Celebration of Life Honors Dr. Charles Kwok Fai Chan's Legacy

May 22, 2024

Chuck Chan on a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. Wan-Jun Lu

Dr. Charles “Chuck” Kwok Fai Chan, an assistant professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, passed away on March 12, 2024. On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, the Stanford Stem Cell Institute and Department of Surgery hosted a celebration of life to honor Dr. Chan and recognize his significant contributions to science and humanity. The gathering drew family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Chan. 

The program commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Ravi Majeti, director of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. This was followed by speeches from mentors Irving Weissman, former Director of the Stanford Stem Cell Institute, and Dr. Michael Longaker, vice chair of the Department of Surgery, who highlighted Dr. Chan’s significant impact on the field of stem cell research. 

The event continued with presentations from former lab member Dr. Thomas Ambrosi and current members Dr. Yuting Wang, Dr. Eri Takematsu, Dr. Liming Zhao, and Ed Chan, sharing their research projects and remembrances of working under Dr. Chan’s mentorship.

The celebration concluded with personal tributes from attendees and a reception.


RELATED READING

Charles Kwok Fai Chan Stanford Medicine Obituary

https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(18)30956-5.pdf

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/08/old-skeletal-stem-cells-interfere-with-healing-study-finds.html