When Dr. Kang meets with his patients for the first time, he talks to them about the diagnoses, but he also listens. “We talk about treatment, its side effects, the potential changes. I adjust my treatment approach according to each patient’s situation, to promote quality of life.” He says that often, patients want to know how he’d treat them if they were his family members, which hits close to home. “When I was in medical school, my mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer. That was a hard, frustrating time – but it determined my calling, changed my perspective – I refocused to oncology. Knowing how it was for me and my family, I feel it helps when I fully understand my patient’s family dynamic.”

When discussing treatment options, Dr. Kang takes into account the patient’s current health state, as other disorders that may be present along with the cancer or blood disorder could affect outcomes. He feels that if a patient has all of the information on possible side effects and treatment duration, they can better plan care. Dr. Kang is sensitive to the patient preferences, family quality of life and the financial impact of treatment. He notes that treatment cost has an increasingly heavy bearing on patient and family decisions, and feels it’s important as a care provider to recognize and address that often unspoken concern.

From an emphasis in organic chemistry and research, Dr. Kang switched to practical medicine. He completed his residency and fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Truman Medical Center at the University of Missouri, and earned Board Certification in Medical Oncology in 2007.

Dr. Kang is married and has two sons. For relaxation, he reads and enjoys long walks. He is a self-proclaimed “terrible golfer” who nonetheless treasures the time the sport lets him spend with his sons.