Be Diplomatic for Life

(back row) Eric Rubin, Seemoon Choi, Hyuna Lee, Stephen Linton, Youngjeon Shin, Woojin Lew, Matthew Carroll, Nackmoon Sung, Edward Nardell, Sonya Shin, Jim Kim (front row) Heejin Choi, Jason Ahn, David Kim, Christie Jeon, Eugene Yim, Ted Cohen on Tuesday 25th November 2008, @Busch Hall, Harvard University

Harvard Medical School, Harvard Korea Institute, Harvard Asia Center, and the EugeneBell Foundation organized a conference entitled: "Tuberculosis in the Korean Peninsula and Global Health" in Cambridge on November 24th and 25th, 2008. As a new grant writer of EugeneBell, I went to the conference with Dr. Stephen Linton, the Founder and Chair of EugeneBell. This conference was for seeking for new collaborations that will improve the future health of the North Korean people. A small number of dedicated scientists, clinicians and donors shared their experience on preventing and treating drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Korean peninsula.

In 1997, EugeneBell was officially invited to expand EugeneBell’s work to treating tuberculosis by the Ministry of Public Health in North Korea. Since then, EugeneBell started assisting programs for tuberculosis, however, physicians found many patients suspected of having multi-drug resistant strains. So EugeneBell has tried to expand organization’s program to include multi-drug resistant tuberculosis patients, who do not respond to primary medications.

The problem is now North Korea does not have an operating MDR laboratory, so Eugenbell has collected samples from patients in North Korea, had them analyzed at Masan National Tuberculosis Hospital and returned with individual prescriptions. Patients’ sputum samples are transported from Pyongyang to Masan via China and Seoul. It takes 5-20 days. It is indeed totally crazy process. That is why in the States EugeneBell is seeking for collaborations to build a laboratory and medical facilities; and to develop strict treatment programs for MDR-TB in Pyongyang. As well-known, North Koreans are highly suspicious of South Koreans’ intentions so North Korea government dislikes any Koreans or Korean-Americans’ helps. It means no Koreans and Korean-Americans can go to North Korea so only non-Koreans can access the laboratory and facilities.

Fortunately, productive conclusions were made at the conference in spite of highly complexed situations. Currently the Chair of Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School is a Korean-American, Jim Young Kim, MD, PhD. At the end of the conference, he said his father was from North Korea so there are still so many family members in North Korea. Then he asked Dr. Linton directly, “How Harvard Medical School can help North Korea with EugeneBell?” and mentioned he has known some people of Gates Foundation, and now the Foundation is preparing to build MDR-TB facilities in China. He is sure that Bill Gates will be quite interested in interrupting North Korea with medical aids. And he added he would like to call a conference with Bill Gates soon. If once a consensus is reached among the Gates foundation, American scientists and clinicians and EugeneBell, it is really amazing progress!

Global health has become a core political and economical reality of our time. Will improvements in health spur improvements in economic development? Or will economic development drive improvements in health? This argument is still ongoing. Anyway our response to NK is urgent to save life and from now on we must think seriously how we can use the possible grant and the chance diplomatically to open up the closed society.

Let's Go Red!

Last Friday, I had a good chance to watch an ice hockey game. People shout out, "Let's go Red." It reminded me of Korean supporters of World Cup. Yes! It was really fun. Strange to say, I could not support Cornell team heartily although I belong to them. It is probably due to my nationality? I guess. I am a mere third party here. After our team scored a goal, I also supported the other team to make a goal. Cornell, however, won the game against Quinnipiac 2 to 0. Well done.

Thanksgiving on the Hill

November 19th Sunday 5-8pm
at Memorial Hall, Williard Straight Hall

Our church had planned an event of 'Thanksgiving Invitation Night' for non-Christians in Ithaca. Since August, some of church members had been praying and planning for this event as part of the missionary work. The event was held on Sunday 9th November and we could share Christians' joy and love with non-Christians. I am sure almost every people could feel God was with us at that time. I cannot explain, however, obviously it was a blessed time!

Personally, I am thankful for the chance to play the piano there. With a violinist, Andrew, I played 'Intermezzo from Symphonie Espagnole Op.21.' by Edouard Lalo and 'My peace I give unto you'. I had enjoyed practicing playing the piano and had fun at the event although I made many mistakes. Actually it wasn't important since the event was for Him.

When I came back home, I also thought He never throw away anything, which He permitted me to do in past. At one time, almost 20 years ago, I (maybe my mother and piano teacher wished) seriously thought of being a pianist but did against it. I used to think it was a waste of time to play the piano hard for 7 years. I have a good chance to look at all things: time, pleasant or bitter experiences, talents and relationships which God has permitted will be made something good finally according to God's purpose.

Aunt & Uncle's Visit

My father's older sister, aunt immigrated to the US in the early 1970's with her family. While her husband started to work as a doctor in West Virginia State, she studied Accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant. As both aunt and uncle had their own jobs, they did not visit Korea often. I remember the times we met might be less than three. So we haven't known each other well before they visited me. 

Since I came the States, aunt and uncle had planned to see me in Ithaca from West Virginia. It is an eleven hour trip by car. Actually I worried about their health since uncle had a heart operation last year, however, on October 13th, finally they drove to Ithaca without troubles. We talked about many things while cracking chestnuts every nights. They bought winter shoes, clothes, blanket and iron for me. They took care of me like parents for three days. 

My heart was warmed a bit by their visit, what is more, I was also able to go round autumn-tinted campus and winery in Lodi, New York. Once again, I have a chance to think about the meaning of family. I made a phone call to my mother in Korea last night. During talking over the telephone, my mother cried. She said to pray for me. I guess lots of blessings of God have been started from her prayers with tears for me.