Student responses to Dr. Ming Wang’s presentation on October 2, 2013

Wang Vision 3D Cataract & LASIK Center, Nashville, Tennessee

Assignment Instructions

Student will select a current event article from a newspaper or news source to summarize and relate to the content of the course. Each article submission should be between 300 and 500 words.

As an alternative, student may write a 300 to 500 word response to the presentation of Dr. Ming Wang on campus, October 2, 2013. Student may reference Dr. Wangs' live presentation, his video regarding the invention and importance of the amniotic contact lens, including the ethical/moral issues involved, as well as his handout materials. Questions/issues one could consider include:

What impact did this presentation have on me? Was I inspired to achieve or make a differnece? Did it influence my feelings about conflicts between science and faith? Did it bring me any significant cultural or historical understanding? How did Dr. Wang deal with the moral issue of stem cell research and what significance does that have for my moral and ethical decision making? What business principles or applications did I glean from this presentation? Describe Dr. Wang as a marketer.

Student 1:  It was a great opportunity to attend Dr. Ming Wang's presentation in the Boone Convocation Center. The title on the packet we were given during the presentation states "The World is What You Make of It", and I truly believe that Dr. Wang lives that saying. It is amazing to think of the accomplishments he has considering the struggles that he has gone through in life. From almost being sent to a work camp in communist China, to graduating magna cum laude from Harvard and attaining a PhD in laser physics from MIT and discovering a new way to heal corneal scars, Dr. Wang is an inspirational man.

Just as Dr. Wang was a great informal speaker, he also had an impact on me personally. It amazes me how he sees everything in life as a opportunity, and despite how much he has done and accomplished, he is still very humble. Not only is he very humble, but he freely gives of his time and talents to those who need it. He spoke about how he does not understand how America can decide to go from the liberty we have now to giving up liberties to the government. He implored us to step up, and live as we are supposed to as Christians and Americans to keep our liberties and freedoms.

One of the most important lessons that Dr. Wang helped teach me through his presentation is that science and faith can walk hand-in-hand and cooperate to achieve great results. When Dr. Wang was confronted with a difficult choice between choosing a more likely scientific method that was against his beliefs, or abandoning the research because without destroying fetuses it was unlikely to find an answer, he chose to follow his beliefs and still discovered the answer. This is clear sign that even within a field as secular as science, God still inspires and guides us.

Student 2:  For the current event article, I chose to write about Dr. Ming Wang and his presentation at Trevecca on October 2^nd. Dr. Wang, through all of his life experiences has quite an interesting story to tell. As a young boy growing up in China during the ten-year catastrophe, he was not left with much hope for his future. Basically he was set for a destiny as a slave laborer earning a dollar a day. His decision to learn the Chinese er-hu violin may have been the decision that dramatically changed his life. I was quite impressed with the path his life would take from that point on, eventually turning into one of the premier eye surgeons in the United States.

My favorite part about his presentation was the emphasis he put on the value of an education, something that is very so often taken for granted here in the United States. When I was growing up in elementary and high school, it was not even a question if my brother and I would attend college, it was a given. Everyone from my grandparents down on both sides of my family had or is attending college. It honestly wasn't even something that I had thought about until this point. When Dr. Wang was describing what the education system was like in China, it was viewed at the upmost privilege to get to attend a university. Dr. Wang’s presentation caused me to open my eyes and realize how fortunate I really have it to get the opportunity to attend college, something that is a coveted dream of many people my age around the world.

