Last year, Greet introduced readers to Sydney Suh's work with the American Heart Association's Teen of Impact campaign, where she transformed a personal mission into a meaningful community impact. Inspired by her grandparents and driven to raise awareness about heart disease, Sydney helped rally support for lifesaving heart health research, CPR education, and prevention programs. The experience reinforced a lesson that continues to guide her today: when a community comes together around a cause, extraordinary things can happen.

While her work with the American Heart Association remains close to her heart, another organization has shaped Sydney's life for even longer: the Korean American Health Professional Association (KAHPA). The KAHPA is a Seattle-area nonprofit dedicated to supporting healthcare professionals, students, and families through mentorship, networking, educational resources, and community service. Its mission is to strengthen the Korean American healthcare community while helping future healthcare professionals succeed. For Sydney, KAHPA has always been more than an organization, it’s part of her family's story. Her father founded KAHPA with a vision of addressing cultural barriers and health disparities within Korean American patient populations while creating opportunities for healthcare professionals to connect, collaborate, and serve.

Growing up, Sydney watched him devote countless hours to mentoring students, organizing events, and building a community centered on service. As a young teenager, she regularly attended KAHPA events at the University of Washington, local clinics, and community fundraisers. Although she loved participating, she noticed something missing. She was often the youngest person in the room, and frequently the only high school student. While KAHPA did an incredible job supporting college students and professionals, there were few opportunities specifically designed for students her age. Rather than waiting for someone else to fill the gap, Sydney decided to create it herself.

At just 14 years old, she founded KAHPA's High School Division to provide aspiring healthcare students with mentorship, educational resources, and a supportive community much earlier in their academic journey. She was soon joined by Vice President Jack Hyde and board member Hamin Chang, and together they have developed programs specifically designed to inspire and prepare high school students interested in healthcare careers. Today, the High School Division offers opportunities ranging from mentorship, scholarships, and college application guidance to physician shadowing, medical skills camps, leadership development, and networking with experienced healthcare professionals. Sydney and her team are now inviting more high school students to become involved as members or future leaders. Their goal is to continue expanding the program so that more students can benefit from the same encouragement and guidance that KAHPA has provided generations of aspiring healthcare professionals.

Beyond its High School Division, KAHPA also serves students, graduate trainees, and established healthcare professionals through dedicated divisions that support every stage of a healthcare career. The organization will continue that mission during its 6th Annual Golf Tournament on September 19th at The Golf Club at Newcastle's Coal Creek Course. The event brings together healthcare professionals, students, sponsors, and community members for a day of golf, networking, and fellowship. Even non-golfers are encouraged to attend, visit sponsor booths, and connect with others who share a passion for supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders. Proceeds from the tournament directly benefit the KAHPA Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to outstanding students who demonstrate leadership, service, and a commitment to pursuing careers in healthcare.

The community support Sydney experienced during her Teen of Impact campaign showed her the lasting power of encouragement and opportunity. Today, through KAHPA, she is working to pass those same opportunities on to the next generation.