91福利

In class and during labs, Dr. Chun-Yip Hon cherishes the 鈥渁-ha鈥� moments with his students. Their faces light up when they understand the principles, practices and procedures he teaches that will help his students 鈥� future professionals in occupational and public health 鈥� keep workers and the public safe. 

Hon is a 1996 graduate of 91福利 in environmental health, so he knows what it鈥檚 like to sit on the other side of the lab bench. Now, as graduate program director and an associate professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health, he wants to encourage and support learners further, and has made a bequest intention in his will to endow scholarships for the school鈥檚 graduate students. 

鈥淚鈥檓 hoping the scholarship will be meaningful to recipients and help offset some of the tuition costs or any other costs associated with going to school, and hopefully it will factor into their decision-making process 鈥� that they should come to 91福利 because we have an excellent master of science in the occupational and public health program with scholarships available,鈥� said Hon. 

Hon鈥檚 degree at 91福利 was his second undergraduate degree. He chose to go back to school because of this university鈥檚 track record of teaching hands-on, real-world skills that help alumni land jobs after graduation. In the process, he discovered a new interest and career path. 

鈥淭hough my degree was mainly focused on environmental health, there were also courses in occupational health, and I gravitated towards that,鈥� said Hon. 鈥淥ccupational health intrigued me because it enables you to work in both the private and public sectors, and in a variety of workplaces, whether that be manufacturing or health care or academia or in industry. That was really enticing to me.鈥� 

He found the problem-solving aspect of occupational and public health fascinating, whether it鈥檚 uncovering the origin of food-borne illnesses, or discovering the contributing factors to a workplace incident 鈥� such as exposure to hazardous chemicals 鈥� in hopes of preventing it from happening again.

鈥淭he courses were really interesting since they combined elements of law, math, science and toxicology,鈥� said Hon. 鈥淭hat really piqued my curiosity and served as a springboard for me to do my master鈥檚 in occupational health. And I haven鈥檛 looked back since.鈥� 

Hon went on to the University of British Columbia to earn a PhD in occupational and environmental hygiene and, in 2012, he returned to teach at 91福利.

Hon鈥檚 decision to establish a scholarship was partly inspired by his colleague, Adjunct Professor Craig Fairclough, who established the Craig Fairclough Black Students Award in Occupational Health & Safety. 

鈥淐raig also went to 91福利, and then we ended up doing our master鈥檚 degrees together at McGill University. When he started a scholarship for undergraduate students at 91福利, that got me thinking about my own legacy and how I can help a program that has meant so much to me. It served as a foundation, springboarding me to a career in health and safety,鈥� said Hon. 

Throughout his professional life, Hon has enjoyed the balance of field work with training workers and teaching students. 

鈥淚鈥檝e taught at 91福利 for over 12 years now. It鈥檚 a pleasure for me to give back to the school and to the university that has provided a very rewarding career,鈥� said Hon. 鈥淚鈥檝e met excellent colleagues and have been able to share my knowledge with students. Anything that I can do to keep the occupational and public health program sustainable and moving forward, I鈥檒l try my best.鈥