Story #97: Ben Hsu, CHAD Alum and Leader in Biopharmaceutical Innovation

Dr. Ben Hsu ‘86, an expert in immunology and clinical development, attributes much of his enduring commitment to social service and community care to his time with PBHA. While earning his degree in Biochemistry at the College, Hsu became deeply involved with the Chinatown Committee, where he tutored children and participated in the Chinatown Summer Adventure program (SUP)! These early experiences exposed him to the racial and economic inequities present in Boston and beyond. As he shared in PBHA’s 2023 Alumni Survey:

"PBHA sparked my ongoing, lifelong interest in social service... it taught me that I could be of service to people despite having little to no special training, and they were so appreciative. PBHA also showed us in our ivory tower the racial and economic inequities in our community, in our country." - Ben Hsu

This exposure to social justice issues, alongside the passion and idealism of his fellow student volunteers, set the foundation for his career in medicine and biopharmaceuticals, where he has focused on addressing the unmet needs of people with serious medical conditions. His career trajectory—from a PhD in Immunology at Washington University to his current role as Vice President of Clinical Development at Adicet Bio—has been guided by the core values instilled in him through PBHA. His work in the biopharmaceutical industry, developing treatments for autoimmune diseases and other serious health conditions, reflects his deep belief in empathy and the importance of service. He notes that the passion he first encountered in PBHA for correcting social injustices has fueled his professional life, with a focus on improving health outcomes for underserved populations.

"Empathy for others' lived experiences is important in my workplace to optimize my collaboration with teams of people of different ages, ethnicities and nationalities." - Ben Hsu

Hsu collaborates with diverse teams across the globe. Whether through social service as a student or through his innovative work in healthcare, Hsu’s commitment to addressing societal inequities continues to be a driving force in his life’s work, and PBHA is so proud of his innovative work.

Ben Hsu “doing another volunteer activity that requires no skill— blood donation”

Photo and caption supplied by Ben Hsu.