I'm passionate about: helping others. In order to get to where I am today, I owed my achievements to so many people who've helped me along the way. I believe in paying it forward as a way to show my gratitude. I'm especially passionate about working with the underserved community in both the healthcare setting and in various fundraisers.
I knew I wanted to become a physician when: I was six years old. I spent the early years of my life in Vietnam, a country where health care was not readily available and was absurdly expensive. That experience inspired me to become a physician to help patients maintain and restore health.
Something I've learned from my patients is to: be considerate of my patients' inputs, values, and goals while trying to understand their medical conditions. When I take the time to listen to each patient, I can formulate an individualized care plan. I find that the patients are more compliant when they play a role in the decision-making process.
One of the challenges I enjoy is: motivating patients to be more engaged and invested in their own health. Often times patients are too busy to pursue habits that can have positive life-long impact. While having such conversations can be challenging, I enjoy those “coaching” opportunities because of the benefits they bring.
My best health advice is to: get enough sleep, stay active and drink plenty of water.
I'm most proud of: being the first physician in my family.