Hee Jung Lim

Posted October 18, 2018 – Following her mother’s recommendation to major in the medical field, Hee Jung Lim decided to leave her native Yongin, South Korea, to study at the University of Houston College of Education.

A senior health major, Lim has a passion for helping homeless individuals and medical patients improve their health. To that end, she’s conducting research alongside Lorraine Reitzel, chair of the College’s Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences department. As part of the Social Determinants and Health Disparities Lab, they’re focusing on understanding the social and environmental contexts that affect people’s health and behavior.

Lim is set to present her research about sleep inadequacy and homeless adults at the 14^th annual UH Undergraduate Research Day on Oct. 18. She recently sat down to answer some questions.

Q: How do you feel when you get to help others who are less fortunate?

A: Really good. You feel like you are worth something when you have the power to help and advocate for people like the homeless or medical patients.

Q: How did you come about arriving to UH?

A: Houston is a big medical city. Houston has MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Hermann, which are two of the biggest hospitals in the U.S. I said to myself that because they have lots of hospitals in Houston, I could easily find a job out of college.

Q: What is your ultimate career goal?

A: I want to be a registered nurse.

Q: How did you meet Dr. Reitzel?

A: I was recommended to check out Dr. Reitzel’s lab because I was interested in health disparities, which is what Dr. Reitzel studies.

Q: What kind of research do you do?

A: We look into substance abuse and physical health of the homeless population and medical patients to see how we can improve their personal health.

Q: How do you feel about your upcoming presentation?

A: English is not my first language so I’m a little afraid of public speaking. However, I keep being told to not be afraid and I’ve been given lots of advice. I’m still pretty nervous though.

Q: Besides the medical hub, what else do you like about the city of Houston?

A: It’s kind of a slow city. In South Korea, everyone is so busy. It’s hectic like everyone is running around and they really don’t have free time. It’s different here.

Q: Favorite moment at UH?

A: When I got accepted to work in the lab. I really didn’t do anything my freshman and sophomore year besides take core classes and work. Junior year, I was accepted into the lab and now I get to work with other students and do my own research.

Q: Favorite hobbies?

I like cooking, especially Korean food.

Q: Favorite campus hangout?

The fountain in front of Farish Hall.  

–By Alberto Huichapa

–Photo by Jaime Questell