Dr. Pearl Mao Tang (January 11, 1922 – June 11, 2021) was an obstetrician and gynecologist credited with decreasing infant mortality in Arizona.
[1][2] Mao had been born in Hawaii and attended medical school in Kansas before meeting and marrying Wong while teaching in China.
Mao moved to Quebec City after graduating to complete her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Hôpital du St-Sacrement.
[1] In 1945, Mao met Thomas Tang at a Thanksgiving dinner a church in China organized for American soldiers.
[4] Thomas used his new law degree to appeal to the State Board of Medical Examiners for Mao to take the licensing exam.
[1] Tang started pop-up prenatal clinics in metro Phoenix in areas that did not have adequate access to medical care.
[1] In 1960, Tang became the chief of the Maricopa County Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, allowing her to expand her efforts.
Tang also created a program called Head Start, which won the National Association of Counties Award for its work with services for children.