Chan Shun, the namesake of Loma Linda University’s Chan Shun Pavilion, was born in Guangzhou, China. He learned early to sew and repair sewing machines, and in his teens bicycled from town to town in southern China selling garments and repairing appliances. He later founded Crocodile Garments Ltd. in Hong Kong. In 1970, he retired and left the running of the successful business and family charity operations to his children.
Guided by his Christian faith, Chan believed in sharing the benefits of his success with others. He also maintained a keen interest in learning. Often referred to as "a steward of the Lord," he strongly believed that his financial successes were a gift from God. He chose to live a simple life in order to be able to conserve and allocate his resources wisely to support selected medical, educational, and cultural projects. For 40 years the Chan family foundation’s global philanthropy has funded more than 100 such projects around the world.
In 1974, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Chan Shun in recognition of his contributions to education and humanity. On May 25, 1966, Loma Linda University established a scholarship in Chan Shun's name and honored him with the University's Distinguished Humanitarian Award. The Chan Shun Educational Fund was later established in memory of Dr. Chan Shun to recognize the enormous and invaluable impact of Dr. Chan’s exemplary service to enhance the wellbeing of humanity. The founders of this fund wished to provide opportunities for Asian Seventh-day Adventists to be better-equipped workers for service in Asia.
Loma Linda University designed the Chan Shun Pavilion Research Center of its Cancer Institute, in part, to accelerate development of a full-scale, multi-modality approach to the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Loma Linda University has long focused on cancer treatment and research. The four-level Chan Shun Pavilion mostly accommodates laboratories and offices for principal cancer research investigators, laboratory technicians, and support staff.