AACR – We recognize Waun Ki Hong the first Asian-American scientist to be elected President of the AACR (2001-2002)

AACR shared a post on LinkedIn:

“May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage month. Today, we recognize Waun Ki Hong, MD, FAACR (1942-2019), a Korean-American physician-scientist who was the first Asian-American scientist to be elected President of the AACR (2001-2002). Dr. Hong led groundbreaking clinical trials showing that chemotherapy and radiotherapy was an effective alternative to laryngectomy for cancer of the larynx, a discovery that dramatically improved the quality of life for patients with this disease and helped lay a foundation for organ preservation in numerous cancer types. His clinical research innovations also advanced the field of targeted therapy and established the concept of chemoprevention. Dr. Hong also shaped national cancer policy through his service on critical committees for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Cancer Institute, and the President’s Cancer Panel.

An AACR member since 1982, Dr. Hong served the organization in a wide range of leadership positions, including as a member of the Board of Directors (1996-1999), Annual Meeting Program Chair (1999), and AACR President (2001-2002). He was inducted as an inaugural Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2013. ”

Source: AACR/LinkedIn