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Jason Hong’s career began in the trauma bay. Today, it continues in the lab, where he’s helping lead adult smokers toward a smoke-free future.
A Senior Principal Scientist on the Altria Science Clinical Research team, Dr. Hong brings a unique perspective to the field of Tobacco Harm Reduction. With a background in medicine, surgical residency, neuroscience, and pain management, his professional journey is anything but typical. And yet, it’s exactly that unconventional path that led him to a career rooted in purpose, curiosity, and impact.
“I never imagined working in the tobacco industry. But once I understood the mission, to reduce harm and create better alternatives for adult smokers, it started to feel like a natural fit.”
A Medical Career, Reimagined
Jason trained as a medical doctor in both the U.S. and abroad. Early on, he set his sights on becoming a surgeon. But after life threw him an unexpected curveball when he became a single father, he shifted course to prioritize family and chose to bring his clinical expertise into research and development.
“I had to make a decision,” he says. “I loved surgery, but the time commitment didn’t allow me to be the dad I wanted to be. So, I leaned into my research background.”
That decision led to meaningful roles in neuroscience and pain management, including work with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developing brain implants for veterans returning from combat and managing a project focused on helping wounded soldiers transition off opioids.
A New Calling in Harm Reduction
Jason’s pivot into tobacco harm reduction started with a recruiter’s phone call. At first, he was hesitant. But as he learned more, he became intrigued by the mission.
“When I read the job description, it brought me back to medical school, when I took the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm,” he says. “This work aligns with that commitment.”
He remembered his time training in rural North Carolina, where he encountered patients who had been smoking since they were 9 or 10. Many had grown up on tobacco farms and had few, if any, alternatives.
“In those days, we didn’t have reduced-risk products. Today, we do. That changes everything.”
Innovating with Purpose
At Altria, Jason oversees clinical research studies that evaluate how products perform in real-world settings. From analyzing safety data to designing trials that meet rigorous regulatory standards, he works to answer critical questions about product use, efficacy, and health outcomes.
But what motivates him most isn’t the protocols or the process. It’s the people.
“The level of expertise and collaboration here is phenomenal,” he says. “I’m constantly learning from colleagues across disciplines, and they challenge me to think in new ways.”
Coming from a traditional medical background, Jason admits he was trained to approach problems from a specific angle. In his current role, those problem-solving muscles are still at work, but they are being stretched in powerful, cross-functional ways.
The Long Game of Public Health
Clinical research doesn’t always provide instant gratification. Studies take time. Approvals are rigorous. Yet the long-term impact is what drives Jason’s work forward.
“We may not see the fruits of our labor right away,” he says. “But we’re building toward something bigger, helping adult smokers transition to reduced-risk products and, ultimately, a smoke-free future.”
He acknowledges the complexity of the industry, especially the regulatory environment. But he also sees it as a challenge worth rising to.
“I’ve learned resilience. I’ve learned how to adapt. And I’ve learned that this work, while different from traditional medicine, still serves the core mission I’ve always believed in: improving lives.”
Advice for Fellow Clinicians
To others in the medical field who may be curious about opportunities beyond the hospital or clinic, Jason offers this advice:
“Think about the questions that drive you and how you’d go about finding the answers. Clinical research allows you to ask big questions and see how your work can help shape outcomes on a population level.”
His path may be unexpected, but for Jason, it’s exactly where he’s meant to be.
“I’m proud to be part of something bigger than myself. And I’m inspired by what’s possible when smart, purpose-driven people come together to innovate for a better future.”
Interested in making an impact like Jason?
Explore how your background in science or medicine could help shape the future of Tobacco Harm Reduction with a career at Altria.
Together we Innovate. Together we Change.
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