About Sharing Hearts in Nepal
Sharing Hearts in Nepal was born from a small event. In 2013, Kyung had the opportunity to join a team of acupuncturists traveling to Nepal to provide free acupuncture. After witnessing the poor living conditions of the people and their limited access to healthcare, she arranged travel to Nepal in 2015 through a friend who worked with the Red Cross. Her charitable activities began in Pokhara with the Pema T’sal Sakya Monastery and expanded to include the local Tibetan refugee camps. Since 2015, Kyung continued to support the boys at the monastery by providing egg money and found ways to support others in Pokhara after the 2015 earthquake. She saw so much need but felt limited in her capacity to help as just one person. So, she founded Sharing Hearts in Nepal in 2017 to continue her work.
Board members:
Dr. Kyung Shin, DAOM, L.Ac – President, Founder
Kyung earned her master’s and doctoral degrees at Bastyr University in Seattle. She practices out of her clinic in Federal Way, Washington. Kyung is currently working on broadening the organization’s mission to include communities outside of Nepal.
Dr. Jeffrey Wong, ND, L.Ac. BCB – Vice President
Jeffrey is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist in the State of Washington. He graduated from Bastyr University and completed a 1-year primary care residency. When he was an acupuncture student, he traveled to Nepal with Dr. Shin in 2019. He is currently pursuing his nurse practitioner degree at the University of Washington School of Nursing. Jeffrey is passionate about primary care, gastroenterology, pain management, and community medicine.
Dr. Catherine Vasco, DAOM, L.Ac. – Treasurer, Fundraiser
Catherine is a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and a licensed acupuncturist in the State of Washington. A graduate of Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC and Bastyr University in Seattle, she has cared for patients in a variety of clinical settings including a Level 1 trauma center, three community clinics, and as a home healthcare provider. She lives and practices in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, specializing in mental health and microbleeding techniques. Prior to studying Chinese medicine, Catherine worked as a grant writer for Film Independent, a nonprofit arts organization in Los Angeles. She joined SHIN in 2021.
Tamding Gurung – Secretary, Interpreter
Tamding grew up as a monk in Pema T’sal Monastery. Beginning in 2018, he worked as a medical interpreter for Sharing Hearts in Nepal. He graduated from the Pema T’sal Monastic Institute in 2018. After attending college courses at the institute, he left the monastery to become a layperson. In 2021, he moved to the US to attend Highline College in hopes of becoming a medical doctor. As the secretary, he provides vital interpretation services for the organization’s members.
The Jana Allday Fund
The Jana Allday Fund supports community-driven projects in healthcare and the arts. The Fund was established in memory of Jana Allday Thomas and her relief work in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Jana Allday Fund has been a key contributor for many charitable activities including the purchase of the cataract surgery machine and supporting Jyoti’s family.
