Huang, Milch,

Dr. Huang was born and educated in Taiwan, immigrating to the United States in 1973 to pursue his medical residency at Nassau Hospital in Mineola, New York (Winthrop University Hospital). He also trained at a hospital in Trenton, New Jersey and Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, Texas. In 1979, he was appointed assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Rochester and helped establish the first cardiac rehabilitation program in Rochester at St. Mary's Hospital.

In 1982, Dr. Huang left Rochester and academia to serve as chief of cardiology at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Canandaigua, New York. He returned to Rochester in 1987 to open a full-time private cardiology practice, affiliated with the Park Ridge Hospital Unity Health and located on Long Pond Road. His wife, Ming works as office manager and bookkeeper in the practice, which remains open today.

In 1982, Dr. Huang began to talk with fellow Chinese Americans about starting an "umbrella" group to provide joint programming and speak on behalf of all Chinese Americans in Rochester. Although he did not find much enthusiasm for this idea (numerous factions existed based on dialects, interests, place of origin, and occupation), Dr. Huang's sense of urgency for his mission increased with the Vincent Chin murder in the summer of 1982. On June 15, 1985, Dr. Huang, Richard Chu, and Donald Chen were named officers in the non-profit (501c3) incorporation filing of the Rochester Chinese Association, Inc. (RCA).

In the fall of 1985, the first RCA board meeting was held at Dr. Huang's East Avenue home. The members, consisting of ca. twenty representatives from the local Chinese church, school, Pittsford potluck group, choral society, and other interested persons elected Donald Chen as RCA's first president. Dr. Huang served as secretary and quarterly bilingual newsletter editor until 1989. Other founding officers were Rebecca Lee, treasurer; Stephen Chen, by-laws; and Richard Chu, vice president.

According to Dr. Huang, the founding of RCA was difficult and arduous because of disagreements among community leaders about whether the organization should be purely social or have a political/social justice mission. This has been a point of contention throughout the history of RCA, and the activities of the organization shift depending on current leadership.

Among RCA's noteworthy accomplishments under Dr. Huang's leadership was a fundraising event netting $15,000 in 1992 for the Congressional campaign of S.B. Woo of Delaware. RCA members also volunteered for community service, such as the annual WXXI auction, and helped raise money for victims of floods, earthquakes, and other disasters in China. Dr. Huang spearheaded the 1988 "Splendors of China" cultural arts exhibition at Mid-Town Plaza in Rochester, and was instrumental in starting the community-wide celebration of Chinese New Year annually at Rochester Institute of Technology.

An accomplished calligrapher, painter, and sculptor, Dr. Huang has designed annually for a dozen years the RCA mugs with the sign of the Chinese Zodiac. He is a member of the Pittsford and Rochester Art Clubs and has performed numerous art demonstrations at St. John Fisher, Memorial Art Gallery, etc. Dr. Huang is also the first Asian American member of the Greater Rochester Arts and Culture Council, serving from 1996-2002.

From the description of Rochester Chinese Association records and Milch Huang papers, 1982-2003. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155424354