JORDAN TRAN

Wichita native Jordan Tran, an alumnus of Maize South High School and Duke University, was selected as a recipient of the 2020 Lifelong Learning Scholarship. His parents are Le and Thu Tran, and he has one older sister, Jessica, and one older brother, Jason.

Jordan’s passion for medicine grew out of an early fascination with science and discovery. This passion turned into purpose during a visit to his family’s home country of Vietnam, where stories from his parents about inadequate healthcare became a vivid reality. At a small rural clinic once used by his parents as children, Jordan saw rows of patients crowded into white-linen beds and heard stories of families affected by cancer and birth defects tied to Agent Orange. Volunteering alongside his parents to distribute food, water, and towels, he was struck by both the urgency of need and the resilience of the community. That experience reshaped his view of science—not just as an academic pursuit, but as a powerful tool to heal and uplift others. It was in that moment that Jordan committed himself to a future in medicine, determined to bridge his love of discovery with a calling to serve.

During his high school career, Jordan was involved in a long list of academic and extracurricular activities. He attributes his current interests in education, advocacy, and leadership to his numerous roles directing his school’s National Honor Society, chemistry club, math club, social justice club, Science Olympiad team, and quiz bowl team. Jordan says these clubs allowed him to develop a broad set of skills and perspectives that have helped him navigate higher education and beyond.

In Fall 2020, Jordan began his studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. As an undergraduate, he pursued a degree in biology with a concentration in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, while also minoring in sociology to broaden his understanding of complex biopsychosocial issues related to healthcare. Outside of his studies, Jordan’s experience at Duke was best defined by his involvement in K-12 STEM education, biomedical research, and community service.

After graduating from Duke in May 2024, Jordan remained in Durham, North Carolina, where he continues to work as a researcher for the Duke University School of Medicine in the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Pathology. The overall goal of his work is to improve the therapeutic window of radiation therapy and the survivorship of cancer patients by minimizing the acute and late effects of radiation exposure. He particularly utilizes novel mouse models and in vitro approaches to study the molecular mechanisms underlying radiation-induced tissue injury and regeneration to develop novel medical countermeasures and predictive biomarkers.

Ultimately, Jordan plans to return to school and obtain a degree in medicine, while continuing to explore the emerging fields of regenerative and precision medicine. He intends to stay in academia, contributing to clinical and translational studies that have the potential to save lives and improve the health of the communities he serves in the future.

Since joining the Foundation, Jordan has strongly identified with one particular characteristic of Timothy: courage. “The courage to disrupt the status quo and enact change; the courage to stand steady in the face of adversity. Living life unafraid and unapologetic is deeply important to me.”