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5 minutes with Rocky Cheung

Dr Rocky Cheung is a Senior Lecturer in Anatomy Education and winner of the student-nominated Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine Staff Award for Innovation in Teaching 2025. We caught up with Rocky to hear what the award means to him and how he plans to continue innovating, using technology to support anatomy teaching.

What does it mean to you to have won this award?

Winning this award in my first year at King’s is beyond my wildest imagination. I am truly grateful for the recognition and support both from my students and from the Faculty in nominating and shortlisting me. It underscores the positive impact I have had on my students, and gives me confidence to build on what I have already done, and to explore other ideas. I will use this award as a drive and impetus to continue innovating in my teaching approach with the aim of hopefully benefiting more students in the future.

What’s next for you in this area?

Teaching innovations are about creating effective learning environments for students. One thing that I would like to explore is using technology that can enhance visualisation of structures and improve understanding in functional anatomy, for example, 3D printed models. By combining these models with dissection, I will aim to create a more inclusive learning environment that helps maximise students’ engagement and knowledge acquisition.

What do you see as the strengths of our Faculty? What makes us distinctive?

I believe there are many colleagues in the Faculty who share a passion for education and a desire to deliver high-quality teaching to our students. Not only do we value methods that have stood the test of time, but we are also open to exploring the potential of new methods and approaches.

Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?

I initially set out to pursue a career in medicine and was fortunate to gain admission to medical school. However, I left at the end of my second year due to unsatisfactory exam results. Subsequently, I took steps to become a specialist in anatomy, which turned out to be the best decision I could have made! I discovered that teaching and discussing anatomy was my true passion. I completed my BSc, took a career break for a year before continuing to earn my MSc.

I then pursed my PhD in anatomy education at the University of Hong Kong and was fortunate enough to be employed as an assistant lecturer halfway through, giving me experience in teaching and other relevant duties. After finishing my studies, I returned to the UK and worked at Lincoln Medical School and at the University of Bristol before moving to King’s College London in August 2024. I mainly teach human anatomy and do research on various aspects of anatomy education, including technology-enhanced learning and outreach, and public engagement.

What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?

Learn to prioritise and stay humble

What do you do with your time outside academia/work?

I love playing football and enjoy watching many different sports. I love building Lego and reading crime thrillers as well.

What are you most looking forward to in the next academic year?

Getting involved in other programmes and teaching other student cohorts, expanding my research profile, getting involved with outreach and public engagement and continuing to deliver high-quality anatomy teaching.

What is your favourite part of your role?

Interacting with students in lectures and practical classes and witnessing those light bulb ‘ah ha’ moments.

QUICK-FIRE:

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Most-used emoji: the 'see-no-evil' monkey emoji with its hands covering its eyes🙈 

Three words your friends would use to describe you: loyal, kind, supportive

The superpower you would choose if you could: teleportation

 

 

In this story

Rocky Cheung

Rocky Cheung

Senior Lecturer in Anatomy Education

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