Dr. Soon Hon Cheong

Dr. Soon Hon Cheong, DVM, PhD, DACVT

Dr. Soon Hon Cheong was a distinguished veterinarian, scientist, and educator whose life’s work advanced reproductive medicine across species and disciplines. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from University Putra Malaysia and completed advanced clinical training and a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University. In 2012, he joined the faculty of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he rose to the rank of Full Professor of Reproductive Medicine and served for many years as Section Chief of Theriogenology at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. From 2021 to 2024, he also served as Director of the Cornell Equine Park, combining academic leadership with hands-on clinical excellence.

An internationally recognized authority in theriogenology and assisted reproductive technologies, Dr. Cheong authored more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including influential work in PNAS, Nature Communications, Biology of Reproduction, and Development. His research bridged fundamental biology and clinical practice across dairy, equine, canine, and conservation medicine, leaving a lasting impact on embryo biology, cryopreservation, uterine health, and emerging fertility technologies. Equally important to him was teaching: he was a devoted mentor to students, residents, and fellows, and a generous collaborator whose influence extended well beyond his own laboratory.

Above all, Dr. Cheong will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father of three daughters, and a deeply respected mentor and colleague. He brought curiosity, rigor, and kindness to his work and his relationships, and he held himself—and those around him—to high standards, always in service of something larger than himself. His legacy lives on through his family, his trainees, and the enduring contributions he made to veterinary medicine and reproductive science.