Full name: Lee Shoa Long Clarke

D.O.B.: 11-14-1983

Hometown: Portland, Maine

Undergraduate School: Cornell University

Graduate School: Stanford University

Academic Interests: In addition to my scientific research, I'm interested in economics and policy relating to health care, biomedical sciences, and education.

Activities: My three main hobbies are break dancing (though I love all forms of dancing), playing guitar, and writing (both verse and prose). I trained in mixed martial arts for 16 years, and I used to teach as well. I have a particular interest in issues of health care disparities, and since coming to Stanford, I've been intimately involved with the Pacific Free Clinic.

F.A.Q.

What are you?
This is by far the most frequently asked question I get when I meet someone new. I've always found it to be a peculiar question, but instead of going into some obscure diatribe, I'll just give the straight forward answer. My father is Chinese (immigrated from China). My mother is half black, a fourth white and a fourth American Indian.

What's the deal with your name?
Clarke is my mother's family name. Lee is my father's family name. It's a common tradition in many Asian countries to put the family name first. So, on my birth certificate, I got both, one at the beginning and one at the end. My "given" name is Shoa Long. This is an atypical spelling. Some may recognize it better as "Xiaolong." I was named after Bruce Lee, who's Chinese name was Lee Xiaolong.

So, do you speak Chinese?
No. I did not grow up with my father, so I never learned Chinese.