Professor Gabriel Leung of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has been elected a member of the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM), an achievement that is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Leung is dean of medicine, inaugural Helen and Francis Zimmern Professor in population health, and chair professor of public health medicine at HKU.

Leung has been elected to the NAM for his leadership in global health and medical education, and contributions to infectious disease epidemiology and control. A leading epidemiologist and global health expert, Leung’s previous work includes defining the epidemiology of two novel viral epidemics: SARS-CoV in 2003 and H7N9 avian influenza in 2013. In 2009, Leung also led the Hong Kong government’s efforts against H1N1 pandemic influenza.