Migrants from the Far East have played a significant role in the development of America as a world power. China has been a birth place of many of some of the most brilliant minds to have graced our shores. The following migrants have had a lot of success and wealth in the fields of medicine and hospitality and thus will be the focus of our analysis in this article.

Patrick Soon-Shiong: The Surgeon with a Philanthropic Heart
Patrick Soon-Shiong is an American surgeon, philanthropist, researcher, entrepreneur, businessman, and professor born in South Africa. The 64-year –old billionaire worth 11.9 billion is a professor at the University of California in LA. Additionally, Shiong also owns a foundation and medical institute. He is arguably the richest man in the health care industry.

His early life
Patrick’s family fled to Port Elizabeth in South Africa after the Japanese occupied China during World War II. His Chinese immigrant parents were initially from Toisan, China. He studied at the University of Witswatersrand where he graduated with a medicine degree and later joined the University of California Los Angeles for training in Surgery. he started a biotechnology and diabetes firm known as APP Pharmaceuticals in 1991, which provided the avenue for him to pioneer and patent many ground breaking discoveries.

Entrepreneurship
Besides his contribution in the medical field, he has also left a mark in entrepreneurial activities. He is the founder of several pharmaceutical companies that develop medicine for cancer patients. Shiong invented Abraxane that treats pancreatic cancer in a short time and is the founder of Nant Omics and Nant Health that develops cancer drugs

Medical research
Shiong believes breakthrough science could be the answer to humanity’s health problems. The dedicated surgeon tried the cell transplantation as a diabetes treatment in 1980. He has received national and international awards for his research and work towards cancer treatment. Patrick’s Shiong’s contribution to humanity and particularly in medicine is extraordinary. Patrick is a testimony that success comes to the zealous people. His vision and dedication have redefined the health care industry practices and created life changing drugs.

Philanthropic activities
Together with his wife, Michele B.Chan, they have contributed to many health care projects including their family foundation and:
$136 million-St.John’s Health Center-Santa Monica
$5 million aimed at patient care development in Chicago University

Awards
Business Person of the Year at the Distinguished Medical Science category in 2010
Medical Visionary-2008
St. Mary Medical Center Life Achievement Award-2007

 

Peggy and Andrew Cherng: From A Family Business to a Global Empire

Peggy and Andrew Cherng are Chinese born immigrants who met in college and fell in love. The founders of Panda Restaurant Group Incorporated which is based in California. They  got married in 1975. The billionaire couple worth 2.7 billion USD has three daughters.

Early life

Andrew was born in Yangzhou, and his father was a chef. His family moved to Taiwan following the Chinese Civil War. In 1963, they moved to Japan where his father continued working as a chef. When Andrew when turned 18, he came to the United States to study, and he met his Burma-born wife at Baker University.

Success story

Andrew learned the ropes from his father, and they opened a restaurant together in 1973.

The couple opened their first Panda Express restaurant in Glendale, California in 1983. They have opened 1,600 restaurants all over the world known for their bold flavors of the Chinese-inspired cuisine. The Orange Chicken, developed by Chef Andy Kao was their signature meal. In 2014, 67.9 million pounds of the meal were served.

In 1993, Peggy and Andrew Cherng celebrated the 10th anniversary by opening the 100th branch in UCLA campus. In 1995, two airport outlets came to life at Denver International Airport. In 2005, the couple made it to the California Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. In 2015, they organized the first Family Day with the aim of providing meals to the 10 million Americans in need as they celebrate the family-owned heritage.

Future plans

Peggy and Andrew Cherng intend to open over 250 restaurants in Mexico by 2020. Additionally, they have partnered with Taiwanese company ¸Wowprime, to introduce the Yakiyan barbecue to the US market.The couple is investing and partnering with smaller companies that sell cheesecakes, pizzas, and salads.