introduced what our profession is all about. This was a certainly a huge step for our profession in the China region.”
A Rewarding Profession
What’s the most rewarding thing about your work and how do you make a difference?
“I think the most rewarding part of my work is being able to enhance the public image of chiropractic via my role as an executive committee member of CDAHK. It is always great to see the increasing acceptance of the chiropractic profession by the general public, and I’m not talking not only about the increasing of patient pool, but also to other healthcare professions such as medical doctors, dentists, Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, physios, and occupational therapists etc.”
Is there a message that you would like to get out there to a student from Hong Kong thinking of studying chiropractic?
“You won’t ever regret becoming a chiropractor as you will gain great satisfaction from being able to treat and educate people about spinal health.
“Hong Kong provides one of the best environments for practicing chiropractic in the world, both chiropractors and patients are very well protected under the law of Hong Kong and you will definitely have a sense of pride being able to practice here in Hong Kong.”
Fond Memories from AECC UC
What is your fondest memory of AECC?
“The AECC friendship! I still keep in touch with my classmates all currently spread around the world. I think the bonding between us all is irreplaceable, we worked hard and played hard together like a team of warriors.”
Photo: Professor Lesley Haig, Valerie Chu and Philip Dewhurst at the WFC Biennial Congress in the Gold Coast, Australia in October 2023.
