JORDAN TRAN

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

His passion for medicine began after spending time in his parents’ home country of Vietnam.  “I want to be a doctor because I’ve traveled to Southeast Asia in addition to other places in the U.S. and have repeatedly seen individuals that can’t afford healthcare or simply lack the means to seek help,”  Jordan said. He plans to be a part of delivering that care to underserved and overlooked populations.

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. During undergraduate, Jordan 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 is best defined by his involvement in K-12 STEM education, biomedical research, and community service.

Jordan currently works as a research technician for the Duke University School of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology & Pathology. The overall goal of the research program is to improve the therapeutic window of radiation therapy and the survivorship of cancer patients by minimizing the effects of radiation. Additionally, the program aims to develop novel medical countermeasures for gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome, as well as for radiation-induced intestinal fibrosis in scenarios of nuclear terrorism.

Ultimately, Jordan plans to return to school and obtain a dual MD/MBA degree. His primary interest is the intersection of medicine and business, particularly the equitable delivery of healthcare to vulnerable communities, as well as the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

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.”