The second thing that impressed me about Dr. Wang was his dedication to the Lord. When he was researching for a cure to eye scaring, and believed he had found a solution in an unborn fetus, he did not compromise his morals by terminating a pregnancy to find his solution. Rather, Dr. Wang waited for the Lord to provide an opportunity for him to locate a secondary solution. At a point where Dr. Wang could have resorted to an aborted fetus to find the research he needed, he trusted in God and knew that God would lead him in the right direction. I think this is something that I can apply to my own life. Although the short cuts may be present, trusting in the Lord and following his path will always lead in the right direction.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Wang’s presentation, and his outlook on life and Christianity. Hopefully I will never need his services, but if I were ever in the market for eye surgery, he would be one of my first choices to turn towards

Student 3:  Dr. Ming Wang is an amazing business man with a very impressive sense of marketing. Dr. Wang presents his business well in the community and has greatly impacted the life of his clients and those he speaks with. When Dr. Wang made his presentation, I was inspired. It was simply amazing to see how a man coming from such a horrible background, found his way to America and turned his life and work into something so helpful to those around him. I was inspired to do so much with my life, but most importantly to stop being so lazy and to always strive to be the best that I can be at everything in every way. There was a unique sense of cultural understanding brought by this presentation. The comparison of the hardworking Chinese culture to that of the lazy American one was a real eye opener for me.

            The main focus of the presentation was on Dr. Wang's work. He has preformed many a fascinating surgery, restoring sight to the legally blind. However, is work is not without critics and moral issues. The tissue Dr. Wang uses for his surgeries comes from the womb of a mother who is with child. The issue arose on how to use the cells without disturbing the life of the unborn child. Dr. Wang and his medical team were able to take cells from the ambiotic membrane to accomplish their goals. This sac is a waste material of child birth. Therefore Dr. Wang takes it after the child is born and in no way causes harm to the child. I think this is incredible. We have come to the place where we have taken something deemed useless and turned it into an agent of healing. This shows that we can be successful business men and women that have a code of ethics and morals that we refuse to break.

            The idea of faith vs. science has always been a big topic not only in the medical field, but also in science in general. I have always struggled to find a way to reconcile these two in my head. About two years ago, I was in a science class and my teacher finally gave me the answer that I was looking for and one that I think Dr. Wang would agree with after listening to his presentation. Faith and science are not enemies. Science will take us right to the brink of what we can accomplish with our human knowledge and technology, but faith is the vessel that takes us past that line. Faith and science can work hand in hand to extend our abilities and our accomplishments farther than either could do alone. I fully believe that this is the way God intended for it to be. After listening to Dr. Wang, I feel like my belief has been strengthened even more.

Student 4:  On October 2^nd I had the pleasure to attend a presentation from Doctor Ming Wang which is hosted in our business building. The biggest impact that the speech gave me was the state of mind that we have to cherish every opportunity that comes across. Doctor Ming Wang waited ten years for a chance to get into college and he did an exceptional job to be the top 2% of students (in which the total number of students has been accumulated for ten years) who are qualified to attend college.

            We watched a short video that introduced us to Doctor Ming Wang’s huge medical achievement and also other issues along with the achievement.  With the technology that has been used for LASIK has remained largely unchanged for many years, Doctor Ming Wang was devoted to improve the LASIK surgery for more precision and accuracy with the laser focusing of the eye. One of the main issues that he had come across was the fact that he knew the eyes of unborn babies could be the key to solution. However, he refused to do further work about it because it was ethical unacceptable and not what Jesus would do. Fortunately, after fifteen years of research the 3D LASIK surgery was announced and has been successful.

            Since Doctor Ming Wang and I both came to the United States as international students pursuing a better future, I can somehow related to his feelings when he just got here and respect all his achievements. It is my sixth year in the college of the United States, sometimes I would wonder if I have achieved enough so that I am being responsible for my parents who are saving every penny for me to be here. I was not a hard working student while I was growing up until the year I came here. Without a strong educational foundation, it was tough for me to start off my new education but I make it through by working hard. Doctor Ming Wang’s presentation reminded me how I have been working hard to get to the position I am today and encouraged me to keep going. Moreover, he showed me that giving back to the community is the key to be a respectable and successful human being. There is a quote from Doctor Ming Wang’s presentation that could sum up what I had gotten out of,” Why work so hard today? From the experience of once having not.”

 

Student 5:  What impact did this presentation have on me? 

