Double duty

The most intriguing title on Dr. Daniel Chow's resume probably isn't neuroradiology chief or co-director of UC Irvine's Center for Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Medicine.

It's major in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Earlier this year, the associate professor-in-residence at the School of Medicine spent several months in Kuwait as a radiologist treating American soldiers.

Chow, who joined the Army Reserves in 2020, acknowledges that "it's inconvenient to get called up for duty and leave my family and job" but says it's a small price to pay for the benefits of being an American: "My dad, who immigrated here from Hong Kong, didn't graduate from high school, but in a single generation, I was able to become a doctor and a professor at UC Irvine. Everyone gives back in their own way; this is my way."

He encourages others to do the same. "I feel like I got more out of it than the military got out of me," Chow says.

While he was overseas, for example, two UC Irvine colleagues died within a week of each other. When another faculty member asked how Chow was managing his grief alone, the reservist replied, "I'm not alone. I have a family of servicemen and -women looking after me - people I met just a few months ago who are now part of my strongest support group."

And they all remain in touch, Chow adds. "One of the most remarkable things is how people from different races, faiths and backgrounds all come together for the common goal of service to our country," he says. "The camaraderie is indescribable."