12/03/2025
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has presented a Certificate of Honor to Dr. Jian Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Chinese Hospital, in recognition of her extraordinary 32 years of service and her profound impact on community health across San Francisco yesterday. The City also officially declared December 2 as “Dr. Jian Zhang Day” to commemorate her enduring contributions.
Dr. Zhang is retiring after more than three decades of service, during which she expanded access to care, strengthened health equity, and transformed Chinese Hospital into a nationally recognized model for community-based healthcare. Beginning her career as a frontline clinician and rising through multiple leadership roles before becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2017, she has remained a steadfast advocate for culturally competent, bilingual, and accessible services for Chinatown and the broader Asian American community.
“Dr. Jian Zhang has dedicated over 3 decades of her career to serving the community with quality care. Her leadership centered around culturally appropriate care for our community has been so integral in keeping Chinatown and San Francisco residents safe and healthy. It is an honor to recognize Dr. Zhang’s contributions at the Board of Supervisors,” said Supervisor Chyanne Chen (D-District 11).
Transformative accomplishments under Dr. Zhang’s leadership:
• Restored Chinese Hospital’s reputation and financial and operational stability after a major system breakup in 2016.
• Led a nationally recognized pandemic response that protected Chinatown and kept infection and death rates among the lowest in the region.
• Built strong partnerships with UCSF Health, the San Francisco Department of Public Health and other health systems.
• Obtained historic government and philanthropic support.
• Elevated Chinese Hospital’s reputation to national prominence, earning recognition on Newsweek’s America’s Best-in-State Hospitals list for three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026.
• Strategically established outpatient centers and clinics, bringing culturally and linguistically appropriate care to more families in San Francisco and northern San Mateo County.
Dr. Zhang’s impact extends beyond the walls of the hospital. She has been widely recognized as a champion for health equity, culturally sensitive care, and community partnership, ensuring that immigrant and limited-English-proficient patients are not left behind in an increasingly complex healthcare system.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Dr. Zhang. “It has been the privilege of my life to serve this community alongside the dedicated Board, physicians, nurses, and staff at Chinese Hospital. Although I am stepping away from the CEO role, my commitment to Chinese Hospital’s mission remains unwavering.”
“Dr. Zhang has guided Chinese Hospital through times of great change and challenge, always keeping the community at the center,” said Dr. Roger Eng, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We are grateful for her 32 years of service and proud that the City is honoring her in this meaningful way.”
Dr. Zhang believes that leadership is about people — inspiring, cultivating, and empowering them to turn vision into enduring success. To ensure that this spirit continues to thrive, Chinese Hospital has established “Dr. Jian Zhang Leadership Fund”. This fund is dedicated to cultivating leaders at every level — from our board and hospital management team to physicians and community leaders—strengthening the network of individuals who serve and uplift the community. To learn more or make a contribution, please visit www.chinesehospital-sf.org/leadership-fund.
As Dr. Zhang enters a new chapter, Chinese Hospital will continue to advance the foundation she built—expanding services, elevating quality, and upholding its mission as a community hospital dedicated to providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care to all who rely on us.
