CHIH-DUEN TSE

2024 Hall of Fame

Ph.D. Chemistry, ’82

Over the course of Dr. Chih-duen Tse’s life, she has experienced extreme highs and devastating lows in her personal and professional life. Yet, the 1982 College of Arts and Sciences graduate has approached each one as a chance for service and growth.

Born in Taiwan into a military general’s family, Chih-duen’s strict-but joyful childhood instilled in her a drive to succeed. After completing undergraduate work in Taiwan, she moved to the U.S. to earn her Ph.D. in chemistry from Oklahoma State University. During her time in Stillwater, she met and married Scott Painton, a fellow Ph.D. student studying psychology. Their son, Lee, was born two years later, and they eventually moved to Missouri to begin professorships at St. Louis-based universities.

 
“It turned from an ideal situation in academia with my son and husband, to become the most challenging situation,” Chih-duen said. “When Lee was about to turn 4, my family was involved in a car accident and Scott passed away. I was a new professor in the chemistry department. I was stuck in a new city. I didn’t have many friends, and I had a young son depending on me. It was just a very difficult time in my life.”

Chih-duen soldiered on, making the best of her situation by continuing to teach, develop research programs and apply for grants, all while caring for Lee. Then, to her surprise, a recruiter contacted her about a position at a pharmaceutical company.  
“It was unusual to get a call from across industries, but I thought it might be a way out, so I interviewed and got the job,” said Chih-duen, who — within her first 90 days — solved a critical issue with an FDA application submitted by her new employer. “I knew I just really had to show that I could be up to the challenge.”

This attitude of exceeding expectations carried Chih-duen into leadership positions at Mallinckrodt Medical, Bayer and Pfizer. Her many accomplishments include saving the Alka-Seltzer Plus franchise during the phenylpropanolamine ban by directing global reformulation projects, receiving the YWCA’s Tribute to Women in Industry Award, and consulting for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“I’ve learned that you really have to look at what you’re doing in science to rationalize it in a scientific manner, but not an absolute manner,” said Chih-duen, citing times when her work could be interpreted in vastly different ways depending on the scale used and how results were framed.

“In my last 10 years at Pfizer, I switched from more technical, scientific work to science and technology regulation dealing with ... different government health authorities,” Chih-duen said. “I got into that area because I feel that I can really tell a good story based on true science, the purpose of science, and not just the big number.”

In addition to aiding the fields of science and medicine, Chih-duen has served her community through language education, youth choir, and Medicare and Medicaid assistance. But through it all, she’s made family her top priority, which has included her and her husband, Pius, temporarily becoming their grandson’s primary caregivers while he underwent cancer treatment 18 years ago.

“I have encountered so many unexpected challenges in my life, but I look back and see that it just makes me stronger,” Chih-duen said. “No matter what challenge there is, there’s always a way. Every problem can be solved.”