Healing with culture, care and compassion

He earned his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy in 1976 and became a licensed pharmacist. Later obtaining his Doctor of Medicine in Alabama, he went on to complete his postgraduate studies in Texas.

Hon did an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. During this period, part of his clinical training was at the renowned MD Anderson Hospital, where he decided to become an oncologist. His fellowship in hematology/oncology was at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, then headquarters of the Southwest Oncology Group, which gave him exposure to clinical trials. The center is also known for its laboratory research and has as its goal the training of physician scientists.

Hon's first discovery was as a medical student at the UAB. His paper about a breakthrough in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma was published in the Southern Medical Journal and subsequently reported by American Medical News as an important finding. Other research was also published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

He returned to Alabama to start a private practice, and as it evolved, he achieved a reputation among patients for being a caring and responsible doctor.

In 1988, he cofounded the Clearview Cancer Institute, and was one of the key figures in its growth and success. He and his colleagues also played pivotal roles in expanding clinical research and trials for different types of cancer. His contributions encompassed emerging therapies for pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Later, he became the director of a stem cell program at Alabama's Huntsville Hospital.