Day 175: Dr. Margaret "Mom" Chung, San Francisco, California

📌APIA Every Day (175) - Dr. Margaret “Mom” Jessie Chung was the first Chinese American woman to become a physician, opening one of the first Western hospitals in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1920s. Born in Santa Barbara, California, in 1889 to Chinese immigrant parents, she was the eldest of eleven children and helped raise her siblings. Determined to become a medical missionary, she worked her way through medical school at the University of Southern California, graduating in 1916. After being rejected by the Presbyterian missionary board because of her race, she pursued a career in medicine, first as a surgical nurse and later as a surgeon, eventually opening a private practice that served Hollywood celebrities.

In 1922, Dr. Chung moved to San Francisco and established a clinic in Chinatown to provide medical care to Chinese women. She faced skepticism and rumors due to her status as a young, single woman who wore masculine clothing. Despite these challenges, she attracted a diverse clientele, including non-Chinese patients and members of the LGBTQ+ community. During World War II, she became known for her connections with her “adopted sons,” American military soldiers, sailors, and airmen. These "sons" and their guests, including movie stars and military officials, were frequently hosted at her San Francisco home for weekly dinners. Dr. Chung used her influence to support the Allied war effort and lobbied for the creation of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES), the women’s branch of the naval reserves, despite facing prejudice due to her race, gender, and sexuality.

Dr. Chung passed away from cancer in 1959 at the age of 69, and her contributions to the medical field are still remembered today. A memorial to Chung is included in the Chicago Legacy Project’s Legacy Walk, honoring the accomplishments of LGBTQ people.

LEARN MORE:

National Park Service: Dr. Margaret "Mom" Chung

The NY Times: Overlooked No More: Margaret Chung, Doctor Who Was ‘Different From Others’

PBS: The First American-Born Chinese Woman Doctor

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: DR. MARGARET 'MOM' CHUNG

The Legacy Project: Dr. Margaret Chung - Inductee

Wednesday’s Women: Dr. Margaret Chung: Proud ‘Mom’ of WWII’s Fair-Haired Bastards

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