STAR Stories in STEM: Lessons from Dr. Brian Kim
Part 1 – Thomas: Finding Your North Star
“When you’re talking about building a career… the number one most important variable is timing. Some people call that luck, but I don’t think it’s just luck. There are elements of timing you can control… and that’s a unique skill set, because it requires a tremendous amount of self-awareness.”
– Dr. Brian Kim
Hello, readers! This summer has been full of milestones. Craig and I graduated from high school, left the comfort of home, and began our first semester of college.
Exciting? Absolutely. Overwhelming? A little.
I (Thomas) am starting in mechanical engineering, keeping my options open. Craig is diving into biomedical engineering. Both of us are exploring second majors while staying active in soccer and campus life. It’s a full schedule—but one alive with possibility.
Over the summer, we slowed down on posting. Now we’re back with a new rhythm: two interview features a month, on the 1st and 15th. Our goal is to bring you conversations with inspiring figures in STEM—people whose journeys can spark ideas not just for us, but for you.
Our interview with Dr. Brian Kim felt different from the start. His answers were disarmingly honest. At moments, it felt like he was sharing wisdom that we weren’t just hearing, but feeling.
Because his insights struck each of us in different ways, we decided to split this feature into two parts. In Part 1, I’ll share lessons I carried away about career development and navigating uncertainty. In Part 2, Craig will highlight what Dr. Kim taught us about medicine, innovation, and his perspective on curiosity.
Who is Dr. Brian Kim?
Dr. Brian Kim is a physician-scientist and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. He is recognized worldwide for his research on patients with itch and other skin conditions and directs a lab focused on understanding how the immune system interacts with the nervous system to control inflammation, sensation, and skin health. He is also known for translating his discoveries into innovative therapies and for co-founding biotech companies to bring these innovations from lab to clinic.
You Don’t Have to Know Your Path Early
I admitted to Dr. Kim that I wasn’t sure mechanical engineering was my “forever path.” His response was reassuring: he hadn’t known his either when he was in college.
Growing up in Alaska, Dr. Kim assumed medicine might be right for him, since his father, a Korean-trained physician, had built a career helping others. But he didn’t feel a burning passion. In medical school, general medicine didn’t resonate—and he began to wonder if he was on the wrong track.
💡 “It doesn’t take a huge, dramatic event to change your life. Tiny encounters can unlock your direction.”
My takeaway: It’s okay not to know the endpoint yet. What matters is having the courage to follow small opportunities. Each step builds clarity.
Moves Challenge and Shape You
Dr. Kim also talked about the importance of moving—geographically and professionally. Moves force you to adapt, expand your network, and test whether your success comes from your environment or your own ability.
💡Comfort zones are safe, but change builds confidence.
Timing is a Skill, Not Just Luck
The most memorable part of the interview for me was when Dr. Kim shared his perspective on “timing” and explained why it’s so important. Hard work, passion, mentorship—everyone knows those matter. But Dr. Kim emphasized something less obvious: timing.
💡 “People think timing is just luck… but only about 30% of it is luck. The other 70% is something you can develop with self-awareness.”
~A Small Poster, A Big Turning Point~
Sometimes, the smallest opportunities—a poster, a casual conversation, a fleeting chance—can change the trajectory of your life.
One day in medical school, Dr. Kim noticed a small poster on a bulletin board advertising a one-year research opportunity at the NIH. On a whim, he applied. The first time, he was rejected. The second time, waitlisted—and then accepted.
Dr. Kim said that the experience at NIH completely changed his view on research, science, and medicine.
At NIH, he worked on dermatology research and met his lifelong mentor, Dr. Steve Katz, who became like a second father. Looking back, he called it a “soft interaction”—a seemingly chance moment that became the cornerstone of his career. Dr. Kim said that if he hadn’t seen that poster, he might have become a primary care doctor. It shows how small interactions can change your entire trajectory.
How does he master the art of timing? Every year, he reviews his goals, the opportunities in front of him, and whether it’s the right time to make a move. That discipline helped guide one of his biggest career decisions: leaving Washington University for Mount Sinai.
Back then, Dr. Kim’s friends and colleagues offered conflicting advice—some pushed him toward more prestigious institutions, while others emphasized benefits packages. But he ignored the noise. What mattered was whether the move would bring him closer to his long-term goals.
💡 “Listen to your inner voice. That’s your guide.”
I learned that timing isn’t about chasing every door that opens. It’s about recognizing which ones align with your goals—and having the patience to wait for the right moment.
Building Your Guide: Self-Awareness and Confidence
After hearing about his perspective on timing and its importance, I wondered how we can develop the self-awareness to make those timing calls. Dr. Kim’s answer: hold ourselves to standards higher than our environment.
Dr. Kim explained that grades, titles, prestige—they’re fine, but they can also be empty markers; what matters more is contribution.
💡 “Don’t hide behind your CV. Ask what impact your work has on the world.”
I learned that the shift—from chasing status to creating substance—is what builds both confidence and clarity.
Looking Ahead
This conversation left me with a sense of comfort and urgency. Comfort, because I don’t need my path fully mapped out yet. Urgency, because small choices and timing matter more than I realized!!
Next up, Craig will share Part 2: Dr. Kim’s insights on vision, curiosity, and the ‘two-year rule.’ Don’t miss it.
Bye, now!
Thomas
