1.     Where are you from?

I’m from Washington D.C. most recently, but grew up around Chicago, in the suburbs. My parents emigrated from Korea shortly before I was born. My dad was born in North Korea. My mom was born in South Korea. So yeah, I'm a son of immigrants too.

2.     Do you have a favorite sports team?

So I'm already confirmed, so I can say this now, which is that I am a die-hard Chicago Bears fan. Bears are going to the Super Bowl. I've been saying that for the better part of 20 years. I got closer to being right this year than ever, but I say it every year. My son was mocking me as the year kept on going, then he’s like, “Oh my Gosh, wait, the Bears are about to go to the Super Bowl…” [laughs] So I didn't quite make it, but I will be right one of these days.

3.     What are you currently listening to?

Let’s see… I'm just looking at my playlist. There was some classical music because I do play the cello because, again, I'm the child of Korean immigrants, right? There is some jazz. The kids are into Laufey, and I just found that delightful. She's a cellist, and she sings. And she's strangely, like, a jazz singer who's in the Top 40. It’s spelled L-A-U-F-E-Y. My son is going to be very happy that I got that one right. That is just what [I was listening to] today.

4.     Are you a dog or a cat person?

Cat. Well, I do love dogs, but I have two cats, Blossom and Leaf, who are adorable. Leaf is what we call a ”lick, lick, bite” cat. He will curl up to you, then just bite you, which is confusing for all of my guests.

5.     What’s your favorite season? 

I mean, come on, what do you want me to say? It’s spring! Of course, it’s spring! [laughs] When the snow starts melting in D.C. and the cherry blossoms – it’s a whole thing. It’s lovely.

6.     What is your go-to comfort food?

This is not as a physician; this is just saying [laughing]…Korean fried chicken or Korean BBQ.

7.     What was your favorite cartoon character as a kid?

Oohhh... [I’m] going to date myself. I was into those Japanese robot shows, like Voltron.

8.     What’s something people are usually surprised to learn about you?

That I can shut up once in a while [laughs] I love to cook.

9.     What’s a TV show or movie you can rewatch over and over?

Oh, Ted Lasso, hands down. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve gone through that one.

10.  What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that you’ll never forget?

It’s going to sound silly, but remember what you’re about, right? Remember what you’re trying to focus on. Remember what you’re trying to do. You look at my resume, and it looks like I can’t hold a steady job. To be honest, I’ve been in a bunch of roles, but I think I’ve always kept in mind the thing that I’ve been about, which is making things work better for people who can’t make things work better for themselves. So, you know, I keep on coming back to that, and whatever job I can figure that out in. Whatever job I’ve been in, that’s been the common thread. Just remember what you’re trying to do. Remember what you’re about.

11.  If you had a theme song, what would it be?

I feel like I always want to go to what honor(s) my dad, he loved Frank Sinatra’s My Way, but that’s not really my way. My way is not my way [laughs].

12.  Springsteen, Bon Jovi or the Fugees?

Fugees. I guess I should say Springsteen because he’s going on tour and I want to go, but I gotta be honest. It’s the Fugees, by far, of those three. But I do love Springsteen. I graduated college in the 90s, med school in the 2000s. Of course there was Bon Jovi all around, (they are) the songs of my youth, but it’s the Fugees. Feels like they define my college experience more than the other two.