I first met Professor Simon at a symposium titled ¡°Ion and Enzymes Electrodes in Biology and Medicine,¡± which was held in Dortmund, Germany in July 1975. At the time, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago School of Medicine. Then I met him at a symposium titled ¡°Calcium Transport and Cell Function,¡± which was held in New York City in September 1977. At the symposium, Professor Simon presented Na-selective and Ca-selective neutral carrier ligands, which could be used to make Na-selective microelectrodes and Ca-selective microelectrodes. This was very good news for me because I had been looking for those types of ligands. I talked to Professor Simon and asked him if it was possible if he could send the ligands to me. He kindly told me that if I wrote a letter and formally asked, he would send me the ligands. By that point, September 1977, I was Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Cornell University Medical College.
Prior to meeting Professor Simon, I had made ion-selective microelectrodes by using K or Na-selective at Indiana University and University of Chicago. It was very difficult to construct ion-selective microelectrodes with the glass. It was much easier to construct ion-selective microelectrodes with , which was a liquid. After Professor Simon sent me the Ca-selective and Na-selective neutral carrier ligand, we were able to make ion-selective microelectrodes to measure intracellular Ca activity or Naactivity. This greatly helped our study of the transport and regulation of Ca and Na in cardiac muscle cells.
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During college, my dream of becoming a doctor changed. After having a change of heart after initially having mixed feelings about zoology and biology, my new dream was to become a scientist. Perhaps it was God's desire and secret for me to become a professor and scientist instead of a medical doctor. I decided to try my very best to achieve my dreams and goals of becoming a successful professor and world-renowned scientist.
After I retire from the academic and research community, I would like to help less privileged people out in some way by caring for them. In doing so, I would like to share what I have learned and earned in my life to hopefully contribute to making a better world.
We can make a better world, so people could live with less suffering. One approach toward a better world is to eliminate war. ¡°The World Says No to War. Be United for Peace and Justice.¡±
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Preface
Chapter 1 : Learning of Love, Dreams, and Hardships
Appearance on Earth The Roots of the Lee Family and the Downfall of the Joseon Dynasty Chosan in North Korea: Hometown of My Great-Grandfather Love of My Mother and My Great-Grandfather Elementary School Years: Love and Confidence Korean War and Civilian Casualties Loss of My Aunt and My House: Influence on My Life Junior High School: Challenges and Decisions First Turning Point in My Life: Choong-Ang High School in Seoul High School Years: Fending for Myself in Seoul High School Years: First Struggle to Enter College High School Years: More Struggles to Enter College The Blessing of God for My Journey of Life The Beginning of College Life: Mixed Feelings Majoring Biology for my Scientific Career: Vision for my Life The Dream I Had During my College Years Professor Ha Doo Bong and Choosing Physiology as My Major Memory of my Father Pursuing my Dream: Good News from Indiana University Sacrifice and Changes of My Family
Chapter 2 : Learning About the New World Toward my Dream in America My First Year in the United States: Life in Indianapolis and My Introduction to Indiana University School of Medicine Marriage to Kwanghee Kim: $2 Wedding Ceremony My Research Adviser: Professor William McD. Armstrong Research Project for Ph.D. Work: Ion-selective Microelectrodes Professor William McD. Armstrong: A Mentor who was like a father to me Postdoctoral Research: Professor Fozzard¡¯s Laboratory Moving to Chicago: The Birth of My Sons, Albert and Daniel
Chapter 3 : The Challenges of Independent Research University of Chicago: Planning of Postdoctoral Research Louis N. Katz Prize for Young Investigators: Pioneering Work in Cardiac Electrophysiology Established Investigator Award: A Good Position for My Independent Research Seeking of Independent Research: Tenure-track Assistant Professor Professor Harry A. Fozzard: Great Influence on My Scientific Career
Chapter 4 : New Chapter in My Life as a Professor
Life as Professor and Scientist Assistant Professor at Cornell University Medical College Teaching Cardiac Electrophysiology to Medical Students Associate Professor and Tenure: Crucial Step in Scientific Career Scientific Meetings and Friends Pfizer Award for Outstanding Research-200 Years of Digitalis Professor at Cornell University: The Dream of My College Years Our Family in New York City: Albert and Daniel Go to School Goodbye, Chicago and Hello, New York City: My Second Hometown Invitation of My Mother to New York My Extended Family in America
Chapter 5 : Big Changes and New Challenges in My Life
An Opportunity to Work in My Motherland, Korea The First Chair of the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH My Motherland, My Hometown, and My Ancestors: The Roots of My Spirit Good Times at POSTECH Difficulties at POSTECH: Culture of Korean People
Chapter 6 : My Life at the Community of Tri-Institutes
Rockefeller University: Visiting and Adjunct Professor Biophysical Society Annual Meeting: 43 Years of Membership The Second Generation of My Family: Albert, Hyejung, and Daniel The Third Generation of My Family: My Grandsons, Zach and Boden Retirement from POSTECH and Professor Emeritus Community of Rockefeller University Korean Scientists in the Tri-Institutional Community Activities of Korean Biomedical Scientists in New York City Tennis in New York City Central Park and My Life in New York City
Chapter 7 : Pursuing a Direction in My Life to Open a New Chapter
Returning My Debt of Gratitude to Indiana University Visit to Indiana 41 years later Peace on Earth! Make Earth Smile! Korean War and Tragedies Iraq War and Tragedies Visit to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Peace on this Planet: Visit to World Service Authority The Two Koreas Must Be Unified into One Free Nation in the Near Future Korea and the World are Looking Forward to a Truly Inspiring and Visionary Leader
Çз ¹× °æ·Â 1961-1965 : B.S., Seoul National University 1965-1967 : M.S., Seoul National University 1967-1968 : Research Assistant, Atomic Energy Research Institute of Korea 1968-1972 : Ph. D., Indiana University 1972-1976 : Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Chicago 1976-1981 : Assistant Professor, Cornell University 1981-1986 : Associate Professor, Cornell University 1990, 6-12 : Oversea Fellow, British Heart Foundation, University of Bristol, UK 1986-1992 : Professor, Cornell University 1992-1997 : Chairman, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH 1997-2004 : Professor, POSTECH 1993- 2003 : Adjunct Professor, Cornell University 1998- : Visiting Professor and Adjunct Professor, Rockefeller University
Honors ¡á Louis N. Katz Prize for Young Investigators (1974) : American Heart Association ¡á Established Investigator Award (1976) : American Heart Association ¡á Pfizer Award for Outstanding Research (1986) : International Society for Heart Research