Dr. Soo Kim Abboud is the dynamic co-author of the hot new book Top of the Class: How Asian Parents Raise High Achievers – and How You Can Too.  While Asian Americans make up only 4% of the US population, they make up between 20 to 25% of the Ivy League!  47% of Asian Americans are college graduates, compared to only 27% of the general population.  16% of Asian Americans have advanced degrees, compared to only 9% of the general population.  The median income for Asian Americans is also $10,000 higher than their non-Asian counterparts.  Dr. Abboud, a Korean-American surgeon whose parents came to this country with little money or education, teaches both educators and parents the practices that lead many Asian Americans to academic, personal, and financial success.  Top of the Class’s message is resonating with both educators and parents across the country because it promotes family values, creative ways to embrace learning, discipline, and a healthy respect for educators and education.  Parents and teachers across the country find the message that kids can succeed academically despite parental socioeconomic status, education level, race, or culture, particularly empowering.  In short, Top of the Class is unique because it promotes ‘Asian’ principles such as discipline and delayed gratification while still promoting very ‘American’ values such as emotional development, creativity, and independence.  Learn how to the get best of both worlds!  Dr. Abboud has spoken to both parents and teachers nationally about the principles featured in Top of the Class.

Top of the Class has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Newark Star-Ledger, and the Philadelphia Inquirer; it has also been featured on Good Morning America.  Top of the Class was the recipient of the 2005 Family Choice Award and was named a How-to Book of the Week by Newsday; it was also a Michael Smerconish Book Club selection in 2006.

Dr. Soo Kim Abboud is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the Chief of the Division of ENT at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.  Dr. Abboud received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; she also received her undergraduate degree from the Johns Hopkins University.

To request information on Dr. Soo Kim Abboud, e-mail skabboud@educationspeakersgroup.com