12/02/2025
Here's another "hidden story" we need to share in our community.
Dr. Margaret Chung became the first Chinese American woman to earn a medical degree — an extraordinary achievement at a time when hospitals refused to hire women, let alone women of color. Undeterred, she founded her own clinic in San Francisco, where she treated underserved communities, built trust with immigrant families, and became a beloved figure known for unwavering compassion and fierce independence.
During World War II, Dr. Chung transformed her connections and influence into service for her country. She recruited and supported military pilots, soldiers, and intelligence officers, eventually becoming known as “Mom Chung” for her unofficial adoption of more than a thousand servicemen. Her home became a hub for coordinating medical care, supplies, and morale for those heading into combat.
Margaret Chung was born in 1889 to working-class Chinese immigrant parents in California. Facing discrimination from childhood, she worked multiple jobs to pay her way through medical school. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1916, she was repeatedly denied hospital positions because of her race and gender — so she made her own path, opening a clinic in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Her medical practice thrived, serving patients from all backgrounds. But it was her wartime work that expanded her impact on a national scale. During WWII, she quietly helped recruit pilots for the American Volunteer Group — better known as the Flying Tigers — who defended China from Japanese invasion. She also used her network to support naval officers, submarine crews, and aviators, offering mentorship, comfort, and resources many credited with helping them survive.
Dr. Chung also campaigned for women to have greater roles in the military. Her advocacy contributed to the creation of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), a branch of the U.S. Navy that opened new doors for women in uniform.
