A concert violinist, he played with the Louisiana Philharmonic and the Florida Orchestra when the injury that sidelined him for a few months made him wonder what he would ever do if he found out he couldn鈥檛 play anymore.

Instead of using his hands to make music, he decided to use them to heal, enrolling in medical school in 2009. Today, he will earn his degree from the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine. While his days of playing concerts may be over, music will continue to be a very important part of his life, as will caring for people beyond the clinical setting.

During his time at 麻豆原创, Kang spent many a Friday night at the MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in downtown Orlando, playing his violin for patients following their chemotherapy treatments. He conducted a study to see if music had an impact on memory in an Alzheimer鈥檚 study he completed in 2012. And when he wasn鈥檛 playing for patients he was helping other parts of the community.

He taught preschoolers about the benefits of exercise and diet for their hearts and he helped homeless veterans navigate paperwork so they could access medical services during an event sponsored by an organization in Orlando. He also volunteered at St. Thomas Aquinas Free Medical Clinic in Osceola County and helped organize activities for victims of domestic violence at a residential and counseling center in Orlando.

Kang worked with fellow classmates to help create several medical school clubs and traditions. He started the 麻豆原创 chapter of the American Medical Student Association and was class president this year. He helped organize intramural sports at the medical school including football, basketball and volleyball and helped launch Coffee with the COM (College of Medicine), a mentoring program for premedical students.

The 31-year-old did all this while completing what he calls a 鈥渃hallenging curriculum.鈥�

Throughout the four years, he鈥檚 remained grounded — humble. He said he will forever be grateful to his donors, Judy and David Albertson, who donated the money that made his full scholarship possible. Community residents raised more than $6.5 million to give every member of 麻豆原创鈥檚 charter medical school class full scholarships. That means each one will graduate with no debt from medical school.

The Albertsons have been with Kang every step of the way of his journey, asking him to join them for lunch, dinner and 麻豆原创 football games at Bright House Networks Stadium.

鈥淭hey have treated me like family,鈥� Kang said. 鈥淚 feel really lucky to have had such a close relationship with my donors.鈥�

When the day came for students to find out where they will complete their residency training after graduation, Kang asked his donors to open the envelope that contained his residency match.

At noon on March 15, Judy Albertson tore open the envelope.

When Kang heard that he had matched his first choice and was going back to his home state, he gave the Albertsons a tearful hug. They were tears of joy.

Kang is headed to the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans where he will complete a residency in orthopedic surgery.

鈥淚 think it is an incredibly honorable field,鈥� Kang said. 鈥淥rtho surgeons help parents get back to work to take care of their families; help grandparents keep walking to stay independent, and help kids grow up to be normal kids. It鈥檚 not just shoulder scopes, hip replacements and casts. It is the stories behind them that mean the most to me.鈥�

And if his past is any indication, he鈥檒l continue to help his community wherever he goes.

鈥淭eaching has always been a big part of my life,鈥� Kang said. 鈥淚 want to be an attending working with residents and medical students one day. I think that鈥檚 an important way to give back. And I will always look for ways to help my patients and my community. That鈥檚 just part of who I am.鈥�

The 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees approved the creation of a new College of Dental Medicine that will expand opportunities for local students, create jobs and help Central Floridians lead healthier lives. Trustees voted unanimously to move ahead with plans to build the college at the university鈥檚 Health Sciences Campus at the 鈥渕edical city鈥� in Lake Nona. 麻豆原创 is not seeking state funding for the project.

The college is expected to create at least 110 permanent local jobs as well as an initial economic impact of $73 million from construction. Additional economic impacts will flow from the research opportunities available to the college. Some of that research will explore the links between dental and medical health.

The college also will benefit the community by providing services at its dental clinic to those who can least afford care.

The project still needs the state Board of Governors鈥� approval to move forward. 麻豆原创 is striving to open the school in 2014 with a charter class of 60 students. There are currently only two fully accredited schools with students in Florida.

