Nora F. Chang, M.D., a well-loved pediatrician in Cadillac, has left a legacy gift to the Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital Foundation. Dr. Chang passed away on her 95th birthday in September following a remarkable life. Her estate gift of $466,000 will be placed in the Board Designated Endowment Fund for Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital.
“We are so thankful for Dr. Chang’s very generous gift to our hospital,” said Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital President Tonya Smith. “For a physician who dedicated her life to caring for the health and wellness of those in our community to continue this work through an estate gift is really inspirational and means so much to all of us.”
More than 20 years after she stopped practicing, Dr. Chang continued to ask about her former patients by name whenever she saw their parents at the library or in a local store. She has been described by those who knew her as an exceptionally kind, gracious, gallant, and intelligent woman, and an outstanding doctor who loved her young patients as if they were her own.
Dr. Chang was born in 1920 in Xi’an, China, where she began practicing medicine in 1946. She moved
“Dr. Chang’s legacy is two-fold,” said Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness. “First, and most importantly, are the hundreds of children who benefitted from her expert medical care when they were growing up in Cadillac. Second, her gift to Cadillac Hospital will perpetuate the good work she did by helping provide for the needs of future patients at the hospital. We are very grateful for her service to the Cadillac community, and for this wonderful gift.”
“Many people in Cadillac have very fond, personal memories of Dr. Chang, said Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital Board of Trustees Chair Dave McCurdy. “Her generous, loving nature was always evident in the way she cared for her patients. We will take great care to ensure her gift to the hospital is used in a way that honors her and the wonderful contribution she made to our community.”
Dr. Chang’s granddaughter, Anna, vividly recalls moving from China to Cadillac in 1983 to join her grandmother. “It was during Christmas time and Grandma took us to the hospital. We took lots of photos inside the hospital and the chapel with all those holiday decorations. It didn’t feel like a hospital at all, it felt like we were in a wonderland. She loved kids and was very passionate about her work.
“When she first came to Cadillac, the Sisters of the Mercy Hospital offered her a great deal of assistance,” Anna said. “Grandma was very grateful for their help, so she told us she wanted to give back to the hospital. The community and the hospital extended their warm welcome to my family as well when we arrived from China. We received many gifts and letters and cards from people all over the community.”
“We are very happy of her decision to donate to Cadillac Hospital,” she added. “This gift is her thanking the community and the hospital for all of their kindness.”
In addition to her granddaughter Anna Ma (Frank) Fang of Chicago, Dr. Chang is survived by her son, Jonas (Yuling) Ma of Cadillac, and her grandson, Yun Chi (Nell) Ma of Novi. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bao Shan and Bao Quan (Liu) Chang, her husband, Zhao-Yi Ma, and four siblings.