In memoriam: Han Joo Kim

In memoriam: Han Joo Kim

Han Joo Kim (Photo/Ricardo Carrasco III)

On Friday, July 24, Han Joo Kim, MD, died. He was a gifted radiation oncologist for Keck Medicine of USC, and his death is a significant loss that will be felt by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Kim had the distinction of becoming Keck Medicine’s first satellite physician in the Department of Radiation Oncology when he joined Keck Medicine in 2018. While also serving as a clinical assistant professor of his specialty at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Kim also provided care at Keck Medicine – Koreatown and USC Norris Cancer Hospital.

Kim was also a founding partner of LA Cancer Center in Koreatown in 2012. As president of the Korean American Medical Association since 2011, Kim helped to familiarize Keck Medicine leadership with the surrounding Korean physician community.

Before coming to Southern California, Kim served as an associate professor at Saint Louis University Doisy College of Health Sciences. A graduate of Kyungpook National University School of Medicine in Daegu, South Korea, he immigrated to the United States and received his residency training at Loyola University in Chicago, IL and Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, in St. Louis, MO.

Kim was committed to helping others and making health care more accessible to Korean-speaking members of his community. When he did allow himself to take time off, he enjoyed playing golf.

A resident of La Habra, CA, Kim is survived by his wife and two sons, one of whom is a cardiologist on faculty at University of California San Diego. The funeral will be held on Monday, August 10 at 9 a.m. at the following location:

SkyRose Chapel at Rose Hills
3888 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601

There will be a maximum limit of 50 people, so RSVPs are required. To send your RSVP, or to send cards or flowers to the family, please contact Caryn Ainley at Caryn.Ainley@med.usc.edu.