            The impact of this presentation was a realization of how blessed I am, as well as a desire to make the most of my circumstances.  Dr. Ming Wang is a very impressive man with an incredible drive to succeed.  He went through many repressive circumstances to get to where he is today.  As he mentioned in his speech, we often take for granted the ability to build ourselves into better people.  It created in me a desire to make the most of the great opportunity we have been given.

Did it bring me any significant cultural or historical understanding?

            His presentation was very informative to me in this regard.  China’s the ten-year catastrophe was something of which I had little prior knowledge.  He stated that he and twenty million other youth were condemned to a life of poverty.  That was shocking to me and gave me a much greater understanding of his value of opportunity.  It was a great cultural lesson; knowing that the people who made it through those situations are likely to share the same value of personal development.

How did Dr. Wang deal with the moral issue of stem cell research and what significance does

that have for my moral and ethical decision making? 

            I was very impressed with Dr. Wang’s ethical standards.  In spite of all the diversity he went through, he remained firm in his convictions.  Throughout the presentation and in his handout, he clearly outlined that faith and science are friends rather than foes.  He found a creative way to continue his research without conflicting with his Biblical worldview. He needed stem cells, but, instead of using the fetus, he was able to use the amniotic membrane, a piece of tissue that is usually discarded after birth.  I was impressed that his faith went beyond that as well.  He is involved in the Chinese Bible Project and raising money for people who need eye care but can’t afford it.  He is obviously very strong in his ethical beliefs, and I believe God has blessed him for it. 

I believe the significance of his ethical behavior is that he was consistent.  Even after his years of research were threatened, he did not consider the use of the fetus as an option.  I believe this type of consistency is required in the business world as well.  Cutting corners or allowing exceptions can ruin credibility and create legal trouble for an entire business.

What business principles or applications did I glean from this presentation? 

            This presentation had some great parallels to business decision-making.  In several of my classes and internships, I have learned that opportunities are key to any business.  Making a decision on whether or not to act on these opportunities can make or break a business.   In his presentation, he told us that his parents demanded that he start applying for college before he was ready.  This was simply because they did not know how long he would have the opportunity to attend college.  I can apply this as a college senior.  I am at the point in my life where I have a lot of decisions to make.  Even though things may not align exactly like I had imagined, I will have to make a lot of decisions based on the available opportunities.  As we learned from Dr. Wang, who came to America with only fifty dollars, you can make the most of those opportunities whether you feel ready or not.

Student 6:  On October 2, 2013, I attended perhaps the best and most interesting presentation I have seen at Trevecca. In the small amount of time Dr. Ming Wang spoke, I was not only impressed and moved, but inspired as to the impact this man has had on quite literally the world. It seems that lesser recognition is given, and most likely by no intentional purpose, to business men and women as compared to that of religious, political, and social leaders when thinking of great moral character and stirring actions. However, Dr. Wang, in less than one hour, broke that chain as he described his overcoming of both the Chinese government’s oppression and the ethical dilemma with which he was confronted.

I think one of the greatest messages received from Dr. Wang that day was found in his story of perseverance and overcoming the struggles he faced as a teenager in China. Even as his education was thought to have been taken from him, he continued to learn the er-hu and dance in hopes of not being deported. His hope and perseverance inspires me to work hard to do everything I can, and to trust God with the rest.

The video presentation Dr. Wang provided was also an extraordinary story of overcoming the frustration he faced in having to choose between an unborn fetus’s life and the healing and restoring of life for those with eye injury and sight imparities. As a Christian and doctor, his principles would not let him choose between the two, but neither would his dedication let him give up. As a result, and after sixteen years of research, he discovered the amniotic membrane of the fetal surrounding provided the same cell healing effects and has since been able to replicate contact lenses that provide cataract healing and sight restoration. As both a Christian and, God-willing, a future business woman, I am motivated not only to work hard and preserve persevere in the face of challenges within my practice, but to maintain my principles no matter what field or job I hold, and to look to God for guidance and answers.

