2010-2011 Whirl Wind Adventure

Wow .. two years almost passed without any posts from ME. Excellent!!! This must mean that I am busy living life that I forgot to write about it ... oh well ...Truth is ... I started my PhD program training at the UW Institute for Public Health Genetics and totally drove my life into books, journal articles and long nights of writing at least 10 page papers!!!

My nephew "TomTom"

Before I go into some details, I want to share an exquisite gift bestowed upon our family. My all-smiles-nephew "Thomas Patrick or TomTom" was born on March 24, 2010. Since my blogging was non-existent last year, I will spare the monthly baby photo update but will only post his most recent (an amazing personal shopper if I may add) photo at 18 months. Such a cutie pie indeed!!!

Back to graduate school update: I am happy to report that one of the biggest hump (taking the preliminary exam) is over and done with (June 2011). I am now gearing myself to take on the next biggest hump (taking my general exam - hopefully May 2012). Better make this timeline show up in reality and thus committee must be formed by Dec 2011/January 2012.

Post-Exam Party
with my Grad Cohort

A special shout out to the MPH in public health genetics students. They are already done and are moving on --- while the PhD'ers like me are still sticking around.

Megan, Nick and I
Home Away From Home 2010

On Travel

2010 - traveled to the Philippines and stayed there for a month (June). My primary mission was to finalized the curriculum for the MS genetic counseling program :) So awesome to share that the University of the Philippines Board of Regents approved the proposed curriculum in January 2011. Yippppeeeee!!!! I also accepted a job at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and I love .. love .. LOVE the people that I work with and the difference they are making for humanity.

The Pioneer Genetic Counseling Students
in the Philippines

2011 - traveled to the Philippines again to teach for 3 months (June - Sept). We accepted nine PIONEER students (so proud of them!) to begin their MS in Genetic Counseling training at UP Manila. This is very timely since the Philippine Genome Center is recently established and thus, we surely need additional health care providers knowledgeable on the ethical, legal and social issues on the application of genetics for disease prevention and health promotion. The amazing Mary Guiden at UW communications wrote a great piece entitled "Around the World, with Medical Genetics" and super stoked about this publicity for our department program.

Mitra and his family at 2010
Home Away From Home Event

On Another Note

The Home Away From Home thanksgiving event continues to flourish and with this work, I was chosen as the American Public Health Association 2011 recipient of the Trong D. Nguyen Memorial Award For Student Leadership. In addition, my volunteer work at the International Rescue Committee Seattle chapter and the Northwest Association of Biomedical Research also provided great support for my commitment at the local level.

To end this "its-about-time-you-share" post, I want to leave you with an inspiring statement that fuels my inner spirit now and - hopefully - for years to come.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." ~ Goethe