Today we’d like to introduce you to Toan Leung.
Hi Toan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Each of us has a very unique story. Mine is not any more special than any others but it is one journey I am fortunate enough to share with many of you. Hopefully, reading this will inspire and give hope to others to rise above their potential and exceed their goals and expectations. The timing of this question and interview is impeccable for me. And timing is everything.
On the morning of my 50th birthday, I spent 3 hours in bed crying, reflecting, reminiscing about all of the life-changing events in the past, reminding myself to live in the present, and pondering about the future ahead. It was indeed all tears of joy and celebration of life with my wife Nhi, daughter Sophie, and son Ethan. As I flow through life in the last 50 years, the three pillars that help me overcome the challenges and struggles while achieving peace and success are: The people, the relationship with these people, and the timing at which the people and the relationship intersected. Thus, I am sharing a timeline of the moments that resonated in my life.
1982 began a new life for me and my family as we arrived in America from Vietnam after spending two years in refugee camps in Thailand and Indonesia. When you come from nothing, everything is about survival. There was no choice or option: learn the English language, stay in school, and become something while your parents try to stay afloat and do anything they can to feed us. I am forever indebted to my parents for making the sacrifices for their children’s future.
1986 was when I took a girl to the 8th-grade school dance. She eventually became my wife because we had similar visions and goals. We worked hard to pursue our dreams and were lucky to attend the same colleges throughout our lives. We studied in different fields but we encouraged each other throughout our lives. We eloped after college but had our family wedding years later where we had a tea ceremony for our family members, and a community wedding of 400 guests. We have been married for over 27 years, more than half of our lives and we have raised two amazing children together.
1995 was when my wife and I embarked onto our graduate school education at the University of Michigan. I received my medical degree there while she completed her PhD. While at Michigan, I met a great friend Dr. Paul Gikas, Dean of Admission at the University of Michigan. People called him the “Michigan Man” and I learned to understand the true meaning of that with our friendship and his guidance over the years. He will continue to look down from above with a big smile wearing the Michigan watch with the block ‘M’ on his left wrist. I am grateful for the contributions he made to medicine, to the University, and for all I have benefited from being there. Go Blue!
2004, the year we moved to Austin, Texas from Chicago, Illinois. Nhi secured a job teaching at UT after I completed my emergency medicine training at Cook County Hospital. I was ready to practice Emergency Medicine on my own. Reflecting upon my training, working at County Hospital was tough. I met people from all walks of life, but my time there was much more meaningful and special because of the relationship created with patients, nurses and attendings. Drs. Moses Lee, David Harter, Austen Chai remain my true friends, mentors, and advisors in my journey in medicine and in life. Renee Partida, a long-time friend, helped me find peace and calmness in the chaotic trauma unit. We share one common bond in having to face harm from those we trusted.
2013 my beloved mother suddenly passed away at the tender age of 62. She had liver cancer which took her life from us within two short weeks while I visited her. It was quick, but I had the joy of holding her hard-working hands on her last night with us. She was the rock of every mountain I climbed and the soul of my family’s depth. She never received the credit she deserves but her legacy continues to live on. She’s my everything.
2020 the covid pandemic forever changed our lives. Many loved ones were lost and medicine changed forever. I salute those who are in the medical profession for their commitment to make sacrifices of themselves and their families to provide medical care to millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, the work has taken its toll, burnout is real and many have decided to retire or make a career change. Many of us including myself are being forced to re-evaluate our lives, career, and family. Life has seemingly become much shorter but more precious.
As we all float through a continuum of time in our lives, I strongly encourage all of us to reflect on the past when life-changing events cross paths with the people we care and love. The shapeless triangle of timing, people and relationship will inspire you to achieve your goals and dreams and will certainly give you the true meaning of life and happiness.
