Dr. Pearl Tang, 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient – Friday, September 25, 2015 at the Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
Dr. Tang’s path to success was not an easy one. She had to overcome the many challenges and obstacles that a Chinese American woman doctor faced in the early 1950’s. Dr. Tang’s husband, a young lawyer at the time, appeared before the Medical Licensure Board, in one of his first cases, to argue that his wife should have the opportunity to take the medical exam. He won and with that Dr. Tang’s legacy as a leader, advocate and champion for women and children’s health and welfare began in earnest.
She became a doctor for Maricopa County, the largest county in Arizona, and developed an immunization program for children in county schools. Between 1960 and 1984, she created and led programs that lowered the County’s infant mortality rate by 67% and eventually became the Chief of Maricopa County Bureau of Maternal and Child Health. Among the many programs she initiated for impoverished women and children, she is highly recognized for helping to procure the cytology lab for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.
Her story, however, did not begin in Maricopa County, in Arizona or even in America. Dr. Tang arrived in this country as a Chinese immigrant. Through courage, inspiration, and hard work she rose to become a trailblazer, pioneer, and a role model for women, minorities, and all Chinese Americans. She was the first female Chinese doctor in Arizona and is also believed to be one of the first in the nation. She used her position to fight for better medical care for women and children of all ethnic backgrounds and, professionally, for equal pay for female physicians.
Even though she has formally retired from practicing medicine, Dr. Pearl Tang continues to serve her community, both locally and nationally, by her volunteer work on numerous boards and commissions. Her mentorship and service is commendable and inspirational. Her humble spirit and her indomitable energy and intellect provide encouragement and have influenced many young people to enter the field of medicine or to serve their communities in various capacities.
She and her late husband, the Honorable Judge Thomas Tang of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, have spent their lives mentoring and guiding others to promote cultural competency and have sought fairness and equality in their respective fields.
She participates in many community programs and carries on the legacy of her husband by attending educational, judicial and legal conferences and programs sponsored by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Arizona Asian American Bar Association. She graciously presents annual scholarship awards to law students who participate in the essay competition named in honor of Judge Tang. Her presence at these local community functions have encouraged young professionals and lawyers to carry on the high standards established by Dr. Tang and her late husband.
