Elizabeth “Beth” Ching, OTD, M.Ed., BSOT, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Samuel Merritt University (SMU), is a Third Generation Korean Chinese American born in Vallejo, California and has been an occupational therapist since 1985. Beth has been committed to working with underserved populations throughout her career. She has presented at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE) about reducing health disparities and mentoring Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) youth to enter the health professions. She also held the SMU Faculty Diversity Coordinator position in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Ching has published in the Journal of Cultural Diversity, Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, Journal of Diversity and Equality in Health and Care; she has co-authored “Psychosocial and Cognitive Issues Affecting Therapy” in Neurorehabilitation for the Physical Therapist Assistant (2021). Dr. Ching was honored to receive the 2021 Faculty of the Year Award at SMU.Description
Praise for “Next 10 Exits”
Dr. Beth Ching sits us upright in the car, rolls down the windows, and urges us to pay attention as she deftly tells us the stories of her hometown, Vallejo. Without her guidance, we would otherwise know nothing about the rich and varied cultural and racial lives that exist beyond the freeway exits demarcating the segregated neighborhoods of this demographically diverse city. The ride through these pages is sprinkled with Dr. Ching’s reconstruction of her own family’s evolution in the context of Vallejo’s ever-changing race and class composition. Dr. Ching shows her brilliance as a scholar with the details of history, her creativity and originality with the insertion of paintings and poetry, and her ability to sit with the loves and sorrows of family life by sharing those intimacies with us throughout. Thank you, Dr. Ching! >>> Melanie Tervalon, MD, MPH, co-author of Cultural Humility vs. Cultural Competence
This short book is a personal journey from the lens of an “Intra-Asian” Native Vallejoan, an occupational therapist, educator, and author who utilized art, writing, and poetry in reflecting and narrating stories of her family and her beloved city of Vallejo. Her stories showcase the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how resiliency, perseverance, and cultural pride can be expressed toward a path of healing from trauma caused by structural racism, prejudice, and injustice. Very authentic, informative, and speaks from the heart! >>> Luis Arabit, Occupational Therapy Professor, San Jose State University
Through a creative combination of art, poetry, and storytelling, Dr. Ching paints a powerful picture of her youth in a troubled town – a melting pot of races struggling to coexist. The racism of the 60s and 70s that she portrayed was real, and the hatred ran deep. As the town became more diverse, many still clung to their racist views and some still do. At the same time, others let kindness lead the way to a different perspective. For these people, hatred led to tolerance, which led to acceptance, which led to friendships, and, in some cases, led to a celebration of our different cultures. While racism still exists everywhere and has arguably gotten worse, these positive lessons from a downtrodden town can be a catalyst for understanding, healing, hope, and change. >>> Mike Coffey, Native Vallejoan, retired telecommunications executive
A compelling and thought-provoking read. Mixing humor, drawing, and poetry, Dr. Ching takes us on a cultural, historical, and personal journey as she gives us a tour of her beautiful city, Vallejo. Through storytelling, Dr. Ching showcases the diverse communities within Vallejo while also highlighting her experiences of racism. Next 10 Exits took me on an emotional ride with all the nostalgic feels, while leaving me captivated by Dr. Ching’s vulnerability and authenticity in telling her story, and empowered by her call to action to eradicate systemic racism. >>> Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
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