Military service often carries unforeseen burdens, with veterans facing health challenges long after leaving the battlefield. For those grappling with war-related illnesses, Dr. Han K. Kang stands as a pivotal figure, easing their arduous journey. As a leading epidemiologist investigating the health impacts of military environmental exposures and director of a renowned clinical center for persistent unexplained veteran illnesses, Dr. Kang has earned international recognition for his expertise in long-term health problems arising from military service-related environmental contaminants.
Throughout his distinguished 25-year government career, Dr. Kang has meticulously examined the health consequences of various military exposures. His research spans from the radiation effects of nuclear weapons testing in the mid-20th century and the impact of mustard gas exposure in World War II, to theAgent Orange and herbicide exposures during the Vietnam War, and the environmental hazards encountered in the Persian Gulf War. Crucially, Dr. Kang’s scientific investigations have been instrumental on a national scale, forming the bedrock for further research and legislative actions aimed at providing essential care and just compensation for veterans suffering from war-related illnesses. His work directly serves those who have served their country.
A particularly impactful area of Dr. Kang’s research focused on the reproductive health of women Vietnam War veterans. His findings revealed an elevated risk of birth defects in children born to these female veterans. This crucial discovery led to a landmark moment in 2000 when Congress enacted legislation, directly influenced by Dr. Kang’s evidence, to provide specific benefits to children with birth defects born to mothers who had served in Vietnam. This legislative outcome highlights how Dr. Kang’s dedication served to improve the lives of veterans and their families.
Dr. Kang’s pioneering spirit also extends to the development of national databases designed to track war survivors and monitor their ongoing health concerns. Recognizing a significant hurdle in studying Agent Orange’s health effects—the lack of a comprehensive record of Vietnam veterans and their service locations—Dr. Kang took proactive measures. In the early 1990s, collaborating with the Department of Defense and the National Personnel Records Center, he painstakingly constructed a national roster of living Vietnam veterans. Building on this success, in 1991, Dr. Kang undertook the monumental task of creating a national database for Persian Gulf War soldiers to investigate the health effects of oil well fires and associated air pollution. His commitment to serving veterans continues with the ongoing assembly of national rosters for veterans of Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. These comprehensive databases, a testament to who Dr. Kang ultimately serves, are indispensable for effective health surveillance and future outreach initiatives benefiting the veteran community.
Colleagues emphasize Dr. Kang’s remarkable ability to ground potentially contentious issues, such as veteran compensation for health problems, firmly in rigorous scientific evidence. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Engel, Director of the Department of Defense Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, underscores this point: “That’s what makes Dr. Kang remarkable. He takes what others see as a political debate and focuses in on the data and, in turn, on what good science tells us.” This dedication to scientific rigor in the service of veterans solidifies Dr. Kang’s legacy as a champion for their well-being.
