David Hong
President & Founder, Children of Korea; Former Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital
Panelist
Dr. David S. Hong, MD, FAANS, is the President and Founder of Children of Korea and the former Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. A board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Hong is nationally recognized for his leadership in advancing surgical care for children and his groundbreaking work in global health and medical diplomacy.
Born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, Dr. Hong earned his dual AB/BS degrees from the University of Michigan and his MD from New York University School of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgical residency at Wayne State University / Detroit Medical Center and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Rady Children’s Hospital / UC San Diego. He later served as a faculty member and Associate Professor at the USF Morsani College of Medicine.
Clinically, Dr. Hong has specialized in treating a broad range of pediatric neurological and spinal disorders—including brain and spinal tumors, Chiari malformations, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, and vascular anomalies—often employing innovative and minimally invasive techniques.
Beyond his surgical career, Dr. Hong is a pioneer in global neurosurgery, becoming the first pediatric neurosurgeon to work in North Korea. Since 2015, he has made numerous visits to Pyongyang, collaborating with surgeons at Okryu Children’s Hospital to strengthen pediatric neurosurgical capacity. Through Children of Korea, the nonprofit he founded, Dr. Hong leads sustained efforts to improve child health, surgical training, and medical exchange across the Korean Peninsula.
Dr. Hong’s humanitarian and academic work has been featured in BBC World Service, Radio Free Asia, and The Washington Post, highlighting his lifelong commitment to healing, peace, and the global advancement of children’s health.
David Hong
President & Founder, Children of Korea;
Former Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery,
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital
Dr. David S. Hong, MD, FAANS, is the President and Founder of Children of Korea and the former Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. A board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Hong is nationally recognized for his leadership in advancing surgical care for children and his groundbreaking work in global health and medical diplomacy.
Born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, Dr. Hong earned his dual AB/BS degrees from the University of Michigan and his MD from New York University School of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgical residency at Wayne State University / Detroit Medical Center and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Rady Children’s Hospital / UC San Diego. He later served as a faculty member and Associate Professor at the USF Morsani College of Medicine.
Clinically, Dr. Hong has specialized in treating a broad range of pediatric neurological and spinal disorders—including brain and spinal tumors, Chiari malformations, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, and vascular anomalies—often employing innovative and minimally invasive techniques.
Beyond his surgical career, Dr. Hong is a pioneer in global neurosurgery, becoming the first pediatric neurosurgeon to work in North Korea. Since 2015, he has made numerous visits to Pyongyang, collaborating with surgeons at Okryu Children’s Hospital to strengthen pediatric neurosurgical capacity. Through Children of Korea, the nonprofit he founded, Dr. Hong leads sustained efforts to improve child health, surgical training, and medical exchange across the Korean Peninsula.
Dr. Hong’s humanitarian and academic work has been featured in BBC World Service, Radio Free Asia, and The Washington Post, highlighting his lifelong commitment to healing, peace, and the global advancement of children’s health.