New HST scholarship empowers tomorrow’s innovators

Ambitious in their vision, students in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST) combine clinical insight, engineering expertise, and a spirit of innovation to tackle some of the world’s most complex questions in medicine and science. Yet turning ambition into reality requires more than talent and training. 

“To fully engage in hands-on research and pursue their boldest ideas, HST students also need strong financial backing,” says Wolfram Goessling, MD, PhD, former co-director of HST and current chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. 

This is where Irene Y. Cheung, SM ’74, SD ’77, and Nai-Kong V. Cheung, MD ’76, PhD ’78, come in. Their recent $500,000 commitment establishes the NK and Irene Cheung Family HST Scholarship Fund at Harvard Medical School.

“Having been an HST student myself, I know what this program can do for those who are given the opportunity,” says Nai-Kong, the Enid A. Haupt Chair in Pediatric Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where his lab engineers antibodies and immune cells to treat childhood cancers. “I remain grateful for all that HMS and HST have made possible.” 

The Cheungs view their gift as a way of passing the torch—letting future HST students know that there are people who care and share their vision for making a difference in the world. “We are inspired by the new generation of HST scholars,” says Irene, Laboratory Member in Nai-Kong’s lab and Attending Clinical Immunologist in the Department of Pediatrics. “We hope our support allows them to fulfill the promise to our patients: to push beyond treatment and seek cures.” 

Goessling recognizes the impact of the Cheungs’ generosity: “It’s clear that they are deeply committed to supporting the next generation of innovators. Their philanthropy is an expression of their true passion.” 

HMS Dean for Medical Education Bernard S. Chang, AB ’93, MD, MMSc ’05, expresses gratitude for their support, noting, “The Cheungs’ foresight helps ensure HST continues to attract and nurture curious, compassionate, and creative minds dedicated to advancing human health.” 

Reflecting on a lifetime of innovation and mentorship, Nai-Kong issues a call to action: “We must seize the moment—it’s the renaissance where science, medicine, and AI converge. If done right, it will benefit humankind for centuries to come.”