Jeremy K. Hon, a Hong Kong-born oncologist, haematologist and author of the remarkable memoir An Impossible Life Journey, will be in town to share his powerful story during the 30th Book Expo Thailand at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Ratchadaphisek Road, on Oct 13 at 5pm.
He will take the stage at the Author’s Salon, a dedicated seminar for authors and writers of all genres and experts from various fields to showcase their work, share knowledge, ideas and valuable experiences with readers.
Born in Hong Kong to a refugee family from Southern China, Dr Hon’s life embodies resilience. He began his studies in pharmacy at National Taiwan University, but his participation in the historic Diaoyutai student protests led to a ban from Taiwan.
Refusing to give up, he moved to the US where he worked to support himself. After earning his pharmacy degree in Alabama, he pursued his studies at the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and discovered his passion for oncology during his training at the renowned MD Anderson Hospital.
In 1988, Dr Hon co-founded the Clearview Cancer Institute in Huntsville, Alabama, where he became a pioneer in cancer research and treatment. His work advanced clinical trials and therapies for pancreatic, breast, lung and colorectal cancers and he also directed a stem cell programme.
Throughout his career in the US, he has remained deeply rooted in Chinese culture, drawing lifelong inspiration from Confucian values and Tang poetry — principles he credits with guiding him through both hardship and achievement.
An Impossible Life Journey, now available in Thai from Sanskritbook and Saengdao Publishing, is not only a chronicle of his personal and professional challenges but also a meditation on perseverance, cultural identity and the universal human spirit to overcome adversity.
Audiences at the book expo will have the chance to listen to his remarkable journey that took him from a refugee childhood to co-founding one of America’s leading cancer institutes. His talk promises to inspire readers, students, professionals and anyone seeking courage to face life’s challenges.