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’t 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 UCF 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 UCF, 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’s study he completed in 2012. And when he wasn’t 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 UCF 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 “challenging curriculum.”

Throughout the four years, he’s 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 UCF’s 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 UCF football games at Bright House Networks Stadium.

“They have treated me like family,” Kang said. “I feel really lucky to have had such a close relationship with my donors.”

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.

“I think it is an incredibly honorable field,” Kang said. “Ortho 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’s not just shoulder scopes, hip replacements and casts. It is the stories behind them that mean the most to me.”

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

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

The şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą 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’s Health Sciences Campus at the “medical city” in Lake Nona. UCF 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’ approval to move forward. UCF 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 WUCF-TV the primary PBS affiliate in Central Florida. Pending PBS’ approval, which could come next week, UCF and Brevard Community College will work together to begin offering PBS’ flagship programming on WUCF-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 “differential tuition” approved by UCF’s 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. UCF has been named one of the nation’s best values by Kiplinger and the Princeton Review, and tuition costs at Florida’s 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’s track and men’s 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 & 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 şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą Calumet on July 1.

Recognized several UCF students who served as legislative scholars interning in Central Florida state representatives’ and senators’ 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’s 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’s 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’s Orlando chapter has previously recognized UCF President John C. Hitt and UCF College of Medicine Dean Deborah German with Tree of Life awards.

“The Albertsons have been supporters of JNF in the past and, like Rick, they’ve been great community leaders,” said Bruce Gould, president of JNF Florida and a member of JNF’s national board.

“The three of them have done a tremendous amount not only for the JNF and UCF, but for so many different organizations,” Gould said. “We feel this is the perfect year to honor them.”

Walsh, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCF, 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 UCF’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, Walsh also serves on the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Council.

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

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

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