(The following text is an excerpt from the book Chinese Americans in Irvine 1971-2021)
Pharmaceutical research, medicine, and philanthropy are important Chao Family traditions. Their family patriarch and matriarch, Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Chao, both studied pharmacy in college and eventually founded a generic drug manufacturing company in Taiwan in the 1950’s. In the 1960’s, their two daughters and two sons came to the United States for advanced study, and three of them eventually settled with their families in Irvine, CA.
The Chao siblings started Watson Pharmaceuticals in 1984 in Corona, CA, following in their parents’ footsteps. They named the company “Watson” in honor of their late
mother, Hwa, as the English name “Watson” sounded similar to “Hwa’s Son.” The company thrived and grew, eventually becoming a leading integrated global pharmaceutical company engaged in the development,manufacturing, and distribution of generic, brand, and biologic products. Through a series of acquisitions, the company is known today as Allergan.
The family tradition of interest in medicine has continued to the third generation, as three grandchildren have earned degrees in medicine. Philanthropy has also become a tradition that has spanned across generations. The Chao Family set their mission to improve access to affordable, high-quality health care for all. Individually, Chao Family members have made gifts to Purdue University School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, UCLA Health and Stanford University Cancer Research Center.
The Chao Family began their joint philanthropic involvement with UC Irvine in 1995. Since then, they have collectively and individually donated tens of millions of dollars, impacting countless lives through innovative medical research and care. The family’s funding has helped propel UC Irvine Health to one of the leading hospitals in Orange County and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Orange County. Says Dr. Kenneth Chang, Executive Director of the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center, “Nothing in Orange County comes close to providing the level of care that cancer patients receive at UCI.”
(以下文字摘錄自《爾灣華裔紀實1971-2021》一書)
醫藥科研和慈善事業是趙氏家族最重要的傳統。大家長趙墀熊、趙許華夫婦兩人在大學時都主修藥學科,1950 年共同在台灣創立了一家學名製藥公司。1960 年他們的兩個女兒和兩個兒子都來美國深造,其中三人最後都與家人定居加州爾灣 。1984 年趙家兄弟姐妹們追隨家族傳統,在加州 Corona 創建了華生製藥公司。他們為公司取名「華生」是為了紀念他們的母親,它聽來像「華的兒子」。該公司蓬勃發展並壯大,最終成為一家領先的綜合性全球製藥公司,從事學名藥、品牌和生物製品的開發、製造和分銷。通過一系列的收購,公司目前改名為 Allergan。對醫學感興趣的家庭傳統一直延續到第三代,因為三個孫子都獲得了醫學學位。趙氏家族的慈善事業也跨越了幾代人。趙氏家族的共同使命,是改善並擴展大眾負擔得起的高質量醫療服務。家庭和各人的慈善資金捐給包括普渡大學的藥劑學院、台北醫學大學、加州大學洛杉磯分校醫院和斯坦福大學癌症研究中心。
趙氏家族從 1995 年開始參與 UCI 的慈善事業, 他們經由集體和個人已捐贈了數千萬美元。通過創新的醫學研究和保健,影響了無數人的生活。趙氏家族的捐贈使得 UCI 成為橙縣最好的醫療中心,這也是橙縣唯一由國家癌症研究所指定的綜合癌症中心。HH Chao 綜合消化系統疾病中心的執行主任 Kenneth Chang 說:「橙縣沒有其他地方可以提供像 UCI 癌症患者所接受到的護理水平。」
在捐贈的數十年中,趙氏家族對 UCI 產生了巨大的影響,幫助籌集的資金有以下各項:
‧爾灣加大趙氏家族綜合癌症中心‧ H.H. Chao 綜合消化系統疾病中心
‧趙氏家族癌症研究講座 - 這個講座在過去 21 年中從國内和國際請來了19位講員,他們分別來自哈佛大學、斯坦福大學、麻省理工學院、芝加哥大學、索爾克研究所、美國國家衛
生研究所的癌症研究中心和德國癌症研究中心。
‧ 捐贈給 UCI 道格拉斯醫院,醫院的大廳堂以該家族的名字命名
‧ Sprague Hall 的趙氏家族中庭,和趙氏癌症及遺傳學實驗室
‧為 UCI 癌症中心捐贈了兩個系主任席位
2022 年,趙氏家族將繼續與 UCI 的慈善夥伴關係,支持位於加州爾灣市的新 UCI 醫療中心。該設施毗鄰 UCI 的主校區,為橙縣及鄰近社區居民提供更多的頂級醫療服務。