Yale-China Bridge 2023-24

2023–2024

bridge Emerging Leaders Build Bridges Improving Health Outcomes in Rural China Your Support Changes Lives

This Issue I recently was able to make my first trip to mainland China and Hong Kong as president of the Yale-China Association – and it was an incredible experience.

Meeting our partners for the first time in person after the pandemic, visiting our sites in Changsha and Hong Kong, and seeing our Teaching Fellows in action brought home to me what many of you already know: the strength of Yale-China lies in our partnerships and in our program participants, past and present.

I was pleased to see that Yale-China remains a trusted and valued partner as we reconnect and explore new opportunities. I was also fortunate to be able to meet members of the Yale Club of Hong Kong and make a presentation to them on Yale-China and our plans for the future (p.16).

U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns visited Changsha just a few weeks before me, looking to showcase examples of U.S.-China people-to-people programs during this time of friction between our two nations. Naturally, Yale-China came up prominently during his visit, which included stops – and tweets – at our long-time partner institutions, Xiangya and Yali High School (see p.16).

Yale-China remains one of the few American organizations that continues to carry out programming in mainland China and Hong Kong – with plans to grow! We will soon open an office in Changsha, fittingly located in one of Xiangya Hospital’s beautifully restored original buildings, to better facilitate current and future programs.

Our goal remains to increase our impact on the people and communities we serve in China and in New Haven. By doing so, we create examples of positive U.S.-China cooperation at a time when it is sorely needed.

John Frisbie President, Yale-China

With Xiangya School of Nursing leadership and former Chia Nursing Fellows.

With Yali High School Principal Wang Xu

Mission Yale-China (雅礼协会) bridges the United States and China through collaborative partnerships in education, healthcare, and the arts.

Yale-China: Inspire. Learn. Serve.

Vision To be a leader in high-quality programs and exchanges that positively impact the communities we serve in China, Hong Kong, and the United States. We are increasing our work in rural and underserved communities, while drawing upon our successful model of equal partnership and twoway exchanges built over 120 years.

Contents Yale-China Bridge 2023-2024, Issue 05 © 2023 Yale-China

04

STAFF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

John Frisbie President

Drake Pike Chair

Andrew Junker Hong Kong Director

Alex Liebman Barry Wu Vice-Chairs

Betty Ho Senior Administrative Coordinator, Hong Kong Office Emily Chew Deputy Director of Education and Arts Programs Junya Zhu Director of Health Programs Kate Rosenberg Program Officer Leslie Stone Vice President and Director of Education Programs Michelle Averitt Manager of Branding & Communications Rich Czekalski Director of Finance and Operations

VOLUNTEER & PART-TIME

Nancy Chapman Secretary

Four new trustees share their passion for Yale-China and how they plan to contribute 05

06-07

08-09

Arts Programming Spans New Haven and Hong Kong

Lunarfest, Hong Kong Artist Fellowship, CUHK’s Inaugural Artist-in-Residence, Meditations exhibit 10-11

Improving Health Outcomes One Project at a Time Health Fellows make their mark on their communities

12-13

Meet our Fellows

Current Fellows in New Haven and China

Mark Sheldon Roving Ambassador Daniel Loebell Haiying Wang Hannah Yuan Chen

Emerging Leaders Build Bridges

Education Fellows share stories of their impact at schools in China and New Haven

TRUSTEES

Hong Wang Cindy Xue

Strategic Directions

The future of Yale-China is bright

Gang Chen Treasurer

Laurence W. Bates Joan Channick Amy I. Chen Cui Fengming Jamie P. Horsley Evelyn Hsieh Kao Mayching Julius J. Mitchell Hana Omiya Robert Rohrbaugh Hugh Sullivan Nathan D. Taft Jianyou Tan Ming Thompson Minh Ngan Tran

New Trustees: Why We Serve

14-15

Highlights & Milestones

Yale-China office in Changsha; U.S. Ambassador visits our programs; honoring Dr. Yan Fuqing; celebration at CUHK

Lucy Yang AJ Chen & Chris Young Yali Society Leaders

16-17

Alumni News

Yale-China alumni gather and the spotlight shines on Professor Denise Ho 18-19

This issue: Special thanks to Big Voice Communications Design by Michelle Averitt

YALE-CHINA BRIDGE | 2023-2024

Grants and Financials

ON THE COVER

Second-Year Fellow Matthew Jordan (Xiuning 2022 -24) in the classroom with his students at Xiuning Middle School, Anhui.

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Leadership New Trustees: Why We Serve Laurence Bates Former Director, Managing Executive Officer, and General Counsel—Panasonic Corporation (Osaka) Former Yale-China Fellow (Wuhan University 1980-82) Serving on the Board of Yale-China is an incredible honor for me, and in some respects brings me back full circle to where I started—as a Chinese Studies major at Yale, and a Yale-China fellow—after a nearly 30-year career in Japan. All the more so at this particular juncture in the U.S.-China relationship, it is important to build on people-to-people relationships, to cultivate long-term understanding among young people in each country of the importance of each other’s country’s political, social and cultural characteristics. Yale-China is one of the very few organizations, with more than a century’s experience on the ground, that can help maintain important perspective, despite the vicissitudes in the broader relationship.

