Cardiothoracic surgeon Keung Ung, M.D., had a heart for medicine at an early age. The grandson of Chinese refugees who fled to Cambodia during World War II, Dr. Ung has a life story as broad as his medical expertise.

Dr. Ung was born in Cambodia in 1972 where he and his family lived in work camps. When the Khmer-Rouge regime fell, they migrated to Thailand where they spent nearly three years in refugee camps. In 1981, a church from the small town of Allendale, Mich., sponsored Dr. Ung and his extended family, giving him the opportunity for a new and better life in the U.S.

“When we first arrived in Allendale, we were very malnourished and often sick,” said Dr. Ung. “Our family doctor went to church with us and treated us with great care. I decided then that I wanted to pursue medicine.”

Dr. Ung said the visions of war from his childhood also affected his decision.

“Seeing the horrors of war and feeling helpless to do anything about it left a great impression on me,” he said. “I felt a strong desire to do something to help.”

CT surgeons are in limited supply and great demand, and many seek opportunities in metropolitan areas. Dr. Ung chose to practice with the Baptist Heart Center team at Western Baptist Hospital because he liked the appeal of a smaller town. He also liked Western Baptist’s commitment to providing the region’s residents with quality cardiac care.
 
“My first home in the U.S. was a small town,” said Dr. Ung. “I’ve always envisioned myself living in a smaller town, and I appreciate the benefits it has to offer. After learning about the new Baptist Heart Center, I knew that Western Baptist was dedicated to maintaining a strong presence in cardiac care and providing the region’s residents with leading cardiac care, close to home.”

A graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine, Dr. Ung completed his surgical residency at the University of Kansas and his cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Louisville. Trained in the latest procedures, he performs the traditional coronary artery bypass grafting, as well as minimally-invasive procedures, such as the Maze technique for atrial fibrillation patients and transmyocardial laser revascularization for people with persistent angina not relieved by other methods.

Dr. Ung joins CT surgeons W. Robin Howe, M.D., who pioneered the open-heart surgery program at Western Baptist in 1985, and Carl Johnson, M.D., along with vascular surgeons and interventional cardiologists at the new $20 million Baptist Heart Center, the only center of its kind west of Louisville.

Dr. Howe’s experience makes him an appropriate mentor, Dr. Ung said. “I wanted to be where the senior partner could take me under his wings and show me the ropes.”

If you experience chest pain or shortness of breath, phone the Chest Pain and Stroke Hotline at 1-800-575-1911 or get to your nearest emergency room.