UCT pathologist scoops top award

Top marks: Dr Hue-Tsi Wu has won the Coulter Medal from the College of Medicine of South Africa.

Dr Hue-Tsi Wu's excellent results in the Fellowship examination of the College of Pathologists of South Africa have earned him the prestigious Coulter Medal from the College of Medicine of South Africa.

The Taiwanese-born pathologist received top marks when he wrote exams in anatomical pathology in 2009, part of his studies towards a Master's of Medicine degree.

"I am very grateful to receive the Coulter award and hope I will live up to its name by striving for excellence in the teaching, research and practice of pathology," he said.

Wu said he had received a number of accolades before, but none as prestigious as the Coulter Medal. These include two Professor Kallichurum prizes for best oral presentation at the PathTech Congress in Durban last year, and at the 47th International Academy of Pathology Conference in Bela Bela in 2007.

His work centres on diagnostic surgical and cytopathology at Groote Schuur Hospital, and teaches undergraduates at UCT's Facutly of Health Sciences.

For his success, Wu thanked his colleagues and staff at the laboratory, as well as his "mentors", Professors Dhirendra Govender and Helen Wainwright, Dr Maureen Duffield, Dr Deryck Taylor, Dr Komala Pillay, and Dr Michael Locketz.

"Without them I would never have come as far as I have."