Joan Channick Professor at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale This is my second stint on the Yale-China board. While the arts remain my primary focus, it’s been fascinating to learn about the full scope of Yale-China’s activities in health and education and to work with the amazing members of our board and staff. I believe deeply in the power of the arts to foster mutual understanding across cultures, and in the importance of Chinese and American artists collaborating, notwithstanding the state of relations between their governments. In addition, I love getting to know the arts fellows each year, helping them to navigate Yale and New Haven, and connecting them with my students and faculty colleagues.

Amy Chen U.S.-China Strategic Consultant At a tense time in U.S.-China geopolitics when many doors for cooperation are closing, I’m happy to support Yale-China in keeping doors open for grass roots partnerships that enable American and Chinese people to learn about each other, to celebrate their shared humanity, and to promote mutual trust and empathy.

Having worked for over 20 years as a tech attorney in Hong Kong and the U.S., I hope to help Yale-China navigate geopolitical and regulatory challenges. With my experience on other non-profit boards, I look forward to helping this association with its strategic development and governance.

Hugh Sullivan Director of International Programs, Development and Alumni Relations, Johns Hopkins University Former Yale-China Fellow (Yali 2009-11) I am honored and committed to support Yale-China in maximizing its future impact.

My teaching fellowship brought me together with extraordinary people—many of whom I still consider among my closest and most admired friends—and broadened my perspective on the world and what I can offer. I hope I can help Yale-China strengthen its community, tout its impact, and broaden its connections for years to come. I also hope that my fundraising experience for international non-profits will allow me to contribute new ideas and advance Yale-China's goals.

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Strategic Directions The Future of Yale-China is Bright After adeptly pivoting during the pandemic, Yale-China is proud to be among the few on-the-ground organizations promoting cross-cultural exchanges between the U.S. and China. Our board of trustees' program committees provide guidance to ensure our programs will continue to positively impact the communities around them and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow.

We are thrilled that our Education Program has largely returned to full strength, now that COVID travel restrictions have eased. Over the next three years, we will continue exploring innovative ways to develop new partnerships and help the disadvantaged, particularly in new geographic and subject areas where there is a great need. For example, I envision that we will expand the teaching fellowship within the next couple years, perhaps adding a site in rural Western Hunan, an area in which we know the organization can have transformational impact.

Julius Mitchell, Corporate Attorney

Older persons (ages 65 and above) comprise the world’s fastest growing age group.

To address their health needs, Yale-China Association will partner with its colleagues at Central South University, Kunming Medical University, Xiangya Health System and Hunan Province to develop educational programs and health interventions tailored to older adults and their caregivers, particularly in at-risk rural areas.

Barry Wu, Professor of Clinical Medicine Yale University School of Medicine

Arts

Health

Education

Recently, we asked each program chair what they saw on the horizon for each of the YCA disciplines:

I am excited to foster our 10-year-old Arts Program into a long-term institution that advances opportunities for artists in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Yale. As artists, practitioners, and patrons, the Arts Committee can reimagine the impact we can have on the future of U.S. and China through creative expression and human inquiry. At a time when history is being challenged and actively erased, artists have a unique ability to make critical observations and design classrooms that activate important questions to ask in the 21st century.

Hana Omiya, Project Manager Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Harvard University

Education Emerging Leaders Build Bridges Yale-China continues to expand its Education programs with Fellows immersing themselves in new cultures and making an impact on their students in and outside the classroom. We are proud to build the leaders of tomorrow, as our fellows go on to successful careers and influence the trajectory of many organizations and industries.

This year's 17 Fellows have dedicated themselves to teaching, learning, and working with approximately 3,480 students in creative ways.

In New Haven, Yale-China has expanded from two to three Chinese Teaching Fellows and is now in four schools, where they bring Chinese language and cultural learning to over 880 New Haven students. Two Yale undergraduates are also supporting Chinese language and culture education at two New Haven public high schools.

In China and Hong Kong, twelve Yale graduates are spread across Yali High School, Xiuning Middle School, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), teaching English and sharing American culture in fun and innovative ways to over 2,600 students. Here are some of their stories:

Learning and Growing from our Differences “Miss Wendy, thank you for the amazing language experience you have given Ramona. We can't tell you how much she enjoys learning from you. Her exposure to the Chinese culture and language made her year better and we appreciate it!” Wenhui “Wendy” Yang (New Haven 2022-23) smiled warmly as she read a card sent to her by one of her students’ parents.

