Patrick Soon-Shiong

Patrick Soon-Shiong – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

: Patrick Soon-Shiong is a South African-born surgeon, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. This article delves into his life, medical innovations, business ventures, and the wisdom behind his most famous sayings, revealing lessons from his journey.

Introduction

Patrick Soon-Shiong is a name that bridges medicine, biotech, philanthropy, and media. Born in South Africa, he became one of the world’s wealthiest doctors by developing groundbreaking therapies—most notably the chemotherapy drug Abraxane—and later expanding into health tech, AI, and media ownership.

Today, his influence spans multiple fields: he leads a constellation of biotech and AI ventures via NantWorks, wields influence in the public health discourse, and exercises control over a major American newspaper. His journey, marked by perseverance, audacity, and controversy, offers rich lessons.

In this article, we explore his early life, education, career, philosophy, legacy, and his memorable quotes that encapsulate his worldview.

Early Life and Family

Patrick Soon-Shiong was born on July 29, 1952, in Port Elizabeth, in what was then the Union of South Africa (now Eastern Cape).

His parents were ethnic Chinese of Hakka origin, who had emigrated to South Africa to escape turbulence in China during and after World War II. Growing up in a racially stratified society under apartheid, Patrick’s identity was uniquely positioned: as Chinese in South Africa, he was classified into neither the white nor Black majority, and thus straddled societal margins.

His early surroundings were modest. His father operated small businesses (such as grocery stores), while his mother raised a large family. From an early age, he exhibited intellectual curiosity and discipline—and felt acutely the constraints of racial and institutional barriers around him.

Youth and Education

Patrick’s academic brilliance showed early. He attended a Chinese Anglican church-school in Port Elizabeth, under teachers who nurtured both discipline and moral purpose.

Despite systemic limitations on nonwhite students under apartheid, he excelled in exams, earning admission to medical school at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He graduated (MBBCh) at age 23, ranking among the top in his cohort—one of just a few positions allotted to Chinese students under the racial quotas of that era.

During his internship and early clinical work, he served in hospitals in Black townships (notably around the time of the 1976 Soweto Uprising), witnessing acute suffering and systemic neglect. His experience treating injured children during those uprisings left a lasting impression.

Seeking advanced research training, he pursued a Master of Science at the University of British Columbia (awarded in 1979) before returning to South Africa for further medical credentials. Later, he immigrated to the United States and joined UCLA for surgical training. He became a board-certified surgeon by 1984 and earned fellowships (e.g. Royal College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons).

His academic roles expanded: adjunct professor of surgery, executive director of UCLA’s Wireless Health Institute, and visiting professor at Imperial College London and Dartmouth.

Career and Achievements

Patrick Soon-Shiong’s career blends surgical practice, medical innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-stakes investments.

Medical & Scientific Contributions

• Pancreas / Islet-cell Transplants: Early in his UCLA tenure, he pioneered surgical techniques and therapeutic approaches to treat diabetes, including islet-cell transplantation and pig-to-human islet experiments.

• Abraxane: Perhaps his most famous breakthrough, Soon-Shiong developed Abraxane (albumin-bound paclitaxel), a formulation that enhances delivery of chemotherapy. Approved for breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers, it became a commercial and clinical success.

• Immunotherapy & Cancer-AI: In recent years, he’s been deeply involved in immunotherapy, including the development and FDA approval of Anktiva (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

• Data & AI in Health: He foresaw the power of integrating computing and medical data. Through his ventures (e.g. NantWorks, NantHealth), he works to unify genomics, predictive modeling, AI, and clinical decision support.

Business Ventures & Investments

• In the 1990s, Soon-Shiong co-founded VivoRx, then later APP Pharmaceuticals (a generic injectable manufacturer), and Abraxis BioScience (focused on cancer therapeutics).

• APP was sold in 2008 to Fresenius for about US$4.6 billion.

• Abraxis, with the rights to Abraxane, was sold to Celgene in 2010 in a multi-billion-dollar deal.

• He founded NantWorks, a corporate umbrella for companies in health IT, AI, biotech, and computing.

• Through NantHealth, he developed technologies for cloud-based health data, fiber optic networks, predictive analytics, and systems convergence.

Media & Civic Engagement

Beyond biotech, Patrick has ventured into media and civic influence:

• In 2018, Soon-Shiong acquired the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune for around US$500 million (plus pension liabilities).

• His ownership has triggered debates over editorial independence, political stance, and restructuring within the newsroom.

• He has served on governmental advisory bodies: e.g., the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee under the 21st Century Cures Act.

• During the COVID-19 era, his company (ImmunityBio) pursued a T-cell–oriented vaccine booster with trials in South Africa and efforts to deploy manufacturing across Africa (via NantSA).

Recognition & Influence

• Patrick holds over 850 patents globally.

• As of 2025, his net worth is estimated around US$12 billion and he is often ranked among the richest doctors worldwide.

• He has pledged to give away at least half of his wealth via the Giving Pledge.

