May 22, 2013

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I’m a Female Korean Surgeon: My Dream and the Near Impossible Journey

September 14, 2010 By

"Once the news of my pregnancy spread, I was eventually removed from the surgical residency program, and this was a devastating blow for me. As I was raising my first born, I continued to search for a program that would accept me. But then I became pregnant again – with twins!"

(By Hei Won Chung) In the early 1980’s, the future of the Brazilian economy was uncertain, forcing my parents and little brother to migrate north to the United States while I and my two sisters stayed behind to finish high school. I was the oldest and had the privilege and responsibility of being the “mother” of my two younger sisters. We all attended college and medical school in Brazil as well. 

After medical school, I joined my parents in the United States, and this was the beginning of a handful of barriers in my treacherous pursuit of becoming a surgeon. 

Getting into a residency program (post-graduate) in the United States [Read more...]

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What it’s Really like Growing up Mixed

September 13, 2010 By

"What was interesting was that I gravitated toward kids who were like me – mixed. If I attempted to fit in with the African-American kids in the neighborhood, I wasn’t “black” enough. On the other side of the spectrum, if I attempted to fit in with the Korean kids at church, I wasn’t “Korean” enough. This was the dilemma that I was experiencing that was, at times, troubling."

(By Fred Porter) A question and answer session was held with Fred Porter, the son of an African American father and a Korean mother. This feature was created to bring light to a new and different perspective on what it was really like to grow up as an inter-racial child living in the United States.

Q. Could you provide some information about your parents?
My father was a GI for the United States military in Korea. He was introduced to my mother in the early 70s where they married soon thereafter. My father was stationed in Korean for approximately 5 years. After marriage,  they moved to the United States in Alabama where I was born. [Read more...]

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Launching One of the First Hak Won’s in Philadelphia: The Passion to Teach vs. the Administration of a Business

September 12, 2010 By

 

"In 1998, there was a turning point for my hak won as I almost quit. I had wanted to open a hak won for the pure joy of teaching and making a living. However, the business and management of teachers became gigantic challenges. The complexities of managing people and meeting their expectations conflicted with my vision and my principles."

(By In Pak) My family emigrated from South Korea in 1978. I remained in Korea because it was my desire to become a military general in Korea. I entered Korean Military School to pursue my dream, but I had to give up the goal when I became infected with tuberculosis. With much regret, I left Korea to join my family in the US. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a math degree and began to envision a learning center for young people, specifically 1.5 and 2 generation students. I discovered I have a great passion for teaching young students. I founded Accel Academy in 1988 at which time there was only one other “hak won” (after-school learning center) in the Philadelphia area. I realized that a market opportunity was available for this type of school.  [Read more...]

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