As much of his talk also involved the relationship of science or research and that of faith and moral principles, I think Dr. Ming Wang is an exemplary model of how we as Christians are to relate to the world. Being a Christian does not mean we cannot advance ourselves or our field of practice, but it does force us to recognize the duty we have to our fellow man, whether he is unborn or a hundred years old. In all things we should look to our Creator for answers, and through all things we should give back the glory and recognition from whence it came. As per the title of Dr. Ming Wang’s presentation, the world is what we make it, and as Christians we should make it befitting the approval of our Creator that he may continue to look upon us and say, “This is good.”

Student 7:  Dr. Ming Wang has devoted many years to the study of the eye. He has been able to find the place between science and faith where moral and ethical principles are not hindered and eyesight can be restored. His presentation was inspiring, to say the least. In his handout, Dr. Wang tells the story of his upbringing; it is a story of fear, persistence, faith, and success. Throughout his childhood and young adulthood, he and his family were afraid that he would never be able to pursue higher education and that he would be deported. Since then, he has become a renowned cataract and LASIK surgeon and has developed new ways to treat damaged eyes.

            There has always seemed to be a contradiction between science and faith, especially when dealing with the unborn fetus. Dr. Wang’s research had led him to find the healing properties of the unborn fetus, but had no way of continuing without violating moral principles. It seemed clear that science and faith could not coexist happily. But, through persistence, Dr. Wang found that the amniotic sac contained the same healing properties. He was able to successfully bridge the gap between science and faith. He has shown me that ethical and moral decisions can be made through persistence and faith by not making compromises and by continuing toward a specific goal.

            Dr. Wang’s story has helped him to market his new product, the Ambio Disc. He has been featured in several news stories and has made many appearances and speeches about his life story and his research. He has also used his love for ballroom dancing to raise society’s awareness of sight restoration efforts by putt together an event called the Eyeball, a formal ballroom dancing event that has drawn people from around the world to attend, hear about his work, and give to his sight charity. 

Student 8:  Recently Dr. Ming Wang came to the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University and I was one of the many students who had the pleasure of going and listening to him speak. I was unsure about what he was going to speak about and how it would pertain to my life or what I would get out of going to this presentation. However, after hearing what he had to say, I was very happy that I choose to go. I really enjoyed his perspective about living in America. I know that I sometimes take for granted the wonderful country that I live in and the numerous opportunities that I have and he made me take the time and remember how lucky and blessed I truly am. It was very inspiring to see all that this man has been through and how successful he has been in his career. There was one point when he was not even sure if he was going to be able to go to college and know he is one of the top eye doctors in the state.

            I thought it was very interesting that when he was actually considering the controversy of faith and science. I feel that most scientist do not worry about the faith aspect. They are just trying to find a cure or come up with the next big thing that will make them rich. After watching the video that was shown during the presentation and reading over the packet that was given to us, I learned that he was caught up in what was the right thing to do with the embryotic aspect. I was glad to see that he considered what the right thing was and put in extra work to make it in good faith.

            I gained more of a cultural knowledge I feel after listening to his presentation. I enjoyed listening to his story and the way he grew up and the struggles that he faced throughout his life. One of the things that really surprised me was how the government would force the children to quit school and go to work for a very minimum wage. I think it was great that he was self-motivated enough to teach himself how to play an instrument so he could continue his education. When he played the Chinese violin at the end of his speech I was very surprised at how well he performed. It sounded great and I liked that he played Amazing Grace at the end and invited us all to sing with him. It was a good way to connect with the audience.

            Dr. Wang has done a great job of marketing and getting his career out for everyone to know. In the packet that he gave us there were many pages of articles that were written about him and in the video, it showed where he was on several different news channels describing what he does and getting his services made known to the public.