For Wendy, who taught second through fifth grades at Edgewood School, culture was always at the forefront of her language lesson plans. She incorporated games, food, traditional music, stories, videos, and field trips— all exposing her young students to the rich and diverse Chinese culture. “It is so important to understand the outside world and lay a foundation of cross-cultural cooperation for the next generation,” she said. “That way we can bridge American and Chinese cultures, correct any misinformation we have about each other, and minimize misunderstandings between our countries.”

After-School Club Celebrating Chinese Culture Finds Success Nick McGowan (NHPS 2022-23) learned that finding creative ways to enhance his students’ lessons at Metropolitan Business Academy (MBA) meant getting out of the classroom. The solution? Plugging into an after-school club that would allow his students to experience Chinese culture in the real world. His high schoolers were able to enjoy many activities—from learning popular songs and shopping at Chinese supermarkets to visiting Yale’s large collection of Chinese art. “What a great resource to build my students’ confidence not only in their language ability but also in their appreciation for Chinese culture,” he said. “MBA’s after-school club paired seamlessly with our classroom activities, helped expand my kids’ worldview, and taught them ways to approach new cultures and ideas—it was an effective and fun learning strategy!” The experience was so meaningful for Nick that he has returned to his fellowship for a second year.

"Our students embraced both the Chinese language and culture with our Yale-China teaching fellow - it broadened the minds of students and staff in many ways. The experience increased their receptive and expressive language skills; and they had fun learning! This program is a wonderful addition to our school community."

—Nicholas R. Perrone, Ed.D. Principal of Edgewood Creative Thinking through STEAM Magnet School 6

Perspectives on YUNA: Unforgettable Cross-Cultural Encounters 2022-2023 was a landmark year for Yale-China’s Yale University-New Asia (YUNA) undergraduate exchange program. For the first time since the pandemic, Yale-China and New Asia College held the program in person, allowing eight Yale students and eight New Asia College students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to build lifelong friendships and dive deeply into the year’s theme: education and technology. The New Asia students spent two weeks in New Haven in January; in March, the hosts switched, with the Yale students traveling to Hong Kong during their spring break and reuniting with their New Asia counterparts for in-depth exploration and discovery.

“There is a general tendency to ‘other-ize’ other people and places, forming ‘us’ versus ‘them’ constructs to keep groups of people apart and mistrusting one another. Through the YUNA program, I have had a chance to break down these categorizations, both in the context of New Haven and the world. Now, Hong Kong is not just another place on the map. Instead, it is a place where I connected with lifelong friends with whom I created unforgettable memories. On our last day in Hong Kong, in between goodbyes, one of our counterparts reassured us, ‘Every time you come back to Hong Kong, you’ll have at least eight people waiting for you.’ So, in line with this statement, I hope to return to Hong Kong sooner rather than later, as our experience in YUNA has guaranteed that none of us will stay away for too long.”

—Lumisa Bista (YUNA 2023)

Thanks to New Asia College and the Council on East Asian Studies at Yale for making this program possible!

English Musicals Transform Students and Fellows For Gulminay Lone (Yali 2021-23), there were many things that made a Yale-China fellowship a compelling postgraduate choice. The musical was not one of them.

She soon learned that The Lion King would be one of the most impactful experiences of her fellowship.

Lone was surprised to discover that the more hectic the pace, the more attached she became to the production! “Seeing these already very busy kids come into rehearsal day after day, always giving it their best, gave me a new motivation,” she added. “Not only did I end the musical immensely proud of our kids, but I also YALE-CHINA BRIDGE | 2023-2024

left with a sense of fulfilment at having accomplished something worthwhile. After the musical, some of the students mentioned that they were sad that there would be no more rehearsals and wished we could keep going.

Hearing this was gratifying because it meant that we had created a meaningful space for them during our year here.”

The musical has not only become a cultural tradition at Yale-China, but it continues to serve as a platform to build strong relationships with the students and strengthen cross-cultural bonds.

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Arts Lunarfest Celebrates AAPI Communities Yale-China’s twelfth annual Lunarfest bounced back on a clear and cold Saturday morning, as over 1,500 people returned to Whitney Avenue to ring in the Year of the Rabbit.

Held in person for the first time since February 2020, Connecticut’s largest Lunar New Year parade brought out a diverse crowd of parents, elders, educators, and children of all ages, centering joy in a month that felt heavy with violence and grief among Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the United States. The celebration featured a Lion Dance Parade, outdoor performances, and afternoon activities across downtown New Haven.

“Today is a day where we gather as a community and celebrate the richness of our stories, our heritage, our cultures, and our families," said Shirley Kuang, representing the Office of the New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. “It’s also a day where we celebrate that New Haven is a city with so much diversity!”

Yale-China board member and architect Ming Thompson also

Photograph by Lucy Gellman

addressed the crowd, stressing the importance of solidarity in the face of tragedy, referring to the January 2023 violence in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California. “I urge all of us here, from Asian American folks to their allies, to work with us to find ways to shine light in the darkness, to educate and protect, to build policies and resources, and to bring care to the AAPI community,” she said to cheers and applause from attendees.

