Ms. Shanshan Hong was born on November 12, 1986, in Ma’anshan, Anhui Province, China, as the only child of Mr. Hong Shaozhou and Mrs. Liu Huangmei. From a youthful age, she displayed remarkable intelligence, academic excellence, and quiet independence. At 15, she earned admission to Ma’anshan No. 2 High School, a prestigious local institution. In 2005, she began her studies in Life Sciences at Anqing Normal University, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree and teaching certification. Driven by curiosity, she later pursued a master’s degree in microbiology at Nanjing Agricultural University. In 2014, she studied for a second master’s degree in Biostatistics from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, USA.

In 2004, Shanshan fell in love with her high school classmate, Xiao Li. After a seven-year journey of devotion, the couple married in their hometown of Ma’anshan on December 16, 2011. In 2012, she courageously relocated to South Carolina to reunite with her husband, where they built a loving home together. Their family grew with the arrival of daughter Aurora Li in 2016. In 2017, they settled in Richland, Washington, and welcomed son Alex in 2020, completing their joyful family.

In 2022, Shanshan joined Tri-Cities Community Health as the first dedicated data analyst in the insitution. She has made extraordinary contributions to the health of the people in Tri-Cities areas by utilizing her expertise to provide health data analysis to hospitals and government agencies to help develop healthcare policies that benefit the public.

Tragically, in early 2023, Shanshan was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. For two years, she faced this challenge with unwavering optimism and grace, creating cherished memories with her loved ones. On February 8, 2025, she passed away peacefully at her Washington home at the age of 39, surrounded by family.

Though her time was brief, Shanshan’s life radiated purpose and love. As a scholar, she bridged three vital fields of life sciences; as a mother, she nurtured two bright souls with boundless patience; as a professional, she left an enduring legacy in community healthcare. Her laughter, compassion, and relentless dedication to family and friends remain etched in our hearts.

As spring awakens the earth and cherry blossoms return, we find comfort knowing her spirit lives on—in every child’s giggle, every data-driven health breakthrough, and every sunset that paints the sky with the same warmth she brought to our lives.