In Memoriam: Hector Wong, MD
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Hector Wong, MD, vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics, who passed away unexpectedly over the weekend. He was 58.
Hector was a world-class academic physician scientist who worked tirelessly to advance our clinical, research and education missions. He cared for patients and families at Cincinnati Children’s for more than 25 years serving as director of the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program until 2004 and director of the Division of Critical Care Medicine until 2020. His novel and innovative research spanned from basic to translational to clinical with a focus on complications that arise from severe sepsis and septic shock.
As a young division director, Hector grew the critical care program – faculty, fellowship, research and more – to become what is today one of the preeminent academic critical care divisions in the country with a highly sought-after training program and a dedication to excellent clinical care, education, and research. Among his greatest accomplishments was the mentorship and development of countless faculty and researchers. He took great pride in helping others reach their full potential. “He was a dedicated advocate for trainees and junior faculty, generously providing them with the skills and confidence they needed for success in academic careers,” said Jessica Kahn, MD, MPH, director, Adolescent and Transition Medicine. “He was also a powerful champion for faculty career development, working closely with the Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development team on all aspects of academic affairs including faculty promotions, mentorship, networking, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. He displayed a remarkable ability to bring division directors together to address challenges and to inspire others to bring their best selves to every discussion. He consistently demonstrated deep humility and exceptional trust and respect for his team and led with empathy, understanding, and encouragement.”
In February 2020, Hector was among the critical care medicine leaders who crafted the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, comprising the first national set of guidelines for treating sepsis in children. The guidelines were presented at the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) congress and published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.
Erika Stalets, MD, MS, interim director, Critical Care, and associate chief of staff, Critical Care Services shared that, “Hector was an amazing leader and colleague. While so many know him as a talented and successful scientist, he was also a dedicated pediatrician who still took care of sick kids in the PICU and loved doing so. He led with trust and mutual respect and was a straight shooter. He supported and encouraged our young faculty and fellows unwaveringly--always investing in their success. We’ve lost a foundational pillar of critical care.”
Hector’s research is the epitome of Cincinnati Children’s “bedside to bench to bedside” approach. Funded by the NIH, his lab has developed a robust database of biological samples and clinical data for children with sepsis that serves as the backbone for hundreds of research studies. In recent years Hector’s laboratory team developed a first-of-its-kind tool to help identify sepsis early on, allowing for aggressive protection strategies. The Pediatric Sepsis Biomarker Risk Model (PERSEVERE-II), draws from biomarkers and clinical data to enable physicians to start medical interventions much earlier and with greater precision. Over the course of his career, he has held multiple active NIH R-level awards, and he has published more than 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Said Tracy Glauser, MD, associate director CCRF, “Whether at the bedside or the lab bench, Hector always focused on the science behind a problem and the data available instead of biases and hunches. He could rapidly get to the heart of an issue – whether clinical or research – and propose solutions that were aimed at making a child’s life better. He always put the child and their family first and was a great role model for all who had the privilege of working with him at the bedside, the lab, or in the boardroom. I will miss him.”
A Confident Leader
Hector served the medical center as interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Chief Medical Officer and director of the Research Foundation after Peggy Hostetter, MD, retired and until Tina Cheng, MD, MPH, arrived in November 2020. He also led Cincinnati Children’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining a calm and steady hand during a time of uncertainty. He was a source of reliable information for staff and our community, including school administrators from around the region who joined our monthly town halls.
Hector was a deeply committed supporter of our underrepresented minority faculty, advocating for a faculty diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan and championing anti-racism efforts at Cincinnati Children's. “Hector respected and embraced difference, was always open to listening to differing points of view and had a gift for leveraging those differences to create learning opportunities for himself and others,” said Jamilah Hackworth, EdD, associate director, Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development. “He regularly attended Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA) meetings and always made himself available to discuss and help resolve any challenge that underrepresented minority faculty members may have been experiencing. He was a transformational servant leader and the voice of reason we all needed – especially during challenging situations/times. Although he will be deeply missed, we will always think of him with joy because of the light and positive change he brought to Cincinnati Children’s and this world. Sending an abundance of love, comfort, and strength to his family and everyone else who knew and loved our dear friend as we all process this unimaginable and devastating loss.”
Said Steve Davis, MD, MMM, MS, president and CEO, “Hector was such a cornerstone here. I met him when he was a first-year fellow at Pittsburgh Children’s. He was a larger-than-life figure. He could always be counted on to remain calm and inspire confidence in those around him during any challenging situation. As well as being a superb clinician, he was a brilliant scientist and a role model for physician scientists. He will be sorely missed.”
Added Tina Cheng, MD, MPH, “Hector was an extraordinary, highly respected colleague and physician. He loved Cincinnati Children’s, and we feel his loss deeply. Our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Beyond the walls of Cincinnati Children’s, Hector had a passion for baseball and for supporting children as a coach. He was always excited about the lessons learned and taught on the field, and the opportunity to aid youth in the development of skills they would need to succeed in life.
Hector leaves behind his parents, his wife, Sue Poynter, MD, MEd, director of the Pediatric Residency Training Program, and four children.
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