Yale-China’s Lunarfest collaborators included the New Haven Museum,

Expanding Yale-China’s Arts Footprint: Lois Conner MFA ’81 is CUHK’s Inaugural Artist-in-Residence

American photographer and Yale MFA graduate Lois Conner spent two months at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) as its Artist-in-Residence, where she shared her photography work with the CUHK community, engaged with fellow artists, and explored the city to capture its many unique facets. Renowned for her platinum print landscapes that she produces with a 7”x17” format banquet camera, Conner exhibited her works and delivered a public lecture, “Substance, Shadow, Spirit (形，神，影)—Working in the Landscape,” in March. With a keen interest in capturing China’s transformation, she shared her unique understanding of China’s changing urban and rural mien, as well as the vistas that inspired the country’s unique culture.

Conner’s residency was supported by a number of units at CUHK, including the Faculty of Arts, Morningside College, Department of Fine Arts and Office of Academic Links, as well as Yale-China.

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New Haven Free Public Library, Office of International Students and Scholars at Yale, Long Wharf Theatre, the New Haven Public Schools, City of New Haven, and Creative Arts Workshop. Activities also included a celebration of Tết, or Vietnamese New Year, and a closing reception for Băng Qua Nước: Across Land, Across Water at the Creative Arts Workshop.

Lunarfest 2024 will be held on Saturday, February 24. Updates can be found at yalechina.org/lunarfest.

Meditations While Folding Silk Flowers:

Nikki Hu’s Journey to Honor Her Family’s Matriarchs In an exhibition that ran from June-September at Yale-China, “MEDITATIONS While Folding Silk Flowers: An Exhibition of Silk Origami Flower Arrangements and Essays,” Nikki Hu, modern dancer, choreographer, and master teaching artist, honored her mother and grandmother’s legacy while showcasing the traditions of early 20th century China. “My mother was a vivacious hostess and community builder, noted for her lively mahjong parties,” reminisced Hu. For the exhibit, Hu folded her mother’s fashionable cheongsams, a form fitting dress associated with the glitz and glamour of 1920s Shanghai, and other fabric family heirlooms into origami silk flower arrangements, which were displayed accompanied by essays she wrote.

“With MEDITATIONS, I wanted to honor my mother and my PoPo’s perseverance, which not only impacted the future for her family but also enriched an entire community,” she added.

Kit Hung: Building Bridges of Healing in New Haven and Hong Kong Filmmaker Kit Hung’s Yale-China Artist Fellowship paved the way for deeper community connections during his six months in New Haven. One of his major projects as a Fellow was an innovative digital art installation called “Strangelight.” By partnering with New Haven-based new media artist Jeffrey Gangswich and local drag icon Bubblelicious, the team created a powerful and immersive VR narrative that sheds light on the rich and multifaceted experiences of a transwoman of color.

Featured at International Festival of Arts & Ideas, which attracts an audience of more than 100,000 people over the course of 15 days. “Strangelight” encouraged participants to engage with her story, celebrate her resilience, and be inspired to embrace understanding, acceptance, and positive change.

Hung is currently working with his New Haven partners to transform “Strangelight” into a longer documentary feature.

024 Join us Saturday, F ebruary 24, 2

yalechina.org/lunarfest

纽黑文欢迎您！

Health

Health Fellows in Action: Improving Health Outcomes One Project at a Time Since 1998, Yale-China’s Chia Fellowship has advanced the careers of Chinese women in the health professions by providing training for fellows from Changsha and then expanding in 2008 for fellows from Kunming to come to Yale University in New Haven. The program was further amplified in 2012 by training fellows from remote regions in Western Hunan at the three Xiangya hospitals of Central South University (CSU) in Changsha. In addition, the Fellowship aims to improve the health outcomes of populations in Hunan and Yunnan through fellow-initiated health projects.

This year, the Chia Fellowship Program trained 12 Chinese female health professionals–four Chia fellows at Yale and eight Chia fellows at Xiangya–and provided funding for 12 health research projects. Some of these fellows had a personal connection to their projects; others are fueled by a passion to ensure patients in underprivileged socio-economic communities have access to early health intervention and care. Here are just a few of their stories: Understanding the Mental Health Implications of Amputations among Osteosarcoma Patients For Na Zhao, caring for cancer patients is personal. “My grandfather died of lung cancer without surgery, chemo or hospice care when I was young. At that time, I felt helpless.

As I got older, I wanted to help people like my grandfather, so I became a nurse.”

Compared to Beijing, Shanghai, and other metropolitan areas, Kunming lacks resources and in-depth research opportunities for nurses.

Thanks to Yale-China and the Chia Family Foundation, nurses like Na are able to study abroad and take on new 10

initiatives to help the health outcomes of their communities.

Today, as a Chia fellow, Na is focusing her research on understanding the psychological needs of osteosarcoma patients before amputation to provide nurses with the strategic framework for preoperative rehabilitation.

“Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and young adults. Limb salvage therapy has become one of the standard treatment methods for limb osteosarcoma with a high rate of success,” she explained. “For adult patients, however, resulting mental health problems often have a more

direct significance to one’s quality of life than the surgery itself or the nature of the prosthetic device. For children and adolescent patients, amputation is a huge challenge. The loss of a body part can also impact the amputees’ social, work, and education environments, quality of life, and mental health.”

Na hopes her qualitative research of limb salvage candidates will provide a knowledge base for the care team at Yunnan Cancer Hospital.

She hopes her findings will address issues of anxiety, depression, family dynamics, social stigma, and isolation in patients, as well as provide the necessary tools and support for their

families and their care team. “Taking care of patients is very meaningful, even if you cannot cure them,” said Na. “But you can still give them the confidence to treat the disease.”

Improving Health Outcomes of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis in Underserved Areas “I used to study in the medical school at Jishou University in Western Hunan, and I saw how poor economic conditions and the lack of a home care system could greatly affect patients’ prognosis, even after their successful surgery,” said Yangfan Xiao. “My passion has been identifying risk factors and improving the quality of life and healthcare delivery for patients with systemic sclerosis in rural areas.”

Despite the significant number of scientific studies on systemic sclerosis, a connective tissue disease, there are only a few studies investigating its relationship to socio-economic, clinical subtype, and disease manifestation, according to Yangfan. “No comprehensive survey on the health-related quality of life exists in China,” she explained. “Due to the chronic nature of systemic sclerosis, my research will assess which factors have the largest impact on our patients’ quality of life. In that way, I hope to make a difference in our rural communities.”

Caring for High-Risk Children in Western Hunan “In high school, my mother was hospitalized for two months due to a serious illness. After experiencing the compassion and skill of the medical staff, I aspired to be one of them,” said Changhui Li (Western Hunan

YALE-CHINA BRIDGE | 2023-2024

Chia Fellow 2022). In Western Hunan where chronic disease prevention and access to medical treatment are lacking, Li strives to give high-risk babies the best start in life. For her Chia Fellowship, she has implemented an integrated management model for medical staff and patients, where parenting classes and family training are coupled with comprehensive family care plans for special-needs children, preventative intervention plans, and social support services.

“I really develop a relationship with these families and ensure they get the best care even after they’re discharged from the hospital,” she added. “Bridging gaps in health care begins with the youngest of patients.”

step in helping Hepatitis C patients in Western Hunan manage their disease.

Overcoming Traditional Attitudes about Health to Manage Hepatitis-C

Long’s project aimed to lower the mortality rate of patients with chronic heart failure by improving their ability to care for themselves.

She monitored at-risk patients and provided them with access to electrocardiograms, radiofrequency ablation, coronary angiography, and postoperative education and care for patients undergoing procedures like coronary stent implantation and pacemaker implantation.

Murong Shi (Western Hunan Chia Fellow 2022) applied for a Chia Fellowship because she wanted to hone her nursing skills and improve the health outcomes of her community.

“Many people in rural communities are trapped by traditional thoughts and avoid doctors, even when they’re ill,” Shi explained. “I want to help break down those barriers and improve their quality of life, especially for those suffering with Hepatitis C.” To dispel any misinformation, she used the Knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) model of health education, where patients are educated on their disease, encouraged to take responsibility for their healthimpacting actions, and empowered to make changes in their lifestyle, enabling them to consciously avoid unhealthy behaviors. Her grassroots education efforts are one positive

Providing Cardiovascular Care to Underserved Miao & Tujia Elderly The Fenghuang area in Western Hunan is home to the Miao and Tujia ethnic groups, where the elderly generally have a low level of education and lack access to healthcare. For Hongdan Long (Western Hunan Chia Fellow 2022), expanding medical intervention to the countryside and conducting household followups was at the root of her Chia Fellowship. “I’ve always seen nurses as ‘angels in white,’ because we identify problems, treat patients, and relieve their pain,” she said.

“I am grateful for the opportunities my Chia Fellowship has offered me. I now have a platform to accelerate my nursing career, improve my skills, and contribute as much to bring health education to the local community in Western Hunan.”

—Murong Shi Western Hunan Chia Fellow 2022

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Health Chia Fellowship Conferences Highlight Yale-China’s Health Impact on Rural Communities treatment, passive smoking in pregnant women, health risk assessment and intervention of heavy metals, and fragility fracture nursing.

Twenty Chia fellows from Changsha, Kunming, and Western Hunan presented their work at the 21st Chia Fellowship conference and the 5th Western Hunan Chia Fellowship conference. These conferences showcased the impact that Chia Fellowships have had on underserved communities in rural China and brought together more than 130 participants. Attendees included Chia fellows and their mentors from Yale and Xiangya; Yale-China board of trustees, health committee members, and staff; leaders and faculty from Central South University (CSU), Kunming Medical University (KMU), Yale University, and Huayuan and Fenghuang County People’s Hospitals in rural western Hunan.

