Greetings! I'm delighted to welcome you to my modest adobe. Currently, I serve as a Core IT Services Specialist at the IT Applications group, a subdivision of UNM Information Technologies. I have been a part of this exhilarating work environment since June 2019. Prior to this, I was employed at Project ECHO, previously under the umbrella of UNM Health Science Center, also known as UNM Health and Health Sciences, beginning there in 2009. (The subsequent details are a quick rundown of journey in IT--feel free to skip if you'd rather not delve into it.)
My adventure in the realm of IT dates back to the late 1980s. It began with developing office and online applications. The '80s saw a youthful me, a student based in Virginia, experimenting with C and other languages on BBS applications (WWIV, RBBS, Emulex) in the pre-Internet era. Transitioning into the '90s as a high school student, I ventured into web development, getting my feet wet with HTML and CSS by creating websites for my employer post-school hours.
The new millennium brought significant personal and professional changes. Post-marriage, after few years working at corporate of Kraft Foods, I embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, establishing my own company to support businesses with website development and other IT requirements. Unfortunately, the economic downturn towards the decade's end necessitated a shift. With my family of five, I relocated to New Mexico to join Project ECHO, a budding entity back then.
At Project ECHO, I took the helm as the lead developer. This medical outreach group is dedicated to amplifying the capability to treat chronic, common, and complex diseases effectively and safely in rural and underserved areas while keeping track of treatment outcomes. Although our role didn't involve direct patient interaction, the organization's core mission served as a significant driving force for me, often compelling me to work into the wee hours to accomplish projects. My primary contributions were leading the development of PHI-related applications and various web-based applications aligned with our goals.
Presently, my commitment lies in catering to the technological needs of the University of New Mexico.
Here are some of past projects I worked on:
Based on LDK. Helps to manage Dual Credit agreements UNM has with institutions.
Mostly BOOMI processes.
This was the first application developed using LDK. I believe it was based on Laravel 7 at this point.
Originally conceived by Ron Estrada, this was to help developers quickly develop applications using the Laravel framework. Even though the Laravel framework doesn't need much help in this regard, LDK's main purpose is to quickly scaffold and prepare the application and the environment for the development of UNM-specific (mostly internal) applications. The original vision was much greater than what we have now, so it's an ongoing work.
A complete, multi-faceted EMR system. This was an online application (based on Laravel 4) for care and patient data management system.
This has been a global administrative online application (based on LAMP stack using a custom-made framework featuring cascading architecture utilizing O.O. inheritance) for keeping track of TeleECHO clinic.
There were many other small and large projects I had worked on previously before joining ECHO. Some of the large applications I've written are listed here.
Kendo is a Japanese martial art using bamboo swords. It is a form of sword practice that has been in a continued existence since 1500s. Of course, we no longer practice to dismember people, but as a form of mental and physical discipline of self. I currently hold 3-dan rank, which is similar to a third-degree black belt in other forms of martial art. I started in 2009, and usually you can catch me teaching beginners and youths at a local kendo club. If this piques your curiosity, come and give it a grueling try for 4 month, and if you mentally survive at the end of it (because mastering the basics can be grueling) you just might enjoy it. If the training feels too easy for you, you probably aren't training right. Click here for practice times.
For over 30 years, I served as a youth/assistant pastor in Korean American churches because my formal training was in Biblical studies and youth ministry. I went to Liberty in mid 90s and then to Moody for Biblical studies, and served at several large and medium-size Korean American churches in Northern Virginia, Chicagoland, and finally a dying liberal one in New Mexico. I'm praying to God for guidance as the next step in serving His kingdom.
Retrospectively, it always feels like I could have done better in so many areas. It is a small wonder to realize what it truly means to be a father only after your children grow up to be adults and leave you. God isn't finished with me, yet, so that's the only hope I have going forward while juggling so many responsibilities.