- [ Introduction ] [ Progression ] [ Essays ] [ Apollo's Story ] [ Epilogue ] -

[[ Education ]]

[ Isidore Newman School ] (1993-2002) - Grade school in New Orleans, LA. Started 1000 Cranes, a non-profit one-man company that raised thousands of dollars for children's cancer research through the sales of origami decorations. Founded the Free Thinkers Society, a national organization started in 1999 with local chapters in junior high and senior high schools designed to encourage discussion and community-building among students and teachers of various backgrounds and combat miscommunication, ignorance, and bigotry. Editor (2000-2002) of the Pioneer, a high school literary magazine and the oldest regularly published literary magazine in Louisiana; expanded the readership and the diversity of contributing writers.

[ Harvard University ] (2002-2006) - A.B. with Honors in Biology, June 2006. Additional coursework in the history of medicine, international public health, Chinese history and culture through various media (visual art, literature, poetry, theater, and film), music theory, and leadership. Senior thesis in airway mechanobioogy (fibroblast cultures in 3D matrices). Worked 5 to 10 hours per week (Junior and Senior years) to attenuate living and tuition costs. Completed summer undergraduate internship at the New England Journal of Medicine in 2004. Founded (2004) and served as Editor-in-Chief (2004-2006) of the Next Generation, an online publication for premedical students designed to help students answer the question, "Why Medicine?"; collaborated with Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine and led a staff of Harvard undergraduates and contributors from other universities and medical schools. Committed 12 hours per week to leadership in club athletics (martial arts and performance). Resided in Weld and Leverett House.

[ Tulane University School of Medicine ] (2006-2010) - M.D. in May 2010. Coleader for "Doctors Ought to Care" community health education program (2007-2008): expanded network to schools serving low-income students, broadened and updated interactive presentations, and collaborated with AMSA to run health fairs and a month-long walking program at the New Orleans City Hall. Medical ethics discussion section leader (2007-2008). Clinical experience in Tulane University Medical Center services, MCLNO (Medical Center of Louisiana-New Orleans), Ochsner Clinic Foundation, West Jefferson Hospital, associated free clinics for underserved populations in New Orleans, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Neurology, Consult Cardiology), and Brigham & Women's Hospital (Radiology). Maintained routinely updated weblog on training experiences, news analysis, and perspectives attracting approximately 1200 unique visitors each month. Completed Neurology Stroke service subinternship. Honors include membership in Alpha Omega Alpha (junior), Gold Humanism Honor Society, and the Leon A. Weisberg, M.D. Memorial Award.

[[ Pre-Professional Employment ]]

[ The New England Journal of Medicine ] Summer Undergraduate Intern (2004) - Worked directly with Editors and the Editorial Staff of the NEJM. Researched medical publishing topics including the publication of randomized controlled trials with negative results, IMPACT factor determination, and the influence of controversial studies on clinical research. Designed new article categories for the NEJM website. Copy edited manuscripts. Contact: Jeffrey M. Drazen, M.D., Editor-in-Chief., NEJM

[ The Next Generation ] Founder and Editor-in-Chief (2004-2006) - Founded and led the publication, an online publication for premedical students designed to help students answer the question, "Why Medicine?" and a collaborative effort of a team of Harvard undergraduates and Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine. Continuing contributions as advisor for Harvard undergraduate editorial staff.

[ Harvard School of Public Health ] Research Assistant (2005-2006) - Designed a novel assay combining magnetic twisting cytometry and three-dimensional cell cultures (fibroblast-populated matrices) to study the process of airway remodeling in asthma. Researched the role of fibroblasts in airway remodeling. Wrote Harvard College Honors Biology Senior Thesis on this research. Presented this research at the American Thoracic Society meeting in San Diego, May 2006. Publication listed in Research section. Contact: Daniel J. Tschumperlin, Ph.D., Environmental Health, HSPH

[ National Institutes of Health ] Summer Research Fellow (2007) - Characterized PPAR-gamma plasma exosomes with Western Blot and electron microscopy. Optimized protocls for obtaining EM images of plasma exosomes isolated from patients. Obtained requisite data for designing an ELISA for plasma PPAR-gamma, a potential asthma biomarker or therapeutic target of thiazolidinediones in asthma. Contact: Stewart Levine, M.D., Pulmonary-Critical Care Branch, NHLBI.

[[ Publications ]]

Leung, LY et al. "A new microrheometric approach reveals individual and cooperative roles for TGF-1beta and IL-1beta in fibroblast-mediated stiffening of collagen gels." FASEB, Jul 1, 2007; 21 (9). [text] [PubMed]

Looze, C, Yui, D, Leung LY, et al. "Proteomic profiling of human plasma exosomes identifies PPAR-gamma as an exosome-associated protein." Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Jan 16, 2009; 278 (3). [PubMed]

[[ Past Projects ]]

[ 1000 Cranes ] a non-profit one-man company that raised thousands of dollars for children's cancer research through the sales of origami decorations. Founder.

[ The Free Thinkers Society ] a national organization started in 1999 with local chapters in junior high and senior high schools designed to encourage discussion and community-building among students and teachers of various backgrounds and combat miscommunication, ignorance, and bigotry. Still going strong. Founder and co-leader for three years.

[ The Pioneer ] a high school literature magazine and the oldest regularly published literary magazine in Louisiana. Expanded the readership and the diversity of contributing writers. Editor for two years.

[ The Harvard Tai Chi Tiger Crane Club ] a martial arts club sport on the verge of death when I joined as a new student. Revitalized the organization, reconciled the leadership, reestablished negotiations with the university sports and central administration, and organized and choreographed performances. President and student-instructor for three years, member for four years, fifth generation student of Wong Fei Hung.

[ Doctors Ought to Care ] a national community health organization with local chapters at medical schools. The Tulane chapter was performing very poorly after losing its connections to local schools after Hurricane Katrina, giving me and my co-leader an opportunity to reestablish ties to local schools, build our education repertoire, and expand our project into other arenas outside schools (e.g. City Hall walking program, youth counseling, etc.). Program co-leader for one year.

[ Apollo, M.D. ] a weblog and instrument of self-reflection. The primary intent of the online journal is to help me chart my own progress and development through my medical training, and also to serve as a constant reminder of the areas I need to improve or mistakes I hope to avoid. In dispensing criticism, I point out the errors I make, had made, or suspect I would make. In offering praise, I identify achievements and goals to which I aspire. I hope to continue this journal through medical school, residency, fellowship, and perhaps even into my career, though other forms of writing might supersede this one. Nonetheless, I give thanks to my steady readership (as of December 2009, approximately 1200 unique visitors per month) and hope to offer some insight or meaningful thought on the development of physicians and the realms in which we find purpose. [link]

[[ Personal References ]]

[ Jeffrey M. Drazen, M.D. ] Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine, 10 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, (617) 734-9800

[ Daniel J. Tschumperlin, Ph.D. ] Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Airway Biology, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, (617) 432-4381

[ Stewart Levine, M.D. ] Principal Investigator, Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 6D03, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 402-1448

[ Sheryl Martin-Schild, M.D., Ph.D. ] Director, Stroke Program, Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, 1450 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, (504) 988-0972

© 2011 Lester Y. Leung