Rate My Professor Soon Hon Cheong

Soon Hon Cheong, DVM, PhD, DACVT, served as Full Professor of Reproductive Medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2003. He then completed an internship, a residency in ambulatory and production medicine, and a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University from 2008 to 2012. In 2012, Dr. Cheong joined the Cornell faculty, rising to full professor. He held the position of Section Chief of Theriogenology at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals and directed the Cornell Equine Park from 2021 to 2024, contributing to clinical excellence and educational programs in equine reproductive medicine.

Dr. Cheong was an internationally recognized authority in theriogenology and assisted reproductive technologies. His research bridged fundamental biology and clinical applications across dairy cattle, equine, canine, and conservation species, with key focuses on embryo biology, cryopreservation to prevent ice formation, rheotaxis-based sperm separation using microfluidics, uterine health, endometritis diagnosis via inflammatory markers, and advanced techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). He authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as PNAS, Nature Communications, Biology of Reproduction, and Development. Notable works include the 2015 collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution producing the first domestic puppies via IVF, a 2026 Nature Communications paper on sperm hyperactivation driving circling-and-wandering swimming behavior, and a 2025 study on inflammatory marker analysis in uterine cytobrush samples for identifying mares with endometritis. As a devoted mentor, he trained generations of students, residents, and fellows, extending his influence through collaborations in wildlife conservation and innovative fertility technologies.