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Dr. Man-Kit Leung: A Legacy of Care in the Chinese Community

Foundation News & Updates

Dr. Man-Kit Leung

As the city of San Francisco welcomes the Year of the Snake, Saint Francis Foundation is honored to highlight the work of Dr. Man-Kit Leung, an esteemed otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) whose deep connection to the Chinese community has shaped his career and the lives of his patients. A second-generation physician, Dr. Leung grew up immersed in medicine, watching his father serve Chinatown residents.

“I grew up doing my homework in the back office of my dad’s practice in Chinatown. At first, I saw it as a crowded and chaotic place, but over time, I realized it was a tight-knit community, filled with people who reminded me of my own family,” Dr. Leung shares.

His journey in medicine took him from Harvard to UCSF Medical School, then to Stanford for residency, and back to Harvard for a fellowship in endoscopic sinus surgery. But through it all, his heart remained with the community that raised him. “I always knew I would return to serve the people who shaped me,” he says.

Serving the Community with CompassionDr. Leung divides his time between his two offices—one in Chinatown and the other at UCSF Saint Francis Hospital—where he provides specialized care to a diverse patient base. From treating hearing loss in the elderly to assisting individuals with chronic sinus issues, his work spans a wide spectrum of needs.

“Even though Saint Francis is less than a mile from Chinatown, for many of my monolingual Chinese-speaking patients, it might as well be an entirely different world,” he explains. “If there’s not an interpreter, there’s not signage in Chinese, it makes it really hard to navigate the healthcare system.”

A Hospital That Feels Like Home

UCSF Saint Francis Hospital holds personal significance for Dr. Leung beyond his medical practice.
“Several of my family members were treated here—both my grandparents, my uncle, and even my father. It truly is a community hospital,” he says. He recalls childhood memories of accompanying his father on hospital rounds, sitting at the nurses’ station, and watching a close-knit team care for patients. That same sense of community is what drew him back to practice at Saint Francis.

“What I love about Saint Francis is that it still feels like family. I can pick up the phone and call a radiologist or a pathologist directly to discuss a case, rather than navigating layers of bureaucracy. That personal touch makes a huge difference in patient care,” he explains.

Honoring Chinese New Year & Cultural Traditions

For Dr. Leung, Lunar New Year is a time of reflection and connection. “It’s about spending time with family, wishing each other health and prosperity. It reminds me of the values that drive my work—taking care of others, ensuring their well-being, and giving back to the community.”

Saint Francis Foundation has also supported initiatives that align with these cultural values, including programs funded by the Stupski Foundation. Dr. Leung highlights the Foundation’s role in funding advanced care directive programs specifically for the Chinese community.”Discussing end-of-life care is often culturally uncomfortable, but this program has helped families navigate those difficult conversations with dignity and understanding.”
A Life-Saving Impact

Among the many stories that have stayed with him, two in particular stand out. One involved a transgender patient who survived a suicide attempt and arrived at Saint Francis in critical condition.

“It was an emergent airway situation. The ER doctor attempted a life-saving tracheostomy, and I was able to secure the airway. A month later, we received a heartfelt thank-you card from the patient and their family—it was a reminder of why we do what we do.”

Another moment that defined his career was performing the first tracheostomy on a COVID-positive patient at Saint Francis. “This was before vaccines, when we didn’t know what the risks truly were. It was really a team effort where the circulating nurse, anesthesiologist, and scrub tech all put our health at risk to perform a critical procedure.”
Looking to the Future

As Saint Francis navigates its future alongside UCSF, Dr. Leung emphasizes the importance of preserving the hospital’s identity. “Our donors and community members value what makes Saint Francis unique—the ability to provide compassionate, community-focused care without the red tape of a larger institution. It’s a place where doctors still know each other’s names, where patients aren’t just numbers, and where we can quickly mobilize to help those in need.”

His hope for the hospital’s future is simple, yet powerful:

“I want Saint Francis to continue serving families like mine, just as it has for generations. I want it to remain a place where people trust they will receive the best care, in a way that honors their community and culture.”

As we celebrate the Year of the Snake, we honor the dedication of physicians like Dr. Leung, who embody the spirit of resilience, service, and family—both within Saint Francis Hospital and throughout the Chinese community.