The Focused Ultrasound Foundation is powered by a dedicated team whose work accelerates the development and adoption of focused ultrasound around the world. In our Focused In series, we spotlight members of the Foundation staff to share their roles, perspectives, achievements, and to celebrate the impact they make in transforming patient’s lives.
Jessica Chao is the Asia Ambassador for the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and a member of the Foundation’s Council. Based in Taipei, Taiwan, she coordinates Foundation-related activities across the region and maintains a strong local presence in collaboration with her colleague Dong-Guk Paeng, PhD, in Korea.
Jessica also serves as director of the Focused Ultrasound Hong Kong Foundation Limited (FUSHK) and has worked in different capacities in the financial industry for 15 years–across banking, equity research, and strategic investment. Most recently, she was an executive director of firmwide strategy at Goldman Sachs (Asia) based in Hong Kong.
We recently spoke with Jessica about her role advancing focused ultrasound in Asia.
Can you share more about your role with the Foundation?
As the Ambassador for the Foundation in Asia, I’m the key coordinator responsible for all Foundation-related activities and company liaison in that region. I’m based in Taipei, Taiwan. We have another ambassador, Dong-Guk Paeng, PhD, who’s based in Korea, and together, we maintain a very strong and localized presence in the key parts of the region.
How was FUSHK founded and what are its priorities?
The FUSHK was founded in 2020 as part of a strategic initiative to expand the Foundation’s footprint in Asia. And from the beginning, the Foundation envisioned itself as a global organization with the mission to save and improve lives of patients worldwide. Asia is home to a lot of growing innovative startups in the focused ultrasound space, particularly in places like Taiwan, China, and Korea. It’s important for us to provide friendly, timely support for companies and researchers in that region.
Can you highlight a few of the exciting developments in the focused ultrasound field in Asia right now?
The most exciting part of the focused ultrasound field in Asia is clinical adoption. Chongqing Haifu is a flagship manufacturer in focused ultrasound, and I believe its devices have treated the most patients worldwide. On the smaller scale, we are seeing a lot of new startups going into this field. There are also more indications that are being studied and adopted in Asia than in the rest of the world.
What is one thing you want readers to take away from this blog?
The US and Hong Kong Foundations are really here to help. We provide support, not just financially, but also in advice to newcomers who want to get into this field. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. Our mission is to save lives, and together, we want to make this happen.
Get in touch
Find out more about the US-based Focused Ultrasound Foundation and focused ultrasound. To learn more about FUSHK and the resources they provide, visit the website or contact [email protected].
Watch the Interview
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