Student 9:  Dr. Wang's presentation was an eye opening experience. To hear the first hand account of someone who found and achieved the American dream after coming from a place where he assumed he would be in poverty for the rest of his life is jaw dropping. The line that stuck with me most was the idea of working hard today because of "the experience of once having not." I think that this is something that is often overlooked. It is truly a privilege to have the opportunity to work hard to get ahead, that many people in the world do not have. Yet, living here in America it is taken for granted and nobody wants to put in the work.

Another key point from Dr. Wang's lecture was the idea that faith and science do not have to be at odds with each other. I feel that all too often it is the viewpoint of the church that science is not to be trusted. Likewise, I think there is a sentiment in the scientific community that people of faith are ignorant of scientific facts. I feel that these sentiments have become a self fulfilling prophesy. The church community sees the science community as looking down on them and trying to disprove their religion so they shy away from science, and then this shying away from science leads to the scientific community looking down on the church community. It is always great to hear of a man of both science and faith using both to come up with a scientific solution to a problem that he also feels is morally and ethically appropriate.

I also believe that the mixture of faith and science can be more broadly applied to all fields of work or study, and that Dr. Wang can serve for a model to all Christians. He can show us all that it is not okay to do things the same way that our peers are doing them in any line of work if it is not ethically responsible. Alternative solutions that satisfy practical and moral needs can be found if we are willing to put in the time and thought.

Student 10:  Dr. Ming Wang spoke to us about his journey from a young teenager to his current career. He had a powerful and motivating story of overcoming hardships and pursuing his dreams. His story influenced me to work hard and to make a difference in the world. He also had interesting points about faith and science, which influenced my own thoughts on this as well. The following will describe his presentation and how it influenced me.

            Dr. Ming Wang overcame a huge hardship as child because he grew up in China during the ten-year catastrophe. He could have easily just given up and not fought to stay out of poverty, but he tried everything he could to get out! He was disciplined in learning the musical instruments and when that didn’t work, he found something else to do which was dance. This is a perfect example of perseverance and never giving up. This is very encouraging to me especially when I struggle with schoolwork. Sometimes I feel like quitting, but after hearing Dr. Ming Wang’s story, it inspires me to press on. I think his father majorly influenced him, especially when he pushed him to go straight to college instead of finishing out high school when the dictator died in China. Dr. Wang’s father showed him to take opportunities as they come with no hesitation, because those opportunities could be gone at any second. He carried on this understanding when he came to America with only 50 dollars. He seized the opportunity and when with it with no regrets and that is how passionate he was about his education.

            He described his Christian faith and how it has influenced him throughout his journey in America. He has not only has made a medical advancement, but he was driven by faith to continue in his work. He considered ethical issues in developing the amniotic membrane contact lens and he was trying to find a way to do it without using fetal wound- healing research. Most doctors and people of science do not consider these things; they would rather do anything to make the medical advancement. Dr. Ming Wang wasn’t worried about how hard it would be to do the research the easy way, but instead focusing on doing it the right way. He stated that the story of the amniotic membrane contact lens is a story of patience, persistence, and faith. He showed this unique quality of work, and he was going to create something for the good of everyone.  This shows how Dr. Ming Wang truly cares and is grounded in his faith. He uses his faith to put on charity balls as well as being a part of the Chinese Bible Project to reach people around the world. He inspires me to use my faith when I start my career and to not be afraid to use it. He has done great things and has advanced tremendously with seizing the opportunities and having faith in God.  What I learned the most from Dr. Ming Wang to take life for all that it is and to take any and all opportunities that come my way. This is going to help me as I start my career in the next couple years and know that I need to take opportunities to advance. I also need to remember to be grounded in my faith and do things to glorify God and not compromise that fact. These things I will use in my business environment that I enter into as well as my everyday life.

Student 11:  First of all, Dr. Wang’s presentation brought new meaning to what I knew about the ten-year catastrophe in China during the 1960s and 70s. Learning about this time period from a textbook was far less enlightening than listening to someone who had actually lived and ultimately overcame this oppressive time period. Specifically, Dr. Wang’s story about his father telling him he must learn how to play the Chinese violin in order to avoid being taken to the youth labor camps was insight about this time period that could have only came from him. I felt privileged to have heard his story.