The 5th Western Hunan Chia Conference was co-hosted by the Huayuan County People’s Hospital and the Yale-China Association with a theme of “Mental Health Promotion in Rural Western Hunan.” Dr. Yuping Cao, a 2008 Xiangya Chia Fellow from the Second Xiangya Hospital of CSU, gave a keynote speech on mental health services in Western Hunan. The topics presented by other fellows included health education, discharge planning on self-care ability, sensory integration training, group psychological counseling, preventing lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, improving patient compliance, and early intervention of high-risk children.

The audience engaged actively with the speakers and felt inspired by the Chia Fellowship’s tangible impact on disadvantaged patients and families in rural villages.

The 21st Chia Conference was co-hosted by KMU School of Public Health and the Yale-China Association, with a theme of “Behavioral Health and Intervention.”

Dr. Joan Monin, faculty mentor from Yale School of Public Health, gave a keynote speech on family caregiving for older adults. The topics presented by the fellows included depressive disorders and

“U.S. and Chinese health professionals can learn a lot from each other—from the pursuit of lifelong learning in nursing and practical experience to technical innovation, compassionate care, and science-based critical thinking to solve clinical problems.”

—Na Zhao, Chia Fellow 2022-23

“The Chia Family Foundation has a special emphasis on undeveloped local areas of China, such as Western Hunan. That is something that aligns not only with the objectives of my project, but also with my career ambition of helping underserved communities. I am very proud of my work as a nurse, and I am grateful for the foundation’s effort in promoting equality for women with careers in healthcare and medicine.”

—Yangfan Xiao, Chia Fellow 2022-23

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Over 400 Scholarships to Medical Students in Financial Need The Xiangya Overseas Alumni Association-YaleChina Association (XYOAA-YCA) Scholarship Program provides scholarships to outstanding students with demonstrated financial needs at the Xiangya Schools of medicine, public health, and nursing. The program also provides mentorship and programmatic activities to enrich students’ career planning, community service, and leadership opportunities.

This year 23 Xiangya students were selected to receive full scholarships, and 40 to receive half scholarships, bringing the total number of awardees since 2015 to nearly 450.

Fellows Meet the 2023 Chia Health Fellows at Yale

Meet the 2023 Health Fellows at Yale

CHEN Xiuwen, PhD Student & Charge Nurse, Clinical Nursing Education & Research, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, conducts an intervention study on self-medication in children by parents in Western Hunan of China.

WEN Xin, Lecturer, School of Nursing at Kunming Medical University, studies the influence of individual and family selfmanagement on the quality of life, mental health, and social relationships of elderly patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

WANG Sha, Charge Nurse, Emergency Intensive Care Unit, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, examines the application of Rationale Emotive Behavior Therapy on rural left-behind elderly with subthreshold depression in Western Hunan.

ZHANG Lihua, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of General Medicine, The First Hospital Affiliated with Kunming Medical University, develops a Structured Treatment & Education Program (STEP) to improve the metabolic control and psychological outcomes of female Type 2 Diabetes patients in Yunnan rural communities.

Current Yale-China Fellows

Current Chinese Teaching Fellows

Yale-China Fellows are recent Yale graduates who live and teach for two years at our partner schools in Anhui Province, Hunan Province, and Hong Kong.

Chinese Teaching Fellows are teachers from the Yali Education Group who spend a year in New Haven teaching Chinese language and culture at New Haven Public Schools (NHPS).

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Highlights & Milestones Looking Ahead to a Homecoming in Mainland China Yale-China is establishing a representative office in our ancestral home of Changsha. While Yale-China established a presence in Changsha in the early 20th century through its health and education work, those sites were left behind in 1951 when all Americans had to leave China and on-the-ground operations moved to Hong Kong in 1954. No matter the location, Yale-China has had a continuous presence in China, and we remain one of the few organizations invested in cross-country education, healthcare, and the arts with Americans and Chinese working together in both countries.

We are excited about this next chapter—stay tuned for future updates on this significant milestone!

U.S. Ambassador to China Celebrates Yale-China and Our Changsha Partners U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns visited Xiangya Medical School and Yali High School in Changsha on September 8 to promote and encourage more people-to-people exchanges between the U.S. and China.

Burns reflected on the century-long partnership Yale-China has had with Xiangya Medical School and emphasized that cooperation on global health remains a priority for the U.S. and China. At Yali, he gave remarks to the student body and met with our four teaching fellows.

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Photograph by Devin Lau

Father of Modern Chinese Medicine Dr. Yan Fuqing Honored with Ceremonial Bust This October, the Yale-China Association and Yale University honored medical educator and public health scientist Dr. Yan Fuqing (F.C. Yen), considered to be the “father” of modern Chinese medicine, with a ceremonial bust placed in the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library on the Yale campus.

