2003 Drake Award Winner-Reginald C. Tsang, MD

Reginald C. Tsang, MD, is an adjunct professor emeritus at theUniversity of Cincinnati (UC).  He received his medical degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1964.  Dr. Tsang completed his pediatric residency at the Queen Mary Hospital of Hong Kong and the Michael Reese Hospital of Chicago, which included a year-long National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowship in neonatology/developmental nephrology.  Dr Tsang completed his fellowship in neonatology at the UC Medical Center/ Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in 1971.  He was appointed to the faculty and became professor of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology in 1979. 

Dr. Tsang was appointed director of the Division of Neonatology in 1983 and was awarded an endowed chair, The David G. & Priscilla R. Gamble Professorship of Neonatology in 1986.  He became vice chairman for pediatrics in 1988.  Dr. Tsang was founder and director of the Perinatal Research Institute at CCHMC/UC in 1986.  Together with Jeffrey Whitsett, MD, the Cincinnati Neonatology Program became the premier program of its kind in the country.  Other responsibilities include director of the Fels Division of Pediatric Research at UC in 1974, director of the Neonatology Training Program in 1987, principal investigator and director of the 17-year NIH Program Project Grant Diabetes in Pregnancy in 1987, principal investigator and director of the 15-year NIH Perinatal Emphasis Research Center in 1985, and director of the Cincinnati Bristol Myers Nutrition Center from 1987-1992.

Dr. Tsang was awarded the Nutrition Award of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1989, the George Rieveschl Award for Distinguished Scientific Research at UC in 1991, the Founders' Award of the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research in 1992, the Nutrition Award of the American College of Nutrition in 1994, and the Higgins Award in Nutrition of the March of Dimes in 1994.  Dr. Tsang has been a NIH consultant in various capacities since 1979, serving on advisory committees, site visits and a study section. Dr. Tsang has been a research and development consultant for many Children's Hospitals.

Dr. Tsang was president of the American College of Nutrition from 1989-1991 and president of the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research from 1978-1979.  He is a member of numerous societies including the Endocrine Society, American Society of Clinical Nutrition, Society for Pediatric Research, American Pediatric Society, and the Perinatal Research Society.  He served on the councils of both the American Pediatric Society and the Perinatal Research Society.  Dr. Tsang has been associate editor of Pediatric Annals, the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.  He has been a reviewer for more than 20 journals and an ad hoc reviewer for organizations such as the NIH, March of Dimes, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Thrasher Foundation.

Dr. Tsang has been a visiting professor in 142 cities in 46 countries, and has published over 400 papers and book reviews on the subjects of calcium and vitamin D metabolism as well as diabetes in pregnancy.  To most in the pediatric world, Dr. Tsang became known as “Mr. Calcium.”  His research has been extensively supported by grants from the NIH and industry.  Dr. Tsang has been chairman of many specialty sessions at the Society for Pediatric Research, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Bone Mineral Research, and American College of Nutrition meetings.

Dr. Tsang has organized more than 20 national and regional research conferences.  He has trained more than 65 postdoctoral fellows with 80 percent of them remaining in academic medicine.  His book, “Starting an Academic Research Career,” is widely distributed, as are his books “Nutrition in Infancy,” “Vitamin, Mineral Requirements in Preterm Infants,” and “Nutrient Requirements in Preterm Infants,” which is generally recognized as the international “bible” for defining nutritional needs in preterm infants.  Dr. Tsang was heavily involved in community work to improve Access to Prenatal Care, and initiated, with Dr. Jerry Rauh, a citywide program “Postponing Sexual Involvement” for 45,000 high school students in Cincinnati, which has coincided with a sharp 40 percent fall in teen pregnancies in the last decade.  Dr. Tsang co-founded Medical Services International (MSI) in 1994 and has been serving as its executive director. MSI has brought in over 2000 medical and educational professionals to serve in volunteer capacities in China, 50 of whom are now living in Southwest China.