            Secondly, Dr. Wang’s business principles seemed to be based on conducting a trustworthy medical practice that focuses on quality patient care. This business model is supported by the testimonies of many patients and the experience of Dr. Wang. His experience, as stated in his handout, includes “over 55,000 procedures” (1). These numbers and testimonies are a great way Dr. Wang markets the quality of care patients will receive when they come to him with their medical needs.

            Additionally, Dr. Wang’s discussion about the moral and ethical dilemmas he faced while conducting research for his amniotic membrane contact lens caused me to think more deeply about scientific research and its relationship to faith. It reminded me of those labels that read, “no animals were harmed during the testing of this product.” Dr. Wang applied sort of the same idea while conducting his research for the amniotic membrane contact lens. The idea that says researchers should not overlook ethics in order to reach their scientific goals. One of the greatest ways he applied this idea during his research for AMCL was using the amniotic membranes donated by mothers instead of harming unborn children (fetuses). He is a great example of someone who does not compromise their beliefs in order to accomplish their goals. Overall, he seemed to believe that scientists should not ignore moral and ethical principles while pursuing scientific discovery, and that faith and science can work together.

Student 12:  Dr. Ming Wang spoke on October 2 at Trevecca Nazarene University.  He gave a presentation entitled “Faith and Science: Friends or Foes?”  Dr. Wang was raised duringthe ten-year catastrophe in China.  During this time millions of Chinese youth were deported to the most poverty struck areas of China.  Most of these youth did not have any other option; however, if a person was musically talented they would not be deported.  Dr. Wang’s father told him to learn the Chinese er-hu violin and special dance skills.  This prevented Dr. Wang from being deported.  In 1982, Dr. Wang had the opportunity to meet with an American professor.  He was blessed when this professor helped him get to America.  Dr. Wang arrived in Washington, D.C. with fifty dollars in his pocket.  Dr. Wang has achieved many incredible things in his life.  He is a world known cataract and LASIK surgeon.  Dr. Wang found that the amniotic membrane could help in the making of a contact lens.  He spoke about how it can be difficult to be a Christian and be in the science field, but when talking about the brain he stated, “The very complexity of the structure tells us that it cannot happen by chance/random.”  Dr. Wang told us that as citizens of this country we should rise to the occasion.  He made this statement concerning the healthcare in our country.  He told us that there is a group of about thirty doctors who donate five to ten percent of their time to helping the less fortunate.  We learned that in China only five percent of their population is Christian.  That averages out to be about 75 million out of the 1.4 billion people that live in China. 

            Dr. Ming Wang’s presentation was very well done.  Not that I would expect anything different from a man like him.  I remember learning about the ten-year catastrophe, but hearing his story made me realize how much of an impact it made on youth and their families at that time.  We are incredibly blessed in America.  Dr. Wang made this statement many times.  Our opportunities are endless.  If Dr. Wang came here with $50 and accomplished all that he has, I believe there is no limit on what we as Americans can accomplish if we set our mind to it.

 

Student 13:  Last week our class got to listen to Dr. Ming Wang give a presentation on his life.  He discussed growing up during the ten-year catastrophe in China, his education, immigration to the United States, and his discovery of the uses of amniotic contact lenses and sight restoration surgery. There were a few things that I found incredibly interesting during his presentation.

            The first thing I thought was remarkable was Dr. Ming Wang’s work ethic as a child and young adult. Dr Ming was a teenager during the ten-year catastrophe, and, according to his handout, he “faced the devastating fate of being deported by the Communist government to the poorest parts of China where he, along with millions of other Chinese youth, would be condemned to a life of poverty.” In order to escape this fate, Dr. Wang was encouraged by his father to learn how to play the Chinese violin and to practice dancing. In this way, the Chinese government would see that he had skills and not want to deport him.

