Early Life and Education
Patrick Soon-Shiong was born on July 29, 1952, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Chinese immigrant parents. He graduated from the University of Witwatersrand at the age of 23 with a medical degree, finishing fourth in his class. He continued his studies at the University of British Columbia, earning a master's degree in surgery. He later immigrated to the United States and became a board-certified surgeon in 1984 after training at UCLA.
Rise to Success
Soon-Shiong's career includes significant achievements in medicine and business. He performed the first whole-pancreas transplant at UCLA and developed an experimental treatment for diabetes. In 1991, he founded VivoRx Inc., which led to the establishment of APP Pharmaceuticals in 1997. A key moment in his career was the development of Abraxane, a chemotherapy drug that contributed significantly to his wealth. He later founded NantHealth and NantWorks, focusing on healthcare technology and innovation.
Key Business Strategies
Soon-Shiong's business strategy involved identifying and commercializing medical innovations. He has demonstrated an ability to raise capital and form strategic partnerships to advance his ventures. He sold his drug companies, including Abraxis BioScience and American Pharmaceutical Partners. He then took NantKwest and NantHealth public. His approach includes integrating technology and data to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Philanthropy
Soon-Shiong is committed to philanthropy. He has pledged to give away at least half of his wealth. He established the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation and the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute for Advanced Health to support medical technology projects and improve access to medical services.
