Journey to Dreaming, Achieving and Returning

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

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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