Upstate Doctor Considers Legacy
When Dr. Brian Y. Changlai walks into a room, he brings more than medical expertise. He brings kindness. The sort of everyday kindness that says a lot about a person’s character. In fact, when he arrived for his recent interview with the Rescue Mission, he showed up ten minutes early, carrying a chocolate-frosted donut for the interviewer he had never once met. It’s a small gesture, but one that perfectly captures who he is: generous, thoughtful, and always thinking of others.
Dr. Changlai’s journey to becoming a faithful supporter of the Mission began far away, in Taiwan, where he grew up the youngest of twelve children. Resources were tight, but hope was present. “My mother used to say, ‘Maybe someday one of you will be a doctor,’” he recalls. Those early words stayed with him, fueling dreams that carried him across an ocean.
At 23 years old, he arrived in the United States with just $1,000 to his name. “I came to this country for a new adventure like all other immigrants,” he says. That adventure required perseverance, grit, and a willingness to work harder than most. But Dr. Changlai has never been afraid of hard work.
Incredibly, he obtained his medical degree from Cornell University at age 35, a milestone he reached through determination and sacrifice. He went on to build a 40-year career in what he lovingly calls his “beloved cardiology.” Today, at 80 years old, he continues to practice geriatric cardiology, caring for patients who are often his peers.
[Pictured above: Dr. Brian Changlai Jr. (left) holding Aurora Bryden Changlai and Dr. Brian Y. Changlai]
"My mother used to say, ‘Maybe someday one of you will be a doctor.’"
Dr. Brian Y. Changlai Geriatrician & Rescue Mission Legacy Donor
His life story is remarkable, but what stands out most about Dr. Changlai is not his credentials or longevity: it’s the way he gives.
In 1989, at 44 years old, he began a quiet habit of donating $200 every Thanksgiving to the Rescue Mission. In 2017, he took a bold step and created a $100,000 endowment gift, ensuring support for the Mission’s essential services for generations to come. Now, he is preparing another extraordinary gesture: an additional $50,000 endowment gift to strengthen the Mission’s work at year’s end.
Why the Rescue Mission?
For Dr. Changlai, the answer is simple and deeply felt. “It’s [RM] got to be there. You know, the need is all there. And this is apolitical, which is the beauty,” he says. “Rescue Mission, you know? Not supported by any party.” He admires that the Mission’s work rises above politics and is instead focused purely on human need and compassion.
His connection to the Rescue Mission comes not from personal need, but from a genuine belief in the importance of this work. As a physician dedicated to improving the wellbeing of others, he understands the profound impact of compassion on people’s lives. “I believe in giving back to society, that we are all connected,” he explains. This belief guides not only his support of the Rescue Mission, but also his giving to institutions that shaped his life, including Cornell University and Taichung First High School.
[Pictured left: Dr. Changlai’s daughter-in-law, Jessica Wagenblatt, holds daughter Aurora Bryden Changlai]
"It’s [RM] got to be there. You know, the need is all there. And this is apolitical, which is the beauty."
Dr. Brian Y. Changlai Geriatrician & Rescue Mission Legacy DonorThat is exactly what his gifts to the Rescue Mission accomplish. They help ensure that vulnerable members of our community have access to meals, shelter, support, and hope, today and for years to come.
As we embrace this season of giving, Dr. Changlai offers us a powerful example. His story is a reminder that generosity does not begin with abundance, but with gratitude. It begins with a heart willing to share.
This year, as you consider your charitable giving, we ask that you join Dr. Changlai in supporting the Mission’s transformative work. Your generosity, whatever its size, helps create the kind of community we all want to live in: one where compassion leads the way.
Dr. Changlai’s spirit of generosity has taken on new depth in recent months with the arrival of his first grandchild, a baby girl named Aurora Bryden. Her name translates to “Morning Glory” in Taiwanese. Becoming a grandfather, he says, has sharpened his desire to leave the world better than he found it.
[Pictured right: Dr. Brian Y. Changlai (right), wife Dr. Mary Daye holding granddaughter Aurora Bryden Changlai, and son, Dr. Brian Changlai Jr.]
