Turning Personal Loss into Life-Saving Innovation 

Jeanie Chung and Alec Leddon pose for a photo by the Charles River
Listen

Since the late 1990s, over 1 million Americans have died from drug overdoses, with more than 100,000 lives lost annually in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behind these staggering statistics are families shattered by grief and communities struggling to find solutions. 

For Dr. Jeanie Chung, the opioid crisis is deeply personal. After losing her son, Jackson Taesun Leddon, to a fentanyl overdose, she channeled her heartbreak into action, determined to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy. 

With a background in chemistry and dermatology—but no formal business training—Chung founded TaeSun LLC, developing a portable, easy-to-use drug testing kit designed to allow individuals to detect fentanyl in substances before use, a critical step in harm reduction. However, bringing this product to market required Chung to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship, an entirely new landscape for her. 

Jeanie Chung (right) speaks to the second cohort of SUD Sprint participants.

Courage and Support 

Chung’s journey took a transformative turn when she participated in Babson College’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Sprint, an intensive program designed to equip innovators with the entrepreneurial skills necessary to commercialize solutions in the SUD space. In 2025, Babson launched the third SUD Sprint program, continuing to support more innovators like Chung and helping them turn their vision into real-world solutions that create the change the world needs. 

Hosted by the Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship in partnership with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the SUD Sprint is Babson’s first National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded program. It provided Chung with critical business acumen, mentorship, and access to a network of other experts in healthcare and medical technology. 


“As an entrepreneur, there are so many challenges, and we don’t always have the background on every little nuanced idea we need to move forward. Babson and NIDA have helped us take our ideas and actually bring them to fruition.”
Dr. Jeanie Chung, who participated in Babson’s SUD Sprint

“Coming here, I was pretty intimidated as an independent individual who had a product but didn’t know what to do with it,” Chung said. “But the amount of support from not just my cohort, but from the faculty and from NIDA, has been amazing, giving me the courage to continue with my quest.” 

Through the SUD Sprint, Chung secured additional funding as a NIDA grant winner, enabling her to advance her business even further. 

“Winning the NIDA grant challenge was a huge milestone, and now we’re working toward additional funding to make sure cost isn’t a barrier to using this life-saving technology,” she said. “As an entrepreneur, there are so many challenges, and we don’t always have the background on every little nuanced idea we need to move forward. Babson and NIDA have helped us take our ideas and actually bring them to fruition.” 

A Mission and an Inspiration 

A group of students pose for a photo while sitting around a table
Inspired by his mother, Alec Leddon (fourth from the right) is following in her footsteps by joining Babson’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurial Leadership program.

Chung’s work is more than just a business—it’s a mission. Now, that mission is taking on a new dimension as her son, Alec Leddon, follows in her footsteps by joining Babson’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurial Leadership (MSEL) program. 

“I was lost for a while, but this has given me a sense of purpose,” he said, referring to the loss of his brother, Jackson. “Taking a horrible situation and helping others avoid the same pain is what keeps me going.” 

After a few years working in marketing and as a music producer, Leddon found himself drawn to his mother’s drive and purpose.  
 
“Mom’s experience with SUD absolutely influenced me,” Leddon said. “Seeing her navigate this space and being introduced to Babson through her work in the SUD Sprint made me realize how entrepreneurship can truly drive meaningful change. If she hadn’t come here, I definitely wouldn’t be at Babson.” 

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

More from Entrepreneurial Leadership »

Latest Stories

Members of the Babson community behind a Pride banner at the parade
Passion and Pride: How the Office of Belonging and Inclusion Supports the LGBTQ+ Community Babson’s participation in the Boston Pride Parade caps a busy and productive year of support for the LGBTQ+ community by the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, as it advances the College’s commitment to Inclusive Excellence.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
June 27, 2025

Posted in Community

Two people sit next to each other in a classroom
As Workforce Needs Evolve, Babson Expands Its Commitment to Professional and Executive Education To better support organizations and professionals in rapidly changing times, Babson launches an expanded Professional and Executive Education portfolio, offering courses that are online, flexible, and urgently needed, while investing in a new lodging and conference center on campus.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
June 23, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis applauds while sitting at a table during a BCERC dinner
Honoring Andrew ‘Zach’ Zacharakis for 20 Years as BCERC Director As the 45th annual entrepreneurship research conference returns to Babson’s campus, BCERC pays tribute to Professor Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis for two decades of service. Zacharakis shares reflections of BCERC and its impact.
By
Eric Beato
Editor / Writer
Eric Beato
Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.
June 16, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership