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Outstanding Leadership in Queens
2001 Honoree of the Queens Federation
of Churches
Dr. Giho Kim
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Dr. Kim became an advocate as well as a provider of human services. His advocacy activities were at their height when the Congress was preparing to enact the Immigration and Welfare reform bills. He mobilized others and personally lobbied in Washington and in Albany to advocate for the rights of recent immigrants. He became a strong supporter and participant of a voter registration drive for Korean Americans while advising them of their constitutional rights to voice their concerns. He designed and implemented human service programs such as Information/Referral/Assistance, ESL/Civic Education, Health Service and Escort Service. These programs are implemented in a culturally sensitive manner so as to address and deliver benefits and services to recent immigrant seniors to assist them in maintaining their good health. Dr. Kim was concerned about the inability of recent immigrants in securing good jobs due to language and cultural barriers, and he reasoned that such a handicap can be overcome if they have tools such as computer skills. He requested and received funding from Bell Atlantic and initiated a computer education program with tremendous success.
Dr. Kim came to the U.S. from Korea as a student and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Simpson College. He continued his studies, receiving his Master of Art and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Biochemistry from Iowa State University in 1971. He came to New York as a Clinical Instructor at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn where he remained until 1978. While at Downstate Medical Center, he was co-author of several medical papers.
He is founder and co-chair of Korean American Community Empowerment Council, a member of the Board of Northern Queens Health Coalition, Queens Borough President's Citizens Committee, Board of Coalition of Korean Americans for Social Services, consumer advisory Panel of Bell Atlantic of New York, Korean American Advisory Council of Nassau County, Advisory Committee for Korean outreach of American Cancer Society in Queens, and Korean American Task Force on Census 2000. Dr. Kim founded and served as Director of Community Center under Korean Brooklyn Church in Brooklyn. He was elected and served as a member of the Board of Mutual Apartment Inc. (Mitchell Lama). He was co-founder of Northern Queens Health Coalition which he served as Executive Vice President.
Dr. Kim has had experience in academia, industry, and community service. During his academic tenure, he published a number of scientific papers in professional journals. He has been recognized for his community service by the Governor and Borough President.
He is married to his college sweetheart and they have a son who is a Ph.D. candidate at NYU Medical School and a daughter who is a 2nd year resident at North Shore/LIJ Hospital.