Thomas Lo, M.D., D.ABA, aka "Chef Dr. Lo," is a board-certified Anesthesiologist, Chef, CEO, and Entrepreneur. After graduating from Yale University with a degree in Molecular Biology, Dr. Chef Lo began his professional culinary career studying at the French Culinary Institute in New York. With a strong background in fundamental culinary techniques, Thomas interned at Veritas and Lupa Osteria and then joined the opening team of Virot restaurant at the Dylan Hotel in New York. 

Chef Dr. Lo is also the owner and culinary director of Spy C Cuisine restaurant in Forest Hills, New York. Spy C Cuisine has quickly gained critical accolades from the New York Times and received its first Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2020. With the understanding of the molecular physiology of taste, Chef Dr. Lo enjoys playing with the palate by synergistically combining flavor combinations and balancing the harmonies of sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. By contrasting various textures of his dishes, Chef Dr. Lo attempts to introduce the complexities and subtleties of food to you. As a Chef Physician, he is able to educate his customers, patients, and fellow colleagues on the medicinal aspects of haute cuisine. As a chef anesthesiologist, Chef Dr. Lo is known for his Sichuan Mind-Numbing Sauce, which must be properly prepared and used for dishes to provide the perfect balanced flavor profile. When given in the proper amount, harmony is achieved; but when too much is given, the flavors are overpowering. Although this would not be like a true overdose that Chef Dr. Lo sees in the operating room, the taste of the dish becomes acrimonious.

9/11 survivor

Chef Dr. Lo is a 9-11 survivor.  On his birthday, September 11, 2001, Chef Dr. Lo was on the 73rd floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center.  When the first plane crashed, Chef Dr. Lo evacuated to the 44th floor via the stairwell when the second plane struck his building. Chef Dr. Lo narrowly escaped death as the second plane hit 25 flights immediately above his location. As a survivor of this confrontation with mortality, he felt a deeper sense of responsibility to make his life count. Chef Dr. Lo went to pursue his interests in medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Chef Dr. Lo was awarded the Virginia P. Apgar Award for excellence in Anesthesiology and Critical Care upon graduating from Columbia. Chef Dr. Lo remained at Columbia for his residency in the Department of Anesthesiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Currently, Chef Dr. Lo is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology and CEO of Modern Renaissance Anesthesia. Chef Dr. Lo has served as Board (nominated 2008) Board President (2018-2021) of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Association.

COVID-19 HERO

Chef Dr. Lo’s call to action was to pursue a career as a medical professional in hopes to preserve life. March 2020 was another awakening with the COVID-19 pandemic. As an Anesthesiologist, he secures the airways of individuals who are unable to breathe on their own and requires him to intubate them. 9/11 and COVID-19 have both resulted in unprecedented mass casualties, especially in New York City. 

As the President of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Association, Chef Dr. Lo was part of a large initiative whose goal was to deliver much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to the frontline healthcare workers fighting COVID-19. Many Columbia Alumni Association leaders worked together tirelessly during the outbreak which resulted in distributing over 3,000,000 surgical masks, 21,500 N95 masks, 61,000 face shields, 345,000 medical gloves, 12,500 protection coveralls/ isolation gowns, and 1,100 goggles to 10 hospitals in NY, NJ, and MA. This PPE were purchased from donations of 15 million RMB (US$2.1 million) in cash and in-kind donations from over 300 donors. This effort was led by the Columbia Alumni Associations in Greater China, together with Columbia Business School Alumni Clubs and the Barnard Alumni Association (including Barnard Chinese Parent Club) from Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Dalian, Qingdao, and Singapore. In conjunction with the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Association and more than 100 students, alumni, friends, and volunteers in New York and Greater China, these 17 alumni clubs donated PPE to hospitals including Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian, Mt. Sinai, Harlem Hospital, Elmhurst, NYP-Queens, Montefiore Medical Center, NYU Langone Health and many other hospitals in NY, NJ, and MA where Columbia alumni are working, as well as the New York City Fire Department, New York City Police Department, and Columbia administration, staff, and students on campus.