Dr. Benjamin Moon enjoys the blend of science and medicine. He initially worked as a lab technician studying HIV gene immunotherapy before heading back to school for his medical degree. Now Dr. Moon is set to launch a new career as physician-scientist, specializing in rheumatology.

Benjamin Moon, M.D., Ph.D.

What this award means: I decided on a career in rheumatology after a fortuitous internal medicine subspecialty block during my core clerkship. An inpatient elective block later that year led me to meet other rheumatologists and work on a quality improvement project focused on reproductive health, solidifying my love of the field. It is an honor to be selected for this award, and I hope that I can contribute meaningfully to our understanding of rheumatic diseases in the future.

Mentor comment: I worked with Ben in both clinical and research settings, and he excelled in both realms. He was fantastic on consults and performed at the level of a resident by the time he was an MS4. From a research perspective, Ben has been working on a quality improvement project that strives to improve the documentation of reproductive health goals and contraception among rheumatology patients. – Brooke Mills, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

Background and family: My parents emigrated from South Korea and settled in Thousand Oaks, California, where I was born. I am the second of four boys, and much of how I turned out I can attribute to amazing parenting and unbreakable bonds with my siblings. My wife of three-plus years, Diane, is a source of constant support.

What led to your career path: Since an early age, I was always set on a career in science that involved helping others. After completing my undergraduate training, I worked as a lab technician for Alejandro Balazs, Ph.D., at the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard in Boston, studying HIV vectored gene immunotherapy. Through this research work, I was introduced to medicine. My interactions with patients led me down the path of an M.D./Ph.D., with my Ph.D. focused on immunology. The unique opportunity of seeing patients face to face while running my own lab will provide the perspective needed to help move scientific advancements to the bedside.

College: I graduated from Brown University in 2014 with a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology.

UTSW activities: I completed my Ph.D. in immunology under Yang-Xin Fu, M.D, Ph.D., working on developing novel immune therapies to treat cancer. This work was funded by a National Institutes of Health F30 fellowship. I was also co-President of the Infectious Diseases Interest Group as an MS1. When possible, I like to give back to the community through volunteer work, such as seeing patients at the Union Gospel Mission free clinics, distributing food with the Oak Cliff Veggie Project, and teaching students about DNA at the United to Serve health fair.

Surprising fact: I love corgis and have a 5-year-old corgi named Ira who has helped me maintain my emotional well-being throughout medical school.

Future plans: I will start my residency in June at UC San Francisco through its Molecular Medicine Program, which includes a linked rheumatology fellowship. My ultimate goal is to become a physician-scientist, see patients in the clinic, and run my own lab to hopefully develop novel therapeutics to bring to my patients.

About the award: The Goldings Award, presented to the most outstanding medical student in rheumatology, is named for Dr. Eliot A. Goldings, a former Division of Rheumatic Diseases faculty member who died in 1988.