Colleagues, Family and Friends Celebrate 95th Birthdays of Professor Shu Chien and Dr. K.C. Chien

A Founder of a Field

Born in Beijing on June 23, 1931, Professor Chien earned his medical degree from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in physiology from Columbia University. Over a career spanning more than six decades, his pioneering work on blood flow, red blood cell mechanics, and cellular responses to mechanical forces helped establish the foundations of cardiovascular biomechanics and mechanobiology.

Professor Chien joined UC San Diego in 1988 and became the founding chair of its Department of Bioengineering in 1994, helping build it into one of the nation’s leading programs. 

As president of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), he helped shape the BMES into a leading international professional organization, championing the integration of engineering, biology, and medicine while fostering the emergence of cellular and molecular bioengineering as a cornerstone of the field.

Through his engagement with the Whitaker Foundation, including a transformational Leadership Award from the Foundation to UC San Diego, Professor Chien helped transform UC San Diego into a global center for bioengineering, including establishing the Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering on campus. His tireless leadership was critical in advancing the Foundation’s vision of building biomedical engineering into a major academic discipline in the United States.

In 2008, he founded UC San Diego’s Institute of Engineering in Medicine, further strengthening the connection between engineering, biology and clinical medicine.

His honors include election to all three U.S. national academies — the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded him the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor, for his pioneering contributions to cardiovascular physiology and bioengineering.

Professor Chien has also been continuously funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute from 1960 through 2028. This 68-year span of continuous funding has been recognized as a record for NHLBI, and likely for the entire NIH.

Throughout the evening, speakers emphasized that Professor Chien’s legacy extends far beyond awards and titles. His influence lives in the many generations of students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and colleagues he has mentored, supported, and inspired with humility, generosity, and vision.

An Evening of Tributes

The program featured remarks from Richard C. Atkinson, President Emeritus of the University of California; Dr. Irwin Jacobs, co-founder of Qualcomm; Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons; Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences John Carethers; BioLegend founder and CEO Gene Lay; Barbara Jung, Dean of the School of Medicine; Albert P. Pisano, Dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering, who delivered remarks by video; Zea Borok, Chair of the Department of Medicine; and Adam Engler, Chair of the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering. Dr. Ann Chien Guidera spoke on behalf of the family, sharing reflections that brought both laughter and tears.

The Honoree’s Own Words

Near the close of the evening, Professor Chien offered heartfelt remarks focused not on his own achievements, but on his wife’s life and service. He recalled how Dr. K.C. Chien, after receiving her New York medical license, led a pediatric clinic in Harlem. He shared the touching story of how parents of her young patients quietly took turns saving a parking space for her near the clinic, a gesture of deep affection and respect.

“Because of their love and respect for her,” Professor Chien said, “she was extremely safe in what was considered a very tough neighborhood.” He noted that her work had a direct and profound impact on the health of many people, especially those in disadvantaged communities.

Reflecting on their long marriage, Professor Chien said, “KC and I are most fortunate to be 95 years old and to have been married for 69 years.” He closed by thanking the guests for their presence. “Your presence is the best and most precious present for KC and me,” he said. “Thank you, thank you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The Hands Behind the Celebration

The celebration was initiated and organized by a devoted team of the Chiens’ colleagues and former trainees, including Drs. Julie Li, Song Li, Lingyan Shi, John Shyy, Peter Yingxiao Wang, and Reen Wu, with Drs. Peter Chen and Dayu Teng leading photography and audiovisual production. The organizers also expressed gratitude to an anonymous donor whose generous support made the event possible.

Original draft of this story by the celebration team.