the life of Ted Tong, PharmDpharmacy practice, professor of pharmacology and toxicology R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacyprovides a colorful canvas spanning the entirety of U.S. history, sharing the contributions Asian Americans have made to the nation, the West, Tucson, and the Arizona Health Sciences College.
Dr. Tong enjoys stories of transcontinental railroads and immigrants from China. Essential for completion in the 1860sThey often performed the most dangerous jobs, such as setting up explosives to secure tunnels and bridges, and many died in the process. I pointed out that this is the origin of the phrase low. Even though he was a good player, he heard that phrase from his high school basketball coach at tryouts – he made the team and won college letters. Lesson: Don’t give up, stay focused.
He hopes to build bridges of less danger to communities by promoting heritage healing practices lectures for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Months at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. Lectures provide historical and contemporary perspectives on topics such as Chinese herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine.
connect over time
Connecting across cultures and generations is at the heart of Dr. Tong’s service to the university community. His history includes serving as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for nearly 30 years and founding his PharmCamp, his summer camp for middle school students. PharmCamp is college community outreach Until the COVID-19 pandemic. After returning on a limited basis last summer, this summer the Arizona resident will be in Tucson in partnership with MESA.
Dr. Tong arrived in Tucson in 1982 from the University of California, San Francisco, Arizona Poison Information Center, a post he served until 2005. At UCSF, after receiving his PhD in Pharmacy in 1969, he was Associate Professor and Director of the Poisons Center. He earned BA degrees from USC and Oregon State University, and did graduate studies in leadership development and environmental management at Harvard University and the University of San Francisco.
His work on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency and Bioterrorism Preparedness Committee has extended his influence nationally. He credits that gig with his longtime friendship with the former US Surgeon General. Richard Carmona, MD, MPHProfessor Laureate Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public HealthThey met while both were at UCSF. Dr. Tong was one of Dr. Carmona’s references when he was being considered for a general surgeon position.
Supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
On the advice of one of his mentors, Dr. Tong “beyond himself,” Advocate for diversity, equity and inclusionhe went to college and Tucson Chinese Cultural Center is a founding member of Arizona Asian American Faculty, Staff and AlumniThe Coit College of Pharmacy’s Distinguished Leadership and Service Award is named after him and since 2020 he has American Pharmacists Association Endowed Scholarship.
“It’s not where you were born, it’s where you are now.”
Ted Tong, PharmD
Dr. Tong’s career has also been praised. In 2009, he received the Presidential Council of Service and Civic Engagement Volunteer Services Award for his involvement with the Pima County Health Department’s emergency response efforts and the Southern Arizona Medical Reserve. He was one of the first of his R. Ken Coit endowed professors and has won numerous awards in academia, industry and the community. DEI Advocate.
For that reason, Dr. Tong serve on a committee under Dr. Francisco Moreno, interim vice-chancellor and first chief inclusion officer of the university. Dr. Tong takes pride in the contributions of notable Asian Americans who have left here. Dr. Lincoln China longtime faculty member of the Faculty of Pharmacy who died in 2019While rattling through lists of names from nearly every health sciences college, he hopes young Asian Americans will continue to carry the torch of change.
“They are a bridge to future generations of Asian Americans here,” said Dr. Tong.
A Long Family History of Barrier-Breaking
Dr. Tong’s maternal grandfather came to California as a student scholar in the late 1800s. At the time, access was restricted by strict anti-Chinese immigration laws. His mother was born in her father’s store in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and she grew up primarily in China, but she returned to the United States due to Japanese expansionism before World War II. rice field. Dr. Tong said it was a big deal that his grandfather owned the store.
His father was born in China, but was put up for adoption by his mother due to poverty. Dr. Tong’s father immigrated to the United States as an orphan and grew up in San Diego with an adoptive family. After Dr. Tong’s parents met and married in San Francisco, his father left to fight in Europe shortly after the Normandy landings. As a result, Dr. Tong was three years old before he met his father.
“Here’s the story: It’s not where you were born, it’s where you are. My father didn’t know a word of English when he came here, but when he met my mother, Since I came from China, I couldn’t speak English, so my mother taught me how to speak English even though I was born here.At first.
Dr. Tong admits that when he was a student at the University of Southern California in the mid-1960s, he was reluctant to hear his father talk about World War II. It was only later that Dr. Tong and his brother heard his father’s personal story of being a Chinese-American who overcame the adversities commonly experienced by immigrants. Dr. Tong’s lesson was clear. It’s about taking advantage of the opportunities that are in front of you.
But after 50 years in pharmacy, he modestly says he doesn’t think the public at the university is enthusiastic about his story. “Too much stuff. People are going to say, ‘Hey, Ted, come on,'” he said. Still, he’s happy to share. ask him.
