Salma Fleifil, MD and Anh Nguyen, MD
University of Michigan
Dr. Emily Chew is the recipient of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award and was interviewed by Dr. Paul Chan and Dr. Audina Berrocal on what shaped her career trajectory and how her family and mentors have supported her throughout. Dr. Chew’s story began with her family’s move from China to Canada when she was a young girl. She described her childhood in Vancouver Island as idyllic but not without challenges. She credits her parents’ “can-do” mentality with helping them succeed and shaping her belief that anything is possible. Her interest in medicine led her to study and train at the University of Toronto for medical school and ophthalmology residency. She went on to complete fellowships in medical retina at Wilmer and U of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. While at Wilmer, she was involved in the ETDRS as well as randomized control trials on macular photocoagulation and histoplasmosis which she says sparked her interest in a research career. In describing her interest in research, she quoted a mentor who said “with research you can help thousands of people at the same time.” After her fellowship in the Netherlands, she returned to the US and began working at the NIH. As one of the few female ophthalmologists at the NIH at the time, she reflected on how the culture for women was very different, with senior faculty members asking women trainees to have abortions instead of interrupting training. Seeing these injustices inspired her to become a champion and role model for the younger generation women in her field; she created a more inclusive environment for female researchers and physicians, from increased engagement at conferences to more equal pay.
Perhaps one of the greatest things about Dr. Chew is the way she brought her full-self into her career and family life and as a result enriched the lives of those around her. Her cultural beliefs that food is a way to show love and build community promulgated her to cook and host large meals for the department during most major holidays. Despite having a full schedule as an excellent clinician-scientist, she raised three beautiful daughters who collectively expressed pride in their mother and her accomplishments. And lastly, she worked tirelessly as an advocate, paving the way for the next generation.
When asked about overcoming challenges throughout her life, she emphasized the importance of supportive family and mentors. She credits her husband and family for providing help and encouraged the audience to accept and use all the support they can get and not to try to do everything alone. She ended the conversation by emphasizing the importance of supporting the younger generation, much like the support that helped shape her own path.