            I thought this was interesting because he, according to his lecture, had no interest in learning to dance or to play the Chinese violin. He could have given up when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, but he worked extremely hard and accomplished his goal.

            Dr. Ming Wang was clearly a devoted Christian, and one of the questions we were asked to consider was if faith and science can get along and work together. His handout states that Dr. Ming Wang believes that “science and faith CAN in fact find a way to work together, that Gods has created this world, and that it is without contradictions.” So clearly Dr. Wang believes that having faith in God and working with science can both take place, and I would say from observing his life that he is clearly right. His faith gave him reason to press on and not give up, even when faced with obstacles as large as the Chinese Communist government. This faith urged him to discover an incredibly important scientific breakthrough.

            I think that there is no reason why science and religion cannot get along. In fact, I would say that they both have a similar purpose; to discover the truth. 

Student 14:  Dr. Ming Wang has discovered that indeed science and faith can comingle to support the Creator. Faced with the ethical dilemma of needing to access stem cells from unborn children in order to restore sight to adults with damaged eyes, Wang found a way to acquire the resource he needed without violating any ethical standards.  The use of amniotic sacks, which are disposed of after childbirth, to create a contact lens that prevents and heals scaring of damaged eyes, is Wang’s example of how man can use the knowledge and the resources that he has been given to both restore sight and essentially exemplify his faith.

I really enjoyed Wang’s emphasis on the power of hard work. His experience as a kid during the ten-year catastrophe in China really makes one realize just how easy it can be, especially in a free nation such as America, to take advantage of the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve all that one is capable of. Having had all hope of a future taken away from him, and having to start his life moving from the ground up, Wang worked as hard as he could, because he had the opportunity and therefore the responsibility to be best that he could be. This work ethic has carried over into his success as a businessman. His story of how he got to where he is today is also very influential for others who he markets to.

The modern culture of the time of our nation has very much influenced its people to become impatient and to always take the easiest and fastest route possible. Wang explained his intent for this behavior to change through the story of and the example of his life so far. His diligence in taking 16 years to develop the amniotic contact lens while all the time questioning how he could both help adults with injured eyes without harming an unborn child is a great example of the success that comes from hard work and patience.

The title of Wang’s presentation was “The World is What You Make of It”. What one does with the circumstances he finds himself in defines his character, work ethic, and faith to the world. For example, Wang took his having to learn music for survival and transformed it to using his ability to entertain and inspire others. The successes that result from the struggle of hard work are far more satisfying than things that come easily. Wang’s presentation inspired me to work hard, because I have the opportunity to do so, and because of the impact it can have on others and the world around me.   

Student 15:  Dr. Ming Wang is an eye doctor from Nashville who reached a scientific break through that tremendously helps the eye from injured eyes. Dr. Wang came in and introduced himself to the auditorium filled with business students and pre-med ready to hear his testimony. He started off by showing us his video of which he tells the secret to his research. He uses the healing power of an amniotic membrane which is discarded after birth. The amniotic membrane is used when the baby is injured which brings healing.  Before he found this remarkable answer to heal scar tissue in the cornea, he had a dilemma that had him at the cross roads which presented an ethical issue that dealt with science and faith. Would it be right to conduct scientific research by using stem cell research on unborn babies? The research could prove very beneficial to society, but it is also interfering with the life of an unborn baby. After 16 years, he succeeded.

            Dr. Wang also talked about his life growing up during the ten-year catastrophe in China. Basically what the ten-year catastrophe is the destroying of millions of children’s future by sending them straight to the workforce, without going to school. To escape persecution, Dr. Ming Wang learned to play the Ehru, which is a Chinese violin. He learned how to play but wasn’t that good to escape the labor. Right as he thought he was about to go, the emperor died and the ten-year catastrophe was over. He ended up coming to the states to go to school and lived the American dream through extreme hard work and diligence.

            He really emphasized on the importance of hard work and diligence. We as Americans have a very special opportunity to go to school while others around the world can’t even go to school. Dr. Wang inspired me to live up to my potential which includes trying harder in school, exceeding in basketball and learning how to play the piano. It goes to show you that hard work always pays off.

