In Memoriam: Dr. Ted Chen, Global Health Advocate and Professor Emeritus, Passes Away at 88
Dr. Ted Chen, professor emeritus of social, behavioral, and population sciences at the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University, passed away on April 1, 2025, in New York City. He was 88.
Chen was a beloved faculty member and global health pioneer whose career spanned continents and decades. He taught at Tulane for 24 years, bringing his passion for health education, tobacco control, and international collaboration to generations of students. His work helped forge deep and lasting ties between Tulane and institutions across Asia.
Originally from Taiwan, Chen’s academic journey brought him to the United States, where he taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst before joining Tulane. At Tulane, he built enduring partnerships with National Taiwan University, Kaohsiung University, Asia University, China Medical University, and the Show Chwan Health System, among others. These collaborations included executive training programs, academic exchanges, and the launch of the popular summer course SBPS 6150: Taiwan Strategies to Community Health in 2008.
Chen’s mentorship extended far beyond the classroom. His former students and mentees have gone on to become public health leaders across Asia, including roles in the Taipei Health Department and as ministers of health.
A staunch advocate for tobacco control, Chen worked with the John Tung Foundation to help establish landmark anti-smoking policies in Taiwan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. His legacy also includes founding roles in two influential organizations: the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus of the American Public Health Association, and the Asia-Pacific Association for the Control of Tobacco, where he served as permanent executive secretary.
Chen retired from Tulane in 2015 but remained actively engaged in global health, continuing to support smoking cessation initiatives in China.
He is survived by his wife, Marian; his daughter, Connie, and son-in-law, Stephen Warren; his son, David, and daughter-in-law, Georgia Brian; and his granddaughters, Ava and Zoe.
A celebration of life will be held on May 3, 2025, at Frank E. Campbell – The Funeral Chapel in New York City. The service begins at 2 p.m., with a gathering at 1:30 p.m. and a reception to follow. The event will also be streamed online at memorialstream.online/dr-chen. RSVPs and shared memories may be sent to TedChenCelebration@gmail.com.
Dr. Chen’s obituary is available through the Times-Picayune: View Obituary.