2022. A new beginning…
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I signed up to be an emergency medicine doctor over 22 years ago. I have no regrets about why I did it. It’s been a privilege to be able to use the training and skills I have acquired over these years to assist those who are in need physically and emotionally at the most critical junction of their lives. Being an ER doctor, I am trained to manage one crisis from another while relying on my ER team to function cohesively as a unit to provide optimal care and with respect and dignity to the patients. The relationship between an emergency medicine physician and a patient is one of the most beautiful things in the world. It is a sacred relationship that can not be replicated in any profession. The opportunity to quickly connect and relate to people I have never met in my life is uniquely special as an ER doctor. Every job comes with frustration but to be able to change or save one life at a time has met my purpose as a physician. It is indeed a worthy endeavor since I became a physician. I’ve met many strangers and colleagues in my life who have eventually become life-long friends in my professional career. Unfortunately, Covid shifted the paradigm of health care into a different level– a low level that pushes talented and dedicated healthcare workers out. The external forces of medicine have driven many of my friends and colleagues in medicine to seek different opportunities and careers. Jobs can be changed but the passion for people has remained undisturbed.
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” ~ (Sun Tzu – Author of The Art of War).
In April of 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, I happened to stumble upon a beautiful piece of land in Gatesvillle, Texas. This ranch gave me a purpose in life during the chaotic storm. It has everything one can envision and wish for. It has beautiful pastures to feed the animals, hills for the mindful climbers, and water to sustain precious life. It contains all the features for me to combine the celebration of life, the passion for people and the love for cars, particularly Porsches.
2022 is a new beginning. My team and I set out to create an experience of a lifetime: to build an event space and along with it, a motorsports club. At Dove Nest (Nhi, Ethan, Sophie, Toan) Estate, we strive to create the best and most memorable experience that people can have. Whether it is a wedding, a team-building event or retreat, we are here to connect, celebrate life, and create memories. The venue sits on a 260 acre property that contains a 7500sf fully remodeled sandblasting warehouse; a beautifully designed, Lonesome Dove inspired saloon; and 4500 sf outdoor pavilion that take advantage of what nature has provided us with. Our project began 10 months ago, but we converted the warehouse into The Nest that has the capacity to hold 300 plus guests, a customized silo bar, a large honeymoon suite, dressing room lounge, and amenities for catering services. The Nest is facaded with 24 feet tall glass structures in the front and back, along with 2 giant 10×5 swinging doors on each side. It also features two 10×14 roll up glass surface garage doors to allow guests to enjoy the view outside. Our intended purpose was to create a flexible space with indoor and outdoor connectivity for guests.
The western saloon is a one-of-a-kind setting. The former owner was a fan of Lonesome Dove so he built a replica of the Dry Bean Saloon from the show. From what we learned, he was a very outgoing individual who loved to entertain, socialize, and share his time and space with his guests. He hosted many large gatherings and social events. We are inspired to carry on his legacy using his creation for our guests to enjoy and experience this historical structure. The backside of the saloon offers direct access to the outside world opening to the once busy skeet shooting range now serving as the backdrop of our newly constructed cabins for overnight guests to stay. While we want to preserve the historical significance of the ranch, we also added modern amenities and for guests to enjoy an overnight stay.
The five cabins, each has two bedrooms, a full bath with centralized air conditioner and heat. The cabin location also serves as the start of a five plus miles of trails and creek beds that are now cleared out for hiking and off roading activities. We want to create a venue that offers different activities for all kinds of guests and all members of the family.
Combined with the off road trails, we are now engaged to construct a membership based motorsports complex, Dove Nest Motorsports Club (DoMo). The facility includes a 3.1 mile paced race track. Again, we take full advantage of what the topography of the land has given to us. The beautiful track sits on the apex of the land, with contours racing up and down significant elevation and drops, challenging all levels of drivers. The intention is to invigorate the driver’s most inner sense of control and satisfaction while racing around the track. The track is designed to be challenged by the professionals but at the same time enjoyable for all newcomers. The race track will also feature 2 paddocks, clubhouses, skit pads and large garages for car storage.
Combining Dove Nest Estate with DoMo, our goal is to create a once in a lifetime experience for the union of two loving people or a group/family gathering or a team-building event. It is here where we celebrate life and create memories.
What does success mean to you?
Success is about relationships. Relationships connect people together to collaborate and work together. As we migrate through time in life, we build relationships with the people we meet in a continuum of time. It’s a journey through time. It’s not a destination but timing is everything. I feel 2022 is the right time to accept new challenges and open up new businesses that are driven by passion. We would love to share that passion with you by visiting us at The Dove Nest Estate and DoMo.
Contact Info:
- Address: Dove Nest Estate 2225 County Road 342 Gatesville, TX. 76528 (512) 865 7588
- Email: Info@dovenestestate.com
- Website: Dovenestestate.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dovenestestate?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
