Priscilla Chan Siblings: All About Michelle and Elaine
Priscilla Chan PHOTO/Quartz
Priscilla Chan is an American pediatrician, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Born on February 24, 1985, in Braintree, she grew up in Quincy, as the daughter of ethnic Chinese refugees who fled Vietnam by boat in the 1970s following the fall of Saigon.
Her parents, Dennis and Yvonne Chan, worked tirelessly, often at a restaurant, to support the family after arriving in the United States with little resources.
Chan has frequently spoken about her immigrant roots, noting how her family faced challenges as one of the first refugee families in their Irish Catholic town.
She was raised speaking Cantonese, often serving as a translator for her grandparents, who played a major role in caring for her and her siblings while her parents worked long hours.
Siblings
Priscilla has two younger siblings are Michelle and Elaine.
Growing up in a close-knit immigrant household, the sisters shared a strong bond shaped by their family’s experiences and the emphasis on mutual support.
Chan has described herself as a prototypical oldest child, uptight and bossy at times, often directing her middle sister, while viewing her youngest sister, who is about eight years her junior, almost like her first child.
Also Read: Travis Rice Siblings: All About Ashley Rice
Career
Chan pursued education with determination, becoming the first in her family to attend college.
She graduated from Harvard University in 2007 with a degree in biology, also focusing on Spanish.
After college, she worked as an elementary school teacher, teaching science to young students, which deepened her passion for education and helping others.
She then attended the University of California, San Francisco, earning her medical degree and completing her pediatrics residency.
Chan practiced as a pediatrician, drawing from her firsthand experiences caring for children to fuel her commitment to broader societal impact.
In December 2015, shortly after the birth of their first daughter, she and her husband, Mark Zuckerberg, founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), a philanthropic organization aimed at advancing human potential and equality through investments in science, education, health, and justice.
As co-founder and co-CEO, Chan leads efforts to accelerate biomedical research and technology, with the ambitious goal of helping scientists cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by the end of the century.
Accolades
Priscilla has been celebrated for her leadership at CZI, which has committed billions to scientific research, education reform, and community initiatives.
Her openness about her refugee heritage has made her a prominent voice for immigrant rights and equity, inspiring many through public speaking engagements and interviews.
While she maintains a relatively low public profile compared to her husband, Chan’s influence is evident in the scale of CZI’s impact and her role in shaping one of the world’s most ambitious philanthropic efforts.