From Achievement to Contribution: Reflections from the 2026 Asian American Scholar Forum at Stanford

By Dr. Jian Zhang

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the 2026 Asian American Scholar Forum

(AASF) Conference and Gala at Stanford University.

For three inspiring days, Nobel laureates, pioneering scientists, AI visionaries, entrepreneurs, educators, physicians, and public leaders gathered to discuss some of the most important questions of our time—from artificial intelligence and scientific discovery to energy, education, and the future of humanity.

Among them were Nobel Prize winners Professor Samuel C. C. Ting and Professor Steven Chu, this year's Asian American Pioneer Medal recipient Professor Louise T. Chow, AI pioneer Professor Fei-Fei Li, Google's Chief Scientist Jeff Dean, and many other distinguished scholars whose work has transformed science, technology, and society.

As remarkable as their achievements are, what stayed with me most was not what they had already accomplished.

It was what they continue to contribute.

Achievement Is a Beginning, Not a Destination

Professor Samuel Ting received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976 for the discovery of the J/ψ particle, one of the landmark achievements in modern physics.

Many people would have spent the rest of their careers defined by that accomplishment.

Professor Ting chose a different path.

Instead of looking backward, he continued asking even bigger questions. His pursuit eventually led him to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station—one of the most ambitious international scientific collaborations ever

undertaken—searching for answers about dark matter, antimatter, and the origins of our universe.

Nearly fifty years after receiving the Nobel Prize, he is still exploring.

Professor Steven Chu followed a similarly remarkable path. After winning the Nobel Prize, he expanded his impact far beyond the laboratory, serving as U.S. Secretary of Energy and continuing to tackle one of humanity's greatest challenges: creating a more sustainable future.

Professor Louise T. Chow, honored this year by AASF, has spent decades advancing molecular biology while opening doors for future generations of scientists. Her legacy is measured not only by her discoveries but also by the opportunities she created for others.

Professor Fei-Fei Li continues to shape the future of artificial intelligence by advocating for technology that serves humanity. Jeff Dean is pushing the boundaries of AI to accelerate scientific discovery across disciplines.

Different fields.

Different journeys.

Yet they all shared something remarkably similar.

None of them seemed interested in preserving yesterday's success.

They were all investing in tomorrow.

A Different Measure of Success

As I listened throughout the conference, I found myself reflecting on my own journey.

For more than three decades, I had the privilege of serving the Chinese Hospital community—as a nurse, nurse practitioner, executive leader, and eventually CEO. Together with extraordinary colleagues, physicians, board members, and community partners, we transformed an organization, navigated financial crises, responded to a global pandemic, and strengthened healthcare for the communities we serve.

I will always be grateful for that chapter of my life.

Earlier this year, I intentionally began a new one.

Not because there was nothing left to accomplish.

But because I wanted the freedom to ask a different question.

Instead of asking,

"What should I do next?"

I found myself asking,

"Where can I make the greatest contribution?"

The older I become, the more I believe that is the better question.

Choosing a New Frontier

One lesson from the conference became increasingly clear.

Leadership evolves.

Early in our careers, we naturally focus on achievement.

We pursue education.

We build expertise.

We earn opportunities.

We lead organizations.

We create results.

Those accomplishments matter.

They build credibility.

But over time, the focus begins to shift.

Leadership becomes less about what we build for ourselves and more about what we build in others.

Professor Ting did not spend the second half of his career trying to recreate the discovery that first made him famous.

He chose a new frontier.

That idea resonated deeply with me.

My own frontier is no longer centered on leading a single healthcare organization.

It is about helping develop leaders who can navigate a world of unprecedented complexity.

Healthcare is being transformed by artificial intelligence, demographic change, economic pressure, and global interconnectedness. Tomorrow's leaders will need more than technical expertise. They will need judgment, resilience, adaptability, and the ability to lead with both competence and compassion.

That is where I hope to invest the years ahead—through teaching, writing, mentoring, board service, strategic advising, and global health collaboration.

If I can help prepare leaders to navigate change with wisdom, integrity, and humanity, I believe that will be one of the most meaningful contributions I can make.

From Achievement to Contribution

As the conference came to a close, I realized I was leaving Stanford with something far more valuable than notes from inspiring presentations.

I was leaving with a renewed perspective.

The people who inspired me most were no longer striving to accumulate accomplishments.

Recognition had already found them.

What continued to motivate them was curiosity.

Discovery.

Service.

Contribution.

Perhaps that is the natural evolution of leadership.

Earlier in life, we ask,

"What can I achieve?"

Later, we begin asking,

"What can I contribute?"

That shift may be one of the greatest privileges of experience.

Achievement opens opportunities.

Contribution creates impact.

Contribution creates legacy.

As I begin my own next chapter, I feel grateful—not because I have reached a destination, but because I have the freedom to choose where I can contribute most.

Leaving the AASF Conference, I wasn't thinking only about Nobel Prizes, artificial intelligence, or groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

I was thinking about the remarkable people behind those achievements—individuals who continue to learn, to build, to mentor, and to serve long after they have earned the world's highest recognition.

Their example reminded me that a meaningful life is not measured only by the summits we have reached.

It is measured by the lives we continue to influence after we reach them.

