Theresa Tze-kwan Lai
Saint Francis University, Hong Kong, China
Research interests: palliative care, symptoms control, advance care planning, palliative home care and dying at home issues
Dr Theresa Lai graduated from the School of Nursing of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and received her Master of Nursing and Doctor of Health Science in Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has become a registered nurse, registered midwife, qualified aromatherapist (IFA), clinical hypnotherapist (IMDHA), advance care planning certified facilitator (Respecting Choices ACP), a fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing (Education & Research – Education) (Medical Nursing – Palliative), and specialized in palliative care.
As an experienced palliative care nurse with extensive training exposure in Hong Kong and United Kingdom, Dr Lai is an expert in handling terminally ill patients and their family members using holistic approaches. She has designed and delivered a range of nurse training programs at different levels and became a Convenor of Specialty Advisor Group (Palliative Care) of Hospital Authority. She was elected as chairperson (2015-19) and vice-chairperson (2019-now) of Hong Kong Palliative Nursing Association, vice-president of Hong Kong College of Medical Nursing and ex-council member of Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network. She was a Nurse Consultant (Palliative Care) of the Hospital Authority and the Head Nurse of the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care. She joined Saint Francis University (formerly Caritas Institute of Higher Education) in 2020, and became Associate Professor of Practice cum Program Leader of Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) in 2022. The current research interests of Dr Lai include palliative care, advance care planning, symptoms management, palliative home care and dying at home issues. She now focuses on program development, clinical research and service development of palliative care in Hong Kong.
Editorial Board
Terms of Appointment: April 2017 - June 2019; July 2019 - June 2021; February 2022 - January 2024; February 2024 - January 2026