Student 16:  I found Dr. Ming Wang’s presentation to be very interesting and it was great to hear someone from a different background and culture talk about the significance of faith, science, and freedom.

Dr. Wang started by talking about his background and younger years. He told us that in 1966 in China there was a ten-year catastrophe and young people were deported to live a life of poverty and labor. At that time Dr. Wang was 14 years old, and his father advised him to learn to play an instrument so he could be part of a propaganda group and not be deported. Dr. Wang picked up the Er Hu, which is a Chinese violin, and he was able to stay home.

In 1976 a major thing happened for China and the youth; the dictator died and college entrance examinations re-opened. The people applying had 1-2% of getting accepted, because of the amount of students that were trying to apply due to 10 years of no schooling or learning. Dr. Wang was able to attend school and eventually made it to the United States and has had a major impact on the medical field.

Dr. Wang is responsible for amniotic membrane contact lens, which have been able to restore sight to adults and children. Dr. Wang explained that he struggled at first with this medical discovery because he knew that a fetus had the ability to heal and regenerate an injured eye without scarring, but using a fetus would be morally and ethically wrong for him due to his religious beliefs. He wanted to find a cure and bring sight to people, but he couldn’t do so without contradicting his beliefs. Eventually he discovered that the amniotic membrane that surrounds the fetus had the same healing ability. He was able to unite faith and science and show that they can work together without having to compromise one another.

I am not planning to go into the medical or science fields, but I do think his basic principles of following your moral standards and ethical codes can be applied to any field. As a business student I can remember to apply my faith and my beliefs to my career choices and decision making.

Student 17:  What impact did this presentation have on me?

Dr. Wang’s presentation had a great overall impact on me. His explanation of the oppression of the dictatorship in China during his youth and how he, his family, and other Chinese families positively responded to the situation was eye opening. Dr. Wang was very clear in driving home his point of never losing the drive to work hard and continue to learn, just as the Chinese people did and are currently doing.

Was I inspired to achieve or make a differnece?

I was certainly inspired by Dr. Wang’s presentation. Understanding the hardships that Dr. Wang has overcome and has still been able to make such large medical and philanthropic contributions to society has been a great inspiration. Examining Dr. Wang’s life and realizing how many more advantages I have been given compared to what Dr. Wang was given is evidence that I have the potential to produce just as many great contributions with my life as Dr. Wang as produced with his own.

Did it bring me any significant cultural or historical understanding?

Dr. Wang’s presentation entitled me to have a much deeper cultural and historical understanding of China and the Chinese people. Being a relatively new time period in comparison to the majority of history courses taught, I have not been exposed much to the time period that Dr. Wang experienced while being raised in China. I had been made aware of the Chinese dictatorship and the control that the dictatorship exercised over the population, but never quite understood the scope of the population control. Understanding the dictatorship’s idea of crushing the youth’s education as a means of controlling the next generation provided me with great historical understanding about the time period. Dr. Wang also related these concepts of control and freedom to the United States current government and economical situation. Dr. Wang was successful in conveying his strong support for all forms of freedom and how freedom is what made and still makes the United States what it is today. I had not previously reduced the government shutdown down to the root concept of freedom, but Dr. Wang certainly made a strong case in support of maintaining freedom. His life is a testament to what freedom can breed in the lives of the people who are privileged to it.

Describe Dr. Wang as a marketer.

In Dr. Hiatt’s introduction of Dr. Wang, his anecdote about Dr. Wang’s presence as a marketer was a great summary of how proficient a marketer that Dr. Wang is. Everywhere you look, Dr. Wang has been able to not only promote his services as a surgeon, but also his charity organizations and events as well. I have lived in Middle Tennessee for the majority of my life, so I am able to speak from the experience of being exposed to the advertising and marketing, that Dr. Wang is one of the best marketers in Nashville.