Paul Chiou, MPH, SCT(ASCP) is a faculty member at Rutgers University. Like many of his Asian American colleagues, he has had awkward encounters in the laboratory when it comes to diversity and leadership. Here, he shares one of his experiences.
As an Asian American, what challenges have you encountered around increasing diversity and inclusion?
Our educational journey and personal experiences, our interactions with our colleagues, all shape who we become and our value system. I am currently on the faculty in the Department of Clinical Laboratory and Medical Imaging Sciences at Rutgers University with a research interest in Pathology Workforce management and Education. Prior to academia, I worked in laboratory management. I still remember my first management position very clearly. It was a great opportunity to work with a new medical director to modernize and improve an existing pathology lab.
I remember well my first day on the job in the lab. While I was making the rounds to introduce myself to people in my department, one of the techs came up to me and asked where I was from. I casually responded by saying, “California.” She asked again, “Where are you really from?” I suppose California is really big and I should really be more specific, so I said “Los Angeles.” “What’s your nationality?” She paused momentarily, then continued, “Dr. L is from China and Dr. G is from India. Where are you from?”
I thought it was strange the way she persisted with her questioning, but did not give it much thought. Years later, in retrospect, my guess is the tech was looking for an ethnic answer, like my place of ancestry. Many of my Asian American colleagues have voiced similar awkward experiences. Perhaps the issue is the underrepresentation of Asian Americans at the management level in pathology laboratories and that employees don’t know how to interact with one.
This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.
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