Felix Feng, an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, embodies the evolving narrative of the American Dream in 2026. As part of a series highlighting U.S. citizens reflecting on what the American Dream means to them, Feng shared his perspective rooted in both his professional achievements and family history.

Born to immigrant parents originally from Taiwan, Feng’s family story traces back to China, where his paternal grandfather was a factory owner and his maternal grandfather served as a general in the Chinese army. Both were compelled to leave China during the Communist revolution, eventually settling in Taiwan. His parents later emigrated to the United States to pursue graduate studies—his father in chemical engineering and his mother in library science.

Feng attributes much of his and his sister’s success to the sacrifices made by their parents. Despite having more comfortable lives in Taiwan, his parents chose to move to America to secure greater freedoms—both academic and political—and broader opportunities for their children. Emphasizing education, they raised Feng to pursue a career in medicine while his sister became a lawyer.

In his role as a radiation oncologist and researcher, Feng focuses on advancing treatments for prostate cancer, contributing both in the clinical setting and through laboratory research. He describes the American Dream as the ability to freely explore and pursue one’s ambitions, noting that its enduring nature depends on the continued freedom and encouragement to dream big.

“For me, the American Dream means the freedom to investigate, pursue, study, chase—whatever you want,” Feng said. “Everyone’s dream is different, and that’s what’s special about the American Dream: that my dream is different than my neighbor’s, but that we both have the chance to pursue it.”

Feng’s story exemplifies how immigrant families view the United States as a place where future generations can access opportunities that were previously unavailable, underscoring the ongoing relevance of the American Dream as a concept tied to individual freedom and the pursuit of knowledge.