About Me

I was born in South Korea but moved to California at age nine. I grew up in Santa Cruz, on the coast near Monterey. In college I had a specific interest in public service, and this led to an interest in underserved populations with regard to health issues. After completing my residency at the Mayo Clinic, I joined the Indian Health Service as a general internist. I then entered subspecialty training at Stanford University.

About my practice

I chose to specialize in critical care medicine because I was drawn to the fast pace and procedural aspects of practicing in intensive care units. Because many patients are on life-supportive devices due to potentially life-threatening injuries and illnesses, I find that my relationship with my patients and their families has a high sense of immediacy. My practice philosophy centers around respect — respect for the patients and the families, and respect for the disease and medicine. I joined the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group in 2012. As an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, I’m actively engaged in teaching medical students and residents in the field of critical care medicine and medical simulations. I am board certified in Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine.

How I thrive

One of the joys of moving to Hawaii has been the weather, and I try to be outdoors as much as possible. I like to run, swim, and cycle.