For Felix Feng, the American dream is fundamentally about "the freedom to investigate, pursue, study, chase." Feng, an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the UCSF Department of Urology, shared his perspective as part of a series by The Post and the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream highlighting what the American dream means in 2026.
Feng's personal dream centers on finding new ways to cure cancer. He draws inspiration from his family's history, noting that his paternal grandfather, a factory owner, and his maternal grandfather, a former general in the Chinese army, both fled China during the communist revolution and relocated to Taiwan. His parents later moved from Taiwan to the United States to pursue graduate degrees in chemical engineering and library science, respectively.
“My parents raised both my sister and I with a big emphasis on education…They sacrificed a lot for the purposes of our education,” Feng stated. He believes his parents sought the American dream not only for professional advancement but also to provide him and his sister with broad opportunities and freedoms, encompassing both academic and political spheres.
Reflecting on his parents' sacrifices, Feng, who has made contributions to advancing prostate cancer research both in the lab and clinically, emphasized that the American dream will continue to thrive as long as individuals possess the ambition and freedom to pursue their aspirations. The American Dream Video Project, a feature of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, showcases such stories as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.