to form the first Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Program in the city of Guangzhou serving 12 million residents. He was active in serving the Chinese American Community in New York in multiple fronts. He served on the board of directors for eight years, and then acted as the treasurer, vice-president, and the president of the Chinese American Medical Society with over 1200 physician members. Through this New York based society, he has contributed to many community services such as health education seminars, regular health related articles in Chinese newspaper, and radio programs, press releases regarding urgent health issues. The society initiated “healthy heart” food education program for local restaurants, annual free flu vaccination, and financially supported many community based research programs related to hepatitis, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, HIV and others. He presided over ten scholarships and research grants for Chinese American medical students annually. He currently serves on the board of directors for the American Cancer Society—East Asian Unit based in Flushing, Queens Borough of New York City. The Unit serves as a community resource for education, healthcare referral, counseling, and cancer support groups. He led the Downstate Chinese American medical students to have the first free flu vaccine program in Brooklyn Chinatown in 2007 and now is an annual event. He was the president of the China AIDS Fund, which had three successful fund raising galas in New York. The net proceeds of more than a quarter of a million dollars has funded local HIV related programs and more importantly has funded educational and support programs in China for orphans, pregnant women and alike. Since 2009, the fund built two Children Centers with libraries, computer facilities with full-time staff in administering various activities in Henan, China serving 400 HIV affected children (mostly orphans) in the neighboring villages. He was a member and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, and the American College of Chest Physicians. Awards and achievements For his academic and clinical achievements, he was consistently listed in the Castle Connolly Guide to New York Metro Area Top Doctors, and New York Magazine Best Doctors list. For his dedication to community and charitable work, he was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008. In 2011, he was named among the "Top Eight Most Influential Chinese Americans" in the VIVD Magazine.