The bust, donated by Xiangya Hospital and several of Dr. Yan's descendants, not only honors Dr. Yan’s long-standing legacy to China’s healthcare system but also serves as a reminder of the strong ties we continue to have with our Xiangya colleagues.

Dr. Yan was the first Asian graduate of the Yale School of Medicine in 1909. After receiving his medical degree, he joined Yale-in-China and was sent to Changsha, where he became the founding dean of Xiangya Medical School in 1914.

He went on to establish a number of medical education and healthcare institutions in China, including the Shanghai Medical School (now a part of Fudan University), making great contributions to the improvement of healthcare services for the Chinese people. The events included the unveiling ceremony of Dr. Yan’s bust, an academic

conference, and meetings with leaders and faculty from Yale University and Yale-China. Present at the ceremony were members of the Yan family; current and former Yale-China trustees; the vice governor of Hunan and other leaders from the Hunan Provincial Government, Central South University (CSU), Xiangya and Yale health institutions; and key representatives from the Xiangya Overseas Alumni Association.

CUHK Turns 60!

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2023.

Yale-China congratulates CUHK for its remarkable growth, its many achievements over the past six decades, and its stellar local, national, and global reputation.

Yale-China Celebrates 70 Years of Partnership with the New Asia College 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Yale-China’s relationship with New Asia College, one of the founding colleges of CUHK. The connection dates back to 1953 when longtime Yale-China Trustee Harry Rudin (Yale-China Fellow 1919-1921 and former chair of Yale’s history department) met the eminent Chinese scholar and New Asia founder, Dr. Ch’ien Mu. Deeply impressed by Dr. YALE-CHINA BRIDGE | 2023-2024

Mu’s vision and dedication, Rudin set in motion the relationship that would bind Yale-China and the college for the next seven decades. Not only did Yale-China financially support the construction of the New Asia College campus, but in 1956, we sent the first Yale-China representatives to Hong Kong and expanded our fellowship program by sending Yale graduates to New Asia.

Next year, New Asia College also will celebrate its 75th anniversary, and Yale-China is proud to have played a role in cross-promoting Chinese and American cultures in our students.

We look forward to continuing our cooperative work with New Asia, and we congratulate the college for its humanistic achievements and for nourishing the spirit of New Asians across the globe.

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News and Events

Yali Fund Through a series of reunions in Washington D.C., New York, and San Francisco, we gathered alumni from Yale-China and Yali High School to share highlights of our Yali-focused education programming, which sends Yale graduates to teach at Yali and brings Yali teachers to teach at New Haven Public Schools. In addition, we also kicked off a fundraising campaign for the Yali Fund to specifically support these efforts.

Yali Society Alumni Association Former Yale-China Fellows and program participants automatically become part of the Yali Society, our alumni association. With chapters in Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Boston, these groups have come together for reunion meals and other gatherings. In July, they enjoyed a Yali Society dim sum meal in New York City, and in August, former fellow and new board member Hugh Sullivan hosted an informal BBQ in Washington D.C.

Yale Club of Hong Kong Members of the Yale Club of Hong Kong, former Trustees, program participants, and former and current Fellows all gathered to welcome Yale-China President, John Frisbie, to Hong Kong and learn more about Yale-China and our future plans.

Yale-China Scholarship Recipients Impact Underprivileged Communities this platform can help prepare students of limited means to raise test scores and be competitive under current exam-oriented institutions,” he said.

Expanding Volunteerism to Help Impoverished Children

Shek “Donald” Kam Ming, a fifthyear student majoring in Chinese Language Education, and Or Ice, a third-year student studying Chinese Language and Literature, each received scholarship grants to pursue their passion projects at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Here are their stories: 16

Bridging Gaps in Education With a passion for bridging gaps in education, Shek “Donald” Kam Ming established a team dedicated to voluntary teaching and created an online platform that offers free access to Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Chinese tutorial lessons. “We believe

For Or Ice, volunteering has been a lifelong passion, having already taken various service trips to Qingyuan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Tianjin to serve in underprivileged and disenfranchised communities.

That is how Dream Compassioneers was born—a joint-school international co-op providing daily necessities and education resources for school children in poverty-stricken regions all over the world. “Promoting the spirit of volunteerism and devotion to service is not only a slogan of Dream Compassioneers but also my personal promise to the world,” said Or.

Alumni Spotlight DENISE HO, YALI 2000-02 Twentieth-Century Chinese History Professor at Yale What was your path to becoming an Associate Professor of Chinese History at Yale?

After my Yale-China experience in 2000-2002, I applied to graduate school in modern Chinese history. I completed my PhD at Harvard and taught first at the University of Kentucky and then at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In 2015, I came back to my alma mater. It’s been a great privilege and honor to teach at Yale, where I offer courses on twentieth-century China. I also have the opportunity to mentor students who are at the beginning of their engagement with China. This could be an academic interest, a cultural exchange, or a lifelong career.

