Each month, we will get a hold of a KAPS member for a short interview so that we can better get to know them. This month, we caught up with Boram Kim.
1. Please introduce yourself in a sentence.
I'm a 100% Korean girl who grew up in Hong Kong, moved to Chicago for college and medical school, and just moved to San Francisco 2 months ago for my first full-time job ever.
2. What do you do for a living?
Think Elliot from "Scrubs". Except hopefully less ditzy and relationship-challenged. :)
I'm an internal medicine resident physican at Kaiser SF Hospital. For the next three years I take care of patients that come in through the Emergency Department who get hospitalized with medical problems like heart attacks, pneumonias, blood infections, kidney failures, or all of the above at the same time. Usually when it's the latter we take care of them in the ICU (intensive care unit) which is kind of scary because you have to really be on your toes since patients can deteriorate really quickly when they are that sick.
3. When did you become a KAPS member?
I was recruited to volunteer at the Kyopo Project fundraiser by the lovely Jiin Son, who is very active in leading KAPS. I had flown into the city to look for a house before I moved here from Chicago. I was very much touched by all the support I received from my newfound KAPS friends who helped me move in and made me feel at home in this new city. So I actually joined KAPS (online registration is super easy!) before I moved to the Bay area. Ms. President, do I get a special prize for that? =p
4. What is one thing you can do that not a lot of people know you can do?
A layback spin. It's a figure skating spin that's really elegant but you have to be careful not to fall backwards and crack your head on the ice (not so elegant). Michelle Kwan was my childhood hero (pre-Yuna Kim era).
5. What are your hobbies?
Sports!! Yes, figure skating and golf count. I love adventures, such as traveling to random countries with my family (the last one was to Colombia and we took my grandma too...) and medical missions in communist countries. My current mission is to find edible dimsum in the city.
6. If you could switch lives with one person for one day, who'd it be?
Barack Obama. Enough said.
7. Do you have any pet peeves?
Mean-spirited people. Lighten up.
8. What is the last movie you watched?
'The Proposal' with a friend I made through KAPS (Yoonkyung). We smuggled in a jumbo frozen yoghurt with oreo bits, which I protested was too big when she was ordering but ended up finishing 9/10ths of it myself, much to her chagrin. We laughed out loud so hard that I'm quite sure the rest of the cinema wanted to shoot us. hehehe.
9. What is the motto you live by?
And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required. Luke 12:48
10. What is the most important thing in the world to you.
My family, especially my younger brother who went to college in London and is now working in Hong Kong. They encourage me to follow my dreams and are a constant source of warmth and support. If it weren't for the fact that I love being an American doctor, I would love to live in Hong Kong just to be near them.
Become a KAPS member today!