In other action Thursday, the Board of Trustees:

Approved a partnership agreement with Brevard Community College that would make W麻豆原创-TV the primary PBS affiliate in Central Florida. Pending PBS鈥� approval, which could come next week, 麻豆原创 and Brevard Community College will work together to begin offering PBS鈥� flagship programming on W麻豆原创-TV on July 1.

Approved tuition rates that will take effect in the fall. For undergraduates, the tuition increase will include an 8 percent increase set by the state and a 7 percent increase in 鈥渄ifferential tuition鈥� approved by 麻豆原创鈥檚 trustees. Differential tuition revenues are spent on need-based financial aid and on directly enhancing undergraduate student learning. The tuition increase for graduate students will be 8 percent. 麻豆原创 has been named one of the nation鈥檚 best values by Kiplinger and the Princeton Review, and tuition costs at Florida鈥檚 public universities rank 48th in the country.

Approved trustee ermeritus status for charter trustees Judy Albertson and Phyllis Klock. President Hitt presented Albertson and Klock with plaques recognizing their many years of dedicated service to the university. Hitt also recognized outgoing trustee Joe Mantilla for his service to the university.

Welcomed to the board newly appointed trustees Richard T. Crotty, Alan S. Florez and John R. Sprouls and new student body president Matthew McCann.

Recognized two Conference USA championship teams: women鈥檚 track and men鈥檚 golf. Trustees also praised the football team for posting a record 2.844 GPA during the spring semester. Fifty-five players posted a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Honored Pegasus Professors Kevin Belfield of Chemistry and Ranganathan Kumar of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering.

Praised Professor Henry Daniell for earning a $761,302 grant from the Bill聽& Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a polio vaccine.

Recognized retiring College of Sciences Dean Peter Panousis and College of Business Administration Dean Thomas Keon, who will become chancellor of Purdue University Calumet on July 1.

Recognized several 麻豆原创 students who served as legislative scholars interning in Central Florida state representatives鈥� and senators鈥� offices this spring.

As recipients of Tree of Life awards, Walsh and Albertson will be recognized for their achievements and innovations. David Albertson, a businessman and passionate university supporter who is Judy Albertson鈥檚 husband, also will be honored.

They will be celebrated Feb. 24 at the Tree of Life Awards Dinner organized by the JNF, a nonprofit organization that has supported the restoration of Israel鈥檚 Negev Desert and educated students from around the world on Israel for more than a century.

Each year, the organization bestows the Tree of Life Award upon leaders who serve the community, promote American-Israeli friendship and are devoted to the peace and security of human life. The organization鈥檚 Orlando chapter has previously recognized 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt and 麻豆原创 College of Medicine Dean Deborah German with Tree of Life awards.

鈥淭he Albertsons have been supporters of JNF in the past and, like Rick, they鈥檝e been great community leaders,鈥� said Bruce Gould, president of JNF Florida and a member of JNF鈥檚 national board.

鈥淭he three of them have done a tremendous amount not only for the JNF and 麻豆原创, but for so many different organizations,鈥� Gould said. 鈥淲e feel this is the perfect year to honor them.鈥�

Walsh, who earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 麻豆原创, is president of the Knob Hill Group, a private development and strategic investing company. He formerly served as senior vice president for Corporate Affairs of Darden Restaurants Inc. A recipient of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Walsh also serves on the College of Business Administration鈥檚 Advisory Council.

Judy Albertson is a charter member of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Board of Trustees. A well-known art dealer who previously owned a gallery in Winter Park, she has supported Flying Horse Editions, 麻豆原创鈥檚 fine arts press, since its establishment. In addition, she has served on an advisory committee for 麻豆原创鈥檚 Judaic Studies program.

David Albertson, a successful entrepreneur and agribusiness leader, received an honorary doctoral degree from 麻豆原创 in 1989. A founder of the Orlando Magic, he has been a longtime supporter of the 麻豆原创 Athletics Association.

To honor Walsh and the Albertsons, trees will be planted in their names in Israel鈥檚 Carmel Mountains, an area that was destroyed by fire in December.