How did you become involved with Yale-China?

Why did you decide to apply?

When I started my senior year of college, I was looking for a meaningful opportunity post-graduation, one which would allow me to make use of my recent study abroad experience in Beijing. I applied to Yale-China in part because I had tea with Stephen Platt, a Yale-China alum who was then in graduate school at Yale. Steve suggested I apply to the fellowship at Yali Middle School—he said that middle school students were the most fun, and that Yali was the best site!

What was your favorite memory of your fellowship?

I don’t think I have one favorite memory. I do have some favorite moments— teaching Junior One (the youngest group), because they were so excited to have their first foreign teacher. I also found one Science Olympic class especially inspiring, because they were so willing to help each other learn.

Overall, I think the best teaching moments came when we could put together something collaborative that students could be proud of—a magazine, a performance, or a presentation that drew on many kinds of abilities.

How has Yale-China impacted your career?

I think that Yale-China allowed me to have the experience of living in China and working in a school. This sounds really basic, but being a teacher is very different from being an exchange student. You are embedded in a department, you have colleagues, you see how the institution functions as a whole. You have students, you get to know some parents, and you’re invested in their development as people. I think the experience made me a better observer of a society not my own, which has been important to my later work as an historian.

How has Yale-China affected you personally?

On a personal level, I think that the Yale-China experience gave me a different perspective on the people I write about. It inspired me to think about Chinese society and its more recent past, how historical experience shapes individuals, and how and why culture matters.

Yale-China continues to affect me because I’ve kept in touch with other fellows, I’ve met up with former students, and I stay in touch with the organization.

There’s a special bond with people who have had a similar experience, even if it was a generation before or after, or even at a different site. Especially in our times, when COVID has limited our chances to travel to China and when U.S.-China relations have been challenged, it is important to remember the importance of the people-to-people connections that Yale-China fosters.

Denise Y. Ho is associate professor of twentieth-century Chinese history at Yale University. She is a historian of modern China, with a particular focus on the social and cultural history of the Mao period (1949-1976). She is also interested in urban history, the study of information and propaganda, and material culture. More recently, she is examining the history of the border between Hong Kong and China—Bao’an County, or today’s Shenzhen.

YALE-CHINA BRIDGE | 2023-2024

Photography by Michael Marsland, Yale University

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II give give to to Yale-China Yale-China to to assure assure that that those those in in the the future future can can have the same life-changing experience I had as have the same life-changing experience I had as a a fellow fellow 50 years ago.

I also believe thatthat thethe person-to-person contact 50 years ago.

I also believe person-to-person contact Yale-China provides is absolutely critical if we are ever Yale-China provides is absolutely critical if we are ever to to have have a a normal normal relationship relationship with with half half the the world’s world’s population. population.

–—R. Kent Guy, '70-'72) Kent Guy,(CUHK, (Former Fellow CUHK, 1970-72)

For more than 120 years, Yale-China has fostered collaboration between Americans and Chinese. Our work to maintain institutional ties and train global citizens is more important today than ever before.

Your Support Builds Stronger Bridges between the U.S. and China Donate today! yalechina.org/donate

Be remembered for your support of communities in China and the United States with a planned gift to Yale-China. A legacy gift can secure both your personal financial and estate giving goals as well as continue to ensure that Yale-China has a lasting impact.

Contact Leslie Stone at giving@yalechina.org

Grants & Financials Recent Grants to Yale-China Yale-China has received the following grants over the past 12 months that help us strengthen our programming and partnerships in the communities we serve in mainland China, Hong Kong, and New Haven. Ø

$100,000 from the Henry Luce Foundation for general operating support of Yale-China’s mission of bridging cultural ties

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$177,310 from the Chia Family Foundation in support of the Chia Fellowship Program, as well as additional $35,462 in general & administrative support

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$25,000 from the Starr Foundation for education and healthcare programming

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$20,000 from the Li Foundation in support of Yali Chinese language teachers in New Haven public schools, as well as $5,000 in general operating support

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$50,811 from the Council on East Asian Studies at Yale University in support of the Yale University New Asia (YUNA) program and the Chinese Teaching Fellowship programs

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$14,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven in support of the Artist Fellowship program and its collaboration between Hong Kong-based and New Haven artists

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A $54,000 Connecticut Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant was provided to Yale-China from Connecticut Humanities with additional funding from the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/ Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) by the Connecticut State Legislature

Yale-China: A Trusted and Highly Efficient Non-Profit Program Expenses 88%

All figures from the Yale-China 2022 Form 990

More financial information can be found on our website: yalechina.org/financials

Fundraising Expenses 5%

Management and General Expenses 7%

Yale-China 雅礼协会 P.O. Box 208223 New Haven, CT 06520-8223 USA

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID New Haven, CT Permit No. 133

“There is no other organization like Yale-China.

It inspires respect and affection between Chinese and American people and its impact runs deep.”

—Drake Pike, Yale-China Chair

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