• He chairs the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation, named in honor of his wife, which supports medical research, education, and community causes.

Historical Milestones & Context

Understanding Patrick Soon-Shiong’s path requires situating him within several historical currents:

1. Apartheid & Racial Quotas: His entry into medical school under strict racial quotas and early work in township hospitals occurred during intense racial repression in South Africa.

2. Globalization of Biotech: His bridging of academia, biotech firms, and capital markets reflects the late-20th century trend of translating scientific discovery into commercial therapeutics.

3. Digital Health Revolution: His early adoption of health informatics, cloud systems, and AI in medicine foreshadows the current era of precision health.

4. Media & Influence in the 21st Century: His purchase of a legacy newspaper signals a convergence of scientific, political, and public influence—echoing themes of technologists becoming media gatekeepers.

5. Pandemic and Global Health Equity: His efforts to build vaccine capacity in Africa (through NantSA) tie him to global debates on vaccine equity and scientific sovereignty.

Legacy and Influence

Patrick Soon-Shiong’s legacy is still taking shape—but several threads emerge:

• He has accelerated new paradigms in cancer and immunotherapy, especially by blending biology with computational systems.

• His vision of convergence—integrating medicine, technology, data, and networks—has influenced many in the field of digital health.

• Through media ownership, he seeks to reshape the narrative around science, health, and public policy.

• His philanthropic efforts, though subject to scrutiny in terms of structure and governance, reflect a commitment to leveraging scale and resources.

• For many aspiring physician-entrepreneurs, his trajectory shows both the promise and pitfalls of crossing from academia into high-stakes commercial ventures.

Personality and Talents

What traits help explain Patrick’s unique drive and breadth?

• Interdisciplinary thinker: He often speaks in terms of systems, networks, and pattern recognition—“connecting dots” across biology, computing, and society.

• Risk-taker: He shifted from medicine into entrepreneurship at his own peril; his bets on biotech, AI, and media required boldness.

• Relentless curiosity: He has delved into sports, philosophy, politics, and technology with equal intensity.

• Communicative & visionary: He is known to lecture in sweeping scope—from molecular networks to planetary systems—often drawing connections few see.

• Controversial & polarizing: His methods and business dealings have drawn criticism, lawsuits, and ethics questions—especially concerning foundation governance and media influence.

Famous Quotes of Patrick Soon-Shiong

Here are some of his memorable statements that reflect his worldview and mission:

“If you look upon chronic diseases as an epidemic, and you see that the chronically ill are the poor, then you see that this issue … is not really a moral but a financial obligation to change health care.”

“You don’t inherit cancer; you actually get it.”

“I love doing a lot of things I’m told I can’t do. I think that’s what drives me and keeps me awake every day.”

“We need to and must protect privacy. But I think that people will be willing and even eager to share medical information about themselves for the greater good of mankind.”

“What we discovered, counter-intuitively, is that when you start killing a cancer cell, one of the things it does in order to survive is to spread even further. It causes itself to form new blood vessels. We’ve termed this ‘reactionary angiogenesis.’”

“The foundations and the intent of the Affordable Care Act are laudable. The way it’s being implemented is a disaster.”

“I am convinced that in order for you, as a patient, to be protected, it has to be transparent, evidence-based, objective information. Not self-serving information. Not pharma-driven information. Not ad-driven information.”

“Baseball is like cricket, and I grew up in a country where they had cricket … I played basketball … that’s why I’m a basketball fanatic.”

“The idea … is that the most important advances in medicine would be made … by mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists, figuring out a way to get all that information together.”

These quotes reveal his core beliefs: medicine must evolve beyond linear thinking, privacy must be balanced with data sharing, and bold, multi-disciplinary approaches are necessary to solve complex health challenges.

Lessons from Patrick Soon-Shiong

From his life and work, we can draw several valuable lessons:

1. Cross boundaries: Innovation often lies at intersections—biology, data science, engineering, and systems thinking.

2. Dare to fail: His path is littered with failed ventures and controversies, but he persisted by learning and pivoting.

3. Vision + execution: Grand ideas require rigorous execution—and sometimes commercial discipline—to realize impact.

4. Ethics and scrutiny go hand in hand with power: With influence comes responsibility; transparency and governance are always in test.

5. Purpose as anchor: His drive seems rooted in serving humanity—especially in bridging health inequities.

6. Lifelong curiosity: Maintaining intellectual humility and curiosity fuels sustained impact.

Conclusion

Patrick Soon-Shiong is more than a successful surgeon or biotech magnate. He is a bridge between medicine, technology, capital, and public influence. His life story is a testament to overcoming structural barriers, daring to dream at scale, and insisting that health care be reimagined for all.

His famous quotes—on cancer, privacy, transformation, and ambition—offer windows into a mind committed to radical integration of science and purpose. Whether one view him as visionary or controversial, his imprint on 21st-century health and media is undeniable.

To dive deeper, explore his published interviews, scientific papers, and contributions via the Chan Soon-Shiong Foundation and NantWorks. Let his journey inspire your own pursuit of impact across disciplines.