Seyung (Steve) Chung Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Dear Family, Friends, and Colleagues,
It is with a heavy heart that we ask that you please join us in expressing our deepest condolences and support to the family members of Dr. Seyung (Steve) Chung. Our dear friend and colleague Dr. Chung passed away Friday October 11, 2019. He leaves behind his wife, and two children. He also leaves an outstanding legacy of mentorship, dignity, and impactful research work at the Division of Cancer Research and Training at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
We thank everyone in advance who wishes to donate to this cause.
Biography:
Dr. Seyung (Steve) Chung received his BS in 1989 and MSc in 1991 in Genetic Engineering from Korea University, Seoul, Korea, and his PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2000. He completed his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2005 before becoming a Research Associate at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles until 2009.
In 2010, Dr. Chung joined with enthusiasm the Division of Cancer Research and Training at Charles R. Drew University as a senior Post-Doctoral Fellow to work under the mentorship of Dr. Vadgama and Dr. Wu. He studied the role of HER2 overexpression in breast cancer, to explain the role of stem cells. As a Student Education and Training program coordinator for the CDU Cancer Center he recruited and trained disadvantaged students from the neighboring communities. He was a key individual who was always involved in the efforts to reduce health disparities in under-resourced populations. The students he mentored are a testimony to his commitment to training and mentoring the next generation of cancer researchers. In 2012, Dr. Chung received an academic promotion from Assistant Professor II to Assistant Professor III at CDU and UCLA. During his time as a researcher, Dr. Chung received multiple awards that recognized the amazing commitment he had to his research and to support those around him.
Dr. Chung’s work made significant contributions to science, that he hoped could help find the cure for cancer and reduce health disparities in underserved communities. Dr. Chung received multiple funding awards that allowed him to continue his research at CDU and support the detailed work of his research staff and trainees. His most recent award was from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Center to support his work, “Salinomycin targets colorectal cancer by inhibiting cancer stem cells and telomerase.”
Dr. Chung was highly respected and admired by Dr. Vadgama and his CDU and UCLA Cancer Center colleagues. . Dr. Chung provided significant leadership in training many students at CDU. He personally mentored 15 students at all levels, including undergraduate, post baccalaureate and master’s students. Most, if not all, of Dr. Chung’s students have successfully gone on to medical or graduate schools across the U.S. Dr. Chung was very committed to work with our community partners and translate his scientific findings to the community for cancer prevention. Dr. Chung was a kind, compassionate and caring individual who made a difference in the lives of all those who were fortunate to have met him.
It is with a heavy heart that we ask that you please join us in expressing our deepest condolences and support to the family members of Dr. Seyung (Steve) Chung. Our dear friend and colleague Dr. Chung passed away Friday October 11, 2019. He leaves behind his wife, and two children. He also leaves an outstanding legacy of mentorship, dignity, and impactful research work at the Division of Cancer Research and Training at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
We thank everyone in advance who wishes to donate to this cause.
Biography:
Dr. Seyung (Steve) Chung received his BS in 1989 and MSc in 1991 in Genetic Engineering from Korea University, Seoul, Korea, and his PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2000. He completed his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2005 before becoming a Research Associate at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles until 2009.
In 2010, Dr. Chung joined with enthusiasm the Division of Cancer Research and Training at Charles R. Drew University as a senior Post-Doctoral Fellow to work under the mentorship of Dr. Vadgama and Dr. Wu. He studied the role of HER2 overexpression in breast cancer, to explain the role of stem cells. As a Student Education and Training program coordinator for the CDU Cancer Center he recruited and trained disadvantaged students from the neighboring communities. He was a key individual who was always involved in the efforts to reduce health disparities in under-resourced populations. The students he mentored are a testimony to his commitment to training and mentoring the next generation of cancer researchers. In 2012, Dr. Chung received an academic promotion from Assistant Professor II to Assistant Professor III at CDU and UCLA. During his time as a researcher, Dr. Chung received multiple awards that recognized the amazing commitment he had to his research and to support those around him.
Dr. Chung’s work made significant contributions to science, that he hoped could help find the cure for cancer and reduce health disparities in underserved communities. Dr. Chung received multiple funding awards that allowed him to continue his research at CDU and support the detailed work of his research staff and trainees. His most recent award was from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Center to support his work, “Salinomycin targets colorectal cancer by inhibiting cancer stem cells and telomerase.”
Dr. Chung was highly respected and admired by Dr. Vadgama and his CDU and UCLA Cancer Center colleagues. . Dr. Chung provided significant leadership in training many students at CDU. He personally mentored 15 students at all levels, including undergraduate, post baccalaureate and master’s students. Most, if not all, of Dr. Chung’s students have successfully gone on to medical or graduate schools across the U.S. Dr. Chung was very committed to work with our community partners and translate his scientific findings to the community for cancer prevention. Dr. Chung was a kind, compassionate and caring individual who made a difference in the lives of all those who were fortunate to have met him.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jacob De La Torre
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Alycia Chung
Beneficiary