I’ve been completely enchanted by science ever since my high school Molecular Biology class.

I was fascinated by the concept of rational, molecular-level explanations for macroscopic observable phenomena that I had wondered about since childhood—such as why most living creatures need to breathe to survive (mitochondrial electron transport chains, oxygen, and ATP).

I have a true love of learning about Rx drugs and disease management—ASCO is like my Super Bowl, and I have been known to spend my vacation time on the beaches of Mexico and Hawaii reading about new drug approvals and breaking clinical data.

I come from a struggling middle-class family saddled with financial uncertainty.

In discussing how to overcome these challenges with my father, he instilled in me the importance of working hard to get into a competitive college and securing a favorable job.

As I started junior high school, I became determined to pursue that ambition and relentlessly applied myself to create a better life with more opportunity—and I’ve never looked back.

I reflect often on the gift of having to earn, against the odds, many of my best life experiences and how it has shaped my character and humility.

I’ve lost several family members to serious illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's.

As a young gay man coming into his identity, I was struck by the devastating effects of HIV / AIDS on the community that fought for a more accepted, safer, and better life for me.

I realized I could make the greatest impact with my love of science by applying it to the advancement of human health.

I aspire to improve outcomes for patients and prevent future loss by supporting the clinical development and socially-conscious commercialization of life-changing therapies.