Abilene ISD -

When he stood in front of the ATEMS graduating class of 2022 and delivered his valedictory address, Frank Fang challenged his fellow graduates to make an impact on the world and to think of “opportunities and accomplishments as pathways to further develop yourself, strengthen your relationships, and build new ones.”

Now a junior Bachelor of Science candidate in biological engineering at Cornell University, Fang is taking his own advice by gaining valuable experience in research and industry to help people in the way he believes he has been called to live and work.

“I don't know what that looks like yet,” he said, “whether that be through a career in medicine where I can directly impact and minister to people, or an engineering job where I can build good relationships with coworkers while using my excess time to be involved in ministry. But, I am leaving my options open.”

As a senior at ATEMS, he worked as a laboratory research assistant at Abilene Christian University, analyzing data for COVID-19, Alzheimer's, and Crohn’s vaccines and antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and enzyme-linked lectin assays. That’s high-level jargon for someone whose stated goal is to help people in whatever way he can. He credits Dr. John Xu, a professor in the ACU Department of Biology, for allowing him to be part of the research project, something Fang said “kick-started” his career.

After completing his freshman year at Cornell, Fang led a mission trip to the Philippines in the summer of 2023, raising more than $125,000 to fund the trip. While there, he and 10 other Cornell students worked on an agricultural engineering project and helped repair a water system to provide clean water for an elementary school. Through a local housing project, the students donated their excess money to build homes for four families.

“That trip was a rewarding, yet humbling, experience,” Fang said. “I saw the world's brokenness and poverty, and it burdened my heart to do something about it. I learned it’s difficult to help people without the proper resources.”

Last summer, he completed a three-month internship with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, working on low-dose drugs and low-concentration biomarkers. He used the experience and skills he gained during his ACU internship to accomplish his project goals.

“Working at Regeneron was encouraging,” Fang said. “I was doing work that will benefit patients, surrounded by people who share a vision to make the world better and healthier. The internships at ACU and Regeneron impacted my career choices by solidifying my interest in healthcare. I gained valuable work experience to leverage for future healthcare industry opportunities. I want to help people and make this world a better place.”

Fang’s parents, who immigrated to the United States from China, motivated him to help people worldwide. Their sacrifice gave him and his sister – 2019 ATEMS valedictorian Faith Fang, who graduated from SMU in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering – opportunities they didn’t have.

“My parents worked hard to get to America while suffering a lot of hardships to give me and my sister the educational and financial opportunities we have,” he said. “I have to make their sacrifices worthwhile, and by the grace of God, I’m en route to making it happen.”

In addition to his healthcare career, Fang mentioned he has contemplated serving as a medical missionary. His primary goal would be to self-fund his mission work rather than depend on donations from others.

“People are impacted by medicine every day,” Fang said. “I envision people coming to me in their brokenness and pain, and me holding their hand, looking them in the eye, and telling them everything will be okay. And then making everything okay through the work of my hands. If I feel called to missions in a non-healthcare role, so be it. If that happens, God will equip me and give me everything I need to accomplish what I’m directed to do.”