At the age of 25, he arrived from Hong Kong with a modest suitcase and a huge dream. He applied to several medical schools, but only one believed in him and opened its doors. This "yes" would change his destiny and, more than 70 years later, it continues to shape the lives of future physicians.
A new beginning in Ottawa
When Francis Wong arrived in Ottawa, he left behind his fiancée, Josephine, with whom he exchanged letters full of hopes and plans. A year later, she crossed the ocean to join him. Together, they discovered a new language, a new country and a new life. She found a job at Immigration Canada and quickly became the quiet force behind his dream: she paid the rent and bills, and even covered tuition, while he studied late into the night and took on odd jobs during the summer.
They married in 1956, and welcomed two daughters soon after: Catherine in 1957 and Ann in 1959. At the heart of a daily life — caring for their young family, while engaged in demanding studies and settling in a foreign country — one thing remained certain: each page that Francis turned in his medical textbooks was bringing him and his family closer to a better future.
"Without the University of Ottawa,” he later said, “none of this would have been possible."
“It’s a story about perseverance, love, and the legacy that continues long after life has concluded,” reflects Catherine.
A career built on excellence and service
Dr. Wong graduated from the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine in 1960 and completed his residency in anesthesiology a few years later before embarking on a career marked by his dedication to his patients and to the next generation of doctors.
He spent many years practicing in the United States, where he was recognized as a skilled clinician and a generous mentor, before returning to Windsor, Ontario to complete his career.
Dr. Wong completed his hospital career at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, before returning to Windsor, where he continued to practice part-time in various clinics until 2009.
Throughout his career, he was guided by the same conviction: medicine is a commitment to others, a concrete way to give back what he himself had received.
A gesture of gratitude that endures
Decades later, as they prepared their will, Francis and Josephine wanted to share their gratitude. Their desire was simple: to take care of their loved ones first, then to thank the institution that said yes, and gave them a chance.
Dr. Wong passed away in 2012, and Josephine in 2016. After their deaths, their generous donation to the Faculty of Medicine created the Francis Chu-Yin Wong Financial Support Scholarships.
The Wongs are a wonderful example of the lasting change that comes from making a gift in one’s will. A common misconception is that this type of donation comes at the expense of family inheritance, but that isn’t accurate. Many of our donors choose to take care of their family first, and then leave a percentage or residual amount as a donation in their will.
A gift in your will is a powerful way to support the values and causes that matter most to you, creating a legacy that reflects both care for your family and a lasting commitment to your community.
Thanks to the generosity of Francis and Josephine Wong, every year, a student in need receives the help they need: A scholarship that reduces tuition anxiety; a gift that allows them to breathe a little easier; a reminder that within the walls of the university are people who know that many who are capable of succeeding here sometimes just need a helping hand, or a simple “yes.”
“I am extremely grateful to be the recipient of this scholarship,” says Chloe Thabet (MD 2020). “It allows me to focus on my academic and clinical performance without worrying about the financial burden associated with being a medical student.”
Since 2017, nine students have received support through the Francis Chu-Yin Wong Financial Support Scholarships.
For Catherine, the scholarship is an important part of her parents’ legacy, a way for them to reach out and help someone again and again. "Every time a student writes to me to say what the scholarship has done for them, I feel like my father is smiling next to me," she says.
“I feel honoured to be the recipient of Dr. Francis Chu-Yin Wong’s help,” shares Luke Edgar (MD 2020). “His contribution to my education helps relieve part of the financial burden associated with pursuing a career in medicine. I plan to pay it forward to students in the future once I am financially able”.
A legacy that transforms lives
The Wong family’s gift is proof that everyone can shape their legacy based on their values, their priorities and the way in which they wish to support their community.
At the Faculty of Medicine, there are many avenues available to those who want to make a lasting impact: supporting students facing financial barriers, contributing to research into diseases that affect them closely, or investing in the training of the next generation of clinicians, researchers, teachers and innovators.
“A gift in your will is about building a legacy of impact beyond your lifetime.” says Leah Eustace, Executive Director, Advancement and Alumni relations office at the Faculty. “At the University of Ottawa, every gesture like this creates a lasting footprint, and it nurtures those who will create a healthier future for the generations to come.”
Supporting the future of medicine
You can learn more about the different ways to donate by visiting our webpage.
Thank you for being part of this chain of generosity.