After qualifying as a doctor at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1981, Robert Cocks trained in accident and emergency medicine in London and Manchester before taking up a post as consultant/senior lecturer at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, in 1990. During his 5 years at the Hammersmith, he developed an active immediate care scheme running two vehicles, and developed a successful medical management of major incidents course as a joint venture between BASICS and the Royal Postgraduate Medical School. In late 1995 he moved to take up his present position at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and has developed teaching and research programmes in the field of accident and emergency medicine there, while retaining an active interest in immediate care and disaster planning in the territory.