Florence J. Chinn Loui, MD

Vital Information

Born: March 29, 1927 in Sacramento, California
Died: September 20, 2017 in Honolulu, Hawaii (age 90)
Nickname: “Popo” (Chinese for grandmother)
Parents: Ned-Chinn, Leong-See-Chinn
Spouse: Wallace Loui (divorced)
Children: Michael Loui, Warren Loui, William Loui, Ronald Loui, Terrence Loui (deceased)

Medical Career

Education

CK McClatchy High School, Sacramento - graduated with highest honors
Kui Wah Chinese Language School - valedictorian
Sacramento Junior College - graduated with great distinction
UC Berkeley - graduated with honors
Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania - MD degree
- Won “Professor of Medicine Award” as outstanding senior medical student
University of Pennsylvania Hospital - Internal Medicine residency (prestigious program)

Professional Achievements

Early Career

Sacramento County Hospital - First internship year as the only female among 40 doctors
Overcame rejection by California medical school that claimed to have filled its “female quota”
One of Hawaii’s first female board-certified internists

Hawaii Medical Practice (1959-2017)

Relocated to Honolulu in 1959
Maintained full-time medical practice while raising five sons independently
Specialized in internal medicine

Public Health Leadership

American Cancer Society - Screening Education Coordinator for “Butterfly Bus” mobile cancer screening program
Hawaii Health and Human Services Department - Medical Consultant
- Won national award for fraud and abuse prevention program
- Saved Hawaii $2 million over six years through fraud detection
Women’s Health Advocacy - Served on state commissions on domestic violence prevention (starting 1995)
Hawaii Medical Journal - Editor for special domestic violence issue (1996)

Legacy and Recognition

Dr. Florence J. Chinn Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Established at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii

Awards full-time medical students demonstrating academic merit and financial need
Preference given to single parents or children of single parents
Reflects Florence’s experience raising five sons independently

Pioneer Status

Described as a “trailblazing Chinese-American physician who overcame:

Humble beginnings
Gender prejudice
Cultural limitations
Racial discrimination
Systemic barriers to women in medicine (1940s-1950s)“

Personal Life

Family Background

Born to immigrant parents Ned and Leong See Chinn in Sacramento
Worked at family grocery store before pursuing medicine
One of seven children (3 sisters, 4 brothers)

Marriage and Family

Married Wallace Loui (Dr. Wallace Wah Sing Loui, M.D.)
Marriage ended in divorce
Relationship described as “not good” - the poor relationship between Florence and Wallace persisted throughout their lives
Raised five sons independently as a single mother after divorce
Wallace later married Patricia Cardinal Loui (40-year marriage until his death in 2017)
Eight grandsons, two granddaughters

Siblings

Sisters: Carolyn Chinn (survived), 2 sisters-in-law mentioned
Brothers:
- Holland-Chinn (survived)
- Allen-Chinn (predeceased)
- Leland-Chinn (predeceased)
- Franklin-Chinn (predeceased)
- Gallant-Chinn (predeceased)

Children

Michael Loui
Warren Loui - Attorney, winemaker, professor
William Loui
Ronald Loui - Computer scientist, professor
Terrence Loui (predeceased Florence)

Timeline

File	type	date	location
1995-Ongoing - Florence Domestic Violence Advocacy	community-service	1995	Honolulu, Hawaii

Sources

Notes

Florence J. Chinn Loui was a groundbreaking physician who broke multiple barriers as a Chinese-American woman in medicine during an era of intense discrimination. Her story is one of exceptional perseverance and achievement.

Overcoming Barriers

Applied to medical school in the 1940s when women faced strict quotas
Rejected by California schools due to “filled female quotas”
Traveled across country to Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania
Only woman among 40 interns at Sacramento County Hospital
Built successful medical career while navigating racial and gender discrimination

Single Motherhood and Career

One of Florence’s most remarkable achievements was maintaining a full-time medical practice while raising five sons independently after her divorce from Wallace Loui. This dual commitment to professional excellence and family responsibility made her an inspiration for future generations.

Community Impact

Beyond her clinical practice, Florence dedicated herself to public health:

Cancer screening outreach through mobile programs
Healthcare fraud prevention saving taxpayers millions
Women’s health advocacy, particularly domestic violence prevention
Medical journal editorial work on critical social issues

Grandchildren Connection

Florence had eight grandsons and two granddaughters. Through Warren, these include:

Nicholas Loui - Warren’s eldest son
Ryan Loui - Warren’s second son
Samantha Loui - Warren’s daughter

Cultural Identity

Florence maintained strong connections to Chinese-American culture:

Valedictorian of Chinese language school
Known as “Popo” (Chinese term for paternal grandmother)
Worked in family’s immigrant-run grocery store
Overcame cultural limitations to pursue medicine

Historical Significance

Florence Chinn Loui represents a crucial generation of Asian-American women who entered professional fields despite systemic exclusion. Her legacy continues through:

The scholarship bearing her name
Her descendants’ professional achievements
The path she blazed for future Asian-American women in medicine
Her documented advocacy for vulnerable populations

Research Needed