Chemistry major with active co-curricular schedule prepares for medical school

Eric Yoon hopes to follow in the footsteps of the College’s many accomplished alumni who are physicians. Holy Cross graduates are admitted to medical school at a rate twice the national average, and more than 10 percent of alumni are currently practicing medicine.

So how will he spend his last two semesters on Mount St. James?

A chemistry major from Yonkers, N.Y., Yoon will share his busy year ahead in a blog, chronicling his studies, co-curricular activities, and post-graduation plans. He is continuing research begun this summer on campus, working with Joshua Farrell, Thomas D’Ambra assistant professor of chemistry.

The professor-student team is preparing a series of new compounds, which are attached to biologically relevant metals to mimic the structure and function of enzyme active sites. Proteins and enzymes are, from a chemist’s perspective, quite large, and the goal is to make them smaller and simpler models and gain insight into how they work.

Yoon, who was born in a suburb of Seoul, is co-chair of Asian Students in Action (ASIA) and manager of Night Rider, a shuttle service sponsored by the Student Government Association. We can expect to read about a lot of action on campus in his blog: he loves supporting his friends in their various activities, including the marching band, jazz band, and especially the Multicultural Student Organization’s annual cultural shows.

After graduation, Yoon, who is in the College Honors Program, plans to take the year off before attending medical school in fall 2009. In the year between, he hopes to work in the field of medicine or chemistry research. His career goal is to become a medical doctor.

Related Information:

• Chemistry • Premedical program • Integrated Science Complex • Holy Cross Blogs