Author Archives: Yongjun Heo - University College Dublin

About Yongjun Heo - University College Dublin

Upon graduating in 2009 from Swarthmore with a double major in Biology and Public Policy, Yongjun worked at the Institute for Population and Development Studies in Hanoi, Vietnam as a Luce Scholar. After his second year at Swarthmore, he traveled to Venezuela to assist a physician at a medical clinic in the Pemon indigenous villages of Uriman. His experiences led to his founding Pemon Health Inc., a public health organization committed to improving the health of the Pemon people through a college internship program that focuses on preventive measures to combat the causes of adverse health conditions. Yongjun has been awarded grants from the Clinton Global Initiative, Wal-mart Foundation, Project Pericles Foundation, and Swarthmore College. At the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative meeting, he was awarded a Clinton Global Initiative University Outstanding Commitment Award by President Clinton. In his final year at Swarthmore, he served as the Student Body President. He was also a four-year sprinter for the Men’s Varsity Track and Field team. Yongjun concluded his MPH program in the summer of 2011 and received his degree in December. He lives in San Francisco and Indianapolis where he manages Midwest Design Lab, a web design and development company.

Until Next Time

It is over now: a year of developing close relationships, meeting new people, humanizing a country and culture to best of my abilities, and living-learning at a different academic institution.  Towards the conclusion of any program, I tend to mentally … Continue reading

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Surfing in Lahinch

I never understood why so many people loved surfing until last month. Growing up without access to an ocean, I went through the obligatory middle school phase of purchasing my first skateboard, riding around, and jumping off and onto sidewalks. … Continue reading

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Dublin Marine Corps Ball

I am in disbelief that more than half of my Mitchell year has already passed. Apart from a calm and snowy two week period in December, time spent on course work, with new friends, and with Mitchell Scholars has kept … Continue reading

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Dublin Marathon

Early in the morning on October 25th, I hopped into a taxi and rode towards St. Stephen’s Green to see hundreds of runners gravitate towards Merrion Square Park, the location for both the beginning and end of Dublin’s annual marathon. … Continue reading

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