ACOFP Blog
For Family, By Family—ACOFP Blog
The Student Association of the ACOFP is partnering with Resident Council on a number of exciting initiatives, including the Resident Council Spotlight series of interviews and articles. For our next article in the series, students sat down with Loc Nguyen, DO, to learn more about his residency program, what being a part of ACOFP means to him and what advice he has for students.
The Student Association of the ACOFP is partnering with Resident Council on a number of exciting initiatives, including the Resident Council Spotlight series of interviews and articles. We’re excited about the insight and perspective residents are able to provide to help students plan for residency and become active with ACOFP.
For our next article in the series, students sat down with Loc Nguyen, DO, to learn more about his residency program, what being a part of ACOFP means to him and what advice he has for students.
As a graduate of the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, my medical training was centered at a community health center in northern Arizona. Now as a FM resident at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, I get to continue to train at a community health center just outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Having the opportunity to serve the underserved has allowed me to take care of vulnerable populations and really see the effects of social determinants of health. Our unique community-based program is a national consortium spanning four different states (Ohio, Washington, Arizona, and Washington, D.C.). Additionally, as a Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), we are actively working to address the physician workforce shortage.
Our program focuses on community-oriented primary care. We spend about three months each year dedicated solely to seeing patients at our community health center in New Richmond, Ohio. One wonderful aspect of family medicine is that there is no typical day; each day is filled with a diverse patient population with different acute or chronic conditions.
Beyond fulfilling my clinical duties which also include answering patient messages, my involvement as chair of the ACOFP Resident Council and serving as this year’s chief resident keep me busy with different meetings, responsibilities and collaborating with multiple people.
After spending a few years as an OB/GYN resident, I slowly discovered that I wanted to be able to practice comprehensive medicine that allowed me to take care of any age group and continue to make a deep impact on the communities that I served. Having the opportunity to take care of whole families and to follow my patients throughout their life is an extremely rewarding experience.
Growing up and hearing of the hardships my parents underwent growing up in Vietnam, I have really enjoyed the opportunity to practice medicine in underserved areas. From welcoming new life into the world, examining a patient in their own home and discussing end-of-life care options, the wide breadth and diversity of family medicine keeps each day interesting. And as we continue to navigate the complexities of the healthcare delivery system, family medicine is on the frontlines of addressing the health needs of our population by creating better health outcomes and increasing healthcare access.
I have been lucky to have many incredible mentors throughout my life and especially during the challenges associated with medical training. Serving on the Resident Council has given me the opportunity to work with other motivated residents to be a voice for family medicine residents to the ACOFP. Additionally, it has allowed me the opportunity to collaborate with other committees throughout the ACOFP in order to expand and foster interest in family medicine.
It truly feels like a family. Everyone has been extremely encouraging and willing to help each other out with the same mission of promoting osteopathic family medicine.
Take some time to remember why you entered into medicine, how hard you worked to get to this point and the individuals in your life who have inspired and helped you along the way. During the moments when you ask yourself “why did I do this to myself?” or when you miss an important life event, these reflections and individuals will help lift you up.
ACOFP is a community of current and future family physicians that champions osteopathic principles and supports its members by providing resources such as education, networking and advocacy, while putting patients first.