About Me

I was born in Seoul, Korea, and came to the US in 1994. I currently work as the Assistant Director of Simulation-Based Surgical Education and Training in the Division of Education of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in Chicago, Illinois. I completed my undergraduate study in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Yonsei University. I came to the US in 1994 to begin my graduate studies. I obtained a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University with my dissertation research in the biomechanical mechanism of secondary injury and became a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Kinesiology at Arizona State University. In a series of studies, I investigated the upper extremity control strategies employed by three discrete groups of subjects (young, elderly and Parkinson's patients). After my postdoctoral training, I joined the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At the rank of Assistant Professor, I have served as Director of Surgical Ergonomics and Human Factors Research Program in the Maryland Advanced Simulation, Training, Research and Innovation (MASTRI) Center. Using biomechanical measurement systems, I identified ergonomic risk factors associated with the performance of laparoscopy and propose solutions for minimizing the ergonomic risks that laparoscopic surgeons encounter. Additionally I studied the characteristic patterns of upper-body movement and postural balance control exhibited by expert MIS surgeons. As a Faculty Instructor in the Department of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. I am serving as the Director of MIS and Robotic Training and Ergonomics Research in the Minimally Invasive Surgical Training and Innovation Center (MISTIC). The MISTIC research and education team, which I am leading, has developed the Johns Hopkins-MISTIC robotic surgery training curriculum for basic and intermediate level skill learning for trainees in various surgical specialties. Educational research focuses on the development of the more effective and efficient robotic surgery training program, objective and automated skill assessment, and ultimately robotic surgery skill teaching system. Additionally, surgical ergonomics research program in minimally invasive surgeries are taking place through collaboration with my research partners. As the Assistant Director of Simulation-Based Surgical Education and Training, I provide leadership for a broad range of innovative simulation-based education training and verification programs of the Division of Education. I am responsible for designing simulation-based programs, providing leadership for the simulation research and development activities, especially those of the Consortium of ACS Accredited Education Institutes, and building and strengthening collaborative relationships with national organizations and the federal government, including the Department of Defense. I would love to help any students who can use my skills and experience. Please feel free to reach out to me. Thanks.

Education & Certifications

Tutoring Subjects