That is the frontier I hope to spend my next chapter exploring.

~~~

从成就到贡献

——2026 年斯坦福亚裔美国学者论坛（AASF）有感

这个周末，我有幸参加了在斯坦福大学举行的 2026 年亚裔美国学者论坛（Asian

American Scholar Forum，AASF）年度大会暨晚宴。

三天时间里，诺贝尔奖得主、顶尖科学家、人工智能领军人物、企业家、教育家、医生和

社会领袖齐聚一堂，共同探讨人工智能、基础科学、能源、教育以及人类未来等重大议题

。

其中包括诺贝尔物理学奖得主丁肇中教授、诺贝尔物理学奖得主朱棣文教授、今年荣获

Asian American Pioneer Medal（亚裔美国先锋奖） 的周芷教授（Louise T. Chow）、人

工智能领域的李飞飞教授、Google 首席科学家 Jeff Dean，以及许多在各自领域享誉世界

的杰出学者。

然而，真正留在我心里的，并不仅仅是他们取得了多么辉煌的成就。而是，他们今天仍然

在创造新的贡献。

成就，不是终点，而是新的起点

1976 年，丁肇中教授因发现 J/ψ 粒子获得诺贝尔物理学奖。这项发现改变了现代粒子物

理学的发展方向。很多人在达到这样的高峰之后，也许会用余生回顾自己的辉煌。但丁教

授没有。几十年来，他始终在追寻更大的问题。他领导国际团队建立了安装在国际空间站

上的 阿尔法磁谱仪（Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer，AMS），持续探索暗物质、反物质

以及宇宙起源等至今仍未解开的谜题。距离获得诺贝尔奖已近五十年，他依然奋斗在科学

探索的最前沿。

朱棣文教授同样如此。获得诺贝尔奖之后，他不仅继续从事科学研究，还担任美国能源部

长，推动新能源与气候变化领域的发展，用科学影响公共政策。

今年获得 AASF 亚裔美国先锋奖的周芷教授，则让我看到另一种先锋精神。她不仅在分

子生物学领域取得卓越成就，更重要的是，她为后来的一代又一代科学家打开了新的大门

。

李飞飞教授始终倡导人工智能的发展必须以人为本；Jeff Dean 则不断推动 AI 在科学研究

中的应用，加速人类知识的发现。

他们来自不同领域。拥有不同的人生经历。却有一个共同点。

他们从未因为昨天的成功，而停止探索明天。

对成功的另一种理解

坐在会场里，我也不断回望自己的职业旅程。

过去三十多年，我有幸在华埠中华医院工作，从一名护士、执业护士，到行政管理者，再

到担任 CEO，与优秀的团队、董事会、医生和社区伙伴一起，经历组织转型、财务挑战

、新冠疫情，以及医疗体系不断变化带来的各种考验。这是我人生中极其重要的一段经历

。

今年，我选择开启人生新的篇章。不是因为没有事情可做。而是因为，我终于拥有了更多

自由，可以重新思考一个更重要的问题。

过去，我常常问自己：下一步，我应该做什么？

现在，我更愿意问：下一步，我能够贡献什么？

我越来越觉得，这是一个更值得思考的问题。

选择新的疆界

这次大会让我更加相信，领导力本身也会不断演进。

职业生涯的前半程，我们努力追求的是成就。学习知识。积累经验。承担责任。带领团队

。建设组织。创造业绩。这些都非常重要。它们建立了我们的专业能力，也赢得了社会的

信任。

但随着人生不断向前，我们关注的重点也会悄然改变。

领导，不再只是建设一个组织。更重要的是，培养更多的人。

丁肇中教授没有把后半生停留在自己最辉煌的发现上。他选择了新的科学疆界。

这也让我开始思考属于自己的新方向。

未来，我希望投入更多时间在领导力培养、教学、写作、董事会服务、战略咨询以及全球

健康合作。

医疗健康正经历人工智能、人口老龄化、全球化等前所未有的变革。

未来真正优秀的领导者，需要的不仅仅是专业知识。更需要判断力、韧性、同理心，以及

在充满不确定性的时代，依然能够坚持初心、带领团队前行。

如果能够帮助培养更多这样的领导者，我相信，这将是我人生下一篇章最有意义的贡献。

从成就，到贡献

会议结束时，我带走的不只是精彩的演讲内容。更是一种新的思考。

那些最令我敬佩的人，早已不需要靠新的头衔或奖项来证明自己。

他们真正关心的是：

还有什么问题值得探索？

还有什么事情值得去做？

还能为这个世界留下些什么？

也许，这就是领导力最自然的成长。

年轻时，我们不断追求：我能够取得什么成就？

而随着阅历增长，我们开始思考：我能够留下什么贡献？

这是人生不同阶段最美好的转变。

成就，为我们打开一扇门。

贡献，则决定我们最终留下怎样的影响。

当我开启自己人生的下一篇章，我最期待的，不再是新的职位，而是新的价值。

离开斯坦福时，我想到的，不只是诺贝尔奖、人工智能，或那些改变世界的科学发现。

我想到的是，这些真正卓越的人，在取得世界级成就之后，依然保持着学习的热情、探索

的勇气，以及服务社会的初心。

他们让我更加相信：

人生真正的高度，不在于曾经登上过多少高峰；

而在于登上高峰之后，仍然愿意继续攀登，并帮助更多人抵达属于他们的高峰。

这，就是我希望在人生下一篇章不断探索的方向。