PHILOSOPHY

I am the child of Chinese immigrants. I never thought I could be a physician, let alone a physician-scientist, until I was exposed to mentors and individuals who believed in me. As a physician-scientist, my goals are to pursue scientific questions with rigor, take exceptional care of my patients and their families, and mentor the next generation of truly remarkable physicians and scientists. I will never compromise my core values or integrity in the pursuit of scientific achievement.

Core values

Scientific rigor, reproducibility, open science, diversity, culture of respect, transparency, and open communication

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

The current scientific system is grossly flawed and deeply inadequate with respect to equity and inclusion. Science should be accessible to all people. The burden of supporting DEI should not be on the backs of those who are marginalized. I believe deeply that DEI work should be lauded in the same way that academic publications have been historically rewarded. Science should never hurt people. I strive for my lab to be a place of high psychological safety, where conversations foster safety and respect, and we can challenge one another even if we disagree or hold differing opinions. I live by the concept of radical candor. I have a zero tolerance policy for individuals who bully others, gaslight, or act in ways that are non-inclusive.

Radical change in how we do science

I pursue science with the acknowledgment of the sacrifices and contributions from patients and their families. I seek to actively create a scientific community rooted deeply in a foundation of trust and mutual respect for the contributions of every individual. I commit to constant self-learning, maintaining accountability, and teaching others in creating an open, non-judgmental environment of inquiry. And, I commit to doing science through these values, although science has not been historically done in this way. I believe in open and transparent science, and I recognize that maximizing diversity of thought and experiences only makes science better. Radical change in how we do science is essential for creating more inclusive spaces in STEM, confronting inequities, and setting new standards for how science is done and how we treate the individuals who do science with respect, care, and empathy.

Land acknowledgment

I currently live and work on the stolen ancestral land of the Chumash and Tongva tribal nations in Los Angeles.