App-specific questions

osteopathic medicine history

-Dr. Andrew Still 1874

how many patients do you serve at OCCHA?

with our events alone, last year, we served around 200 patients total with many coming back for our screening which occurs every 3 months. we gave out around 100 flu shots and during an annual health screening with USC we helped with giving out around 300 flu shots and screenings for locals.

describe a time when you displayed teamwork?

x

Things to remember

Father had high school education and taught... Mother had some college education but no degree. She studied OCCHA: 200 patients, 15 events held by ourselves + 300 flu shots with cooperation with USC. around 60 volunteers. MONTHLY free health screening ASSISTED DR MADOKORO AS HE DISCLOSE TO A PATIENT THAT HIS CANCER HAS RETURNED

why Touro CA?

- I really like Touro California because as i did research about Touro, i find many opportunities that are highly compatible with my personal goals. Having lived in Vietnam and witnessed the consequences of health disparities there as well as in the United States when i started working in the medical field, i became more and more passionate with public health in addition to medicine. so i really like that Touro is very dedicated in reducing health disparities not only on the local level but also on the global level. as a result, i want to apply to the DO/MPH program to learn more about public health and to use those knowledge in the future as well as my role as a physician in the future to make even more impactful changes in our society for people with disadvantaged background. i also really like that even as a student i can start making a difference by joining the student run free clinic to and participating in the global health electives. i also like that Touro has a metabolic research center that will allow me to learn more about obesity and diabetes which can lead to many other serious consequences that will affect a patient's health and life negatively, so i hope that i will be able to join the research center and sharpen my knowledge regarding these diseases in order to help my patients in the future.

why Touro CA (info)

)-In the realm of public health we offer both a local and international perspective with clinical experiences at sites around the globe including Taiwan, Bolivia, Israel and two sites in Africa (Tanzania and Ethiopia.) -dual degree DO/MPH program (complement public health in its mission to promote and protect individual and population health, focuses on understanding that with each patient, there is an opportunity to impact overall community heterm-60alth by examining health issues on a population basis rather than the individual, Students gain an awareness of population medicine -beyond the emphasis on just how to treat individual patients, Increased knowledge of and sensitivity to the political, historical, economic and social environments of health promotion and health services delivery; Increased capacity to incorporate preventive practices into care of individual patients, The TUC Public Health Program is dedicated to reducing health disparities in local and global communities with an unwavering focus on social justice. - The COMMUNITY ACTION FOR HEALTH CONCENTRATION prepares students to respond to the health needs of communities, especially those communities that face unique vulnerabilities due to current and historical policies and practices and is comprised of the following courses: Health Disparities and Community Organizing; Health Education and Promotion

"What was a time when you had to think on your feet?"

stat ultrasounds

what values can u contribute to our school

-Mobile Diabetes Education Center (MOBEC): Since opening MOBEC has served more than 300 people—including free diabetes screenings (finger stick glucose and A1c), free diabetes education, Dia-BEAT-it exercise classes, and recruiting and offering the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Diabetes Education and Empowerment Program (DEEP)

weaknesses

-Naturally shy. I've overcome that with an extensive amount of work and volunteer experiences, but i still tend to feel a tiny bit of nervousness when i talk to new people. But what i learned is to overcome that nervousness, and i have been able to make myself become more outgoing and friendlier while interacting with patients -Find it hard to be stern to ppl when i need to be or to say no to people. Medizen, patients can be really demanding because they believe in something or misunderstand something or do not understand a certain part of the process, and they keep demanding to get what they want. Let patients push me around. -sometimes i tend to not have a good time management with my work because i tend to focus too much on the details and the less important things first to make everything perfect. what i've been doing to try to fix that is to shift my focus on the main things of a project first and then work on the details or the side details later in order to avoid stressing myself out near the deadline with finishing the main objectives. i've been getting better at that but there's still always a little bit of tendency in me to take care of the details to make things perfect.

examples of when you interact with emotionally vulnerable patients at Hoag and how did you help them?

1) spanish speaking patient, held his hands gently and tried to calm him down, attempted to speak in his language (esta bien) 2) patient that said that he got lonely when his DAUGHTER left to get food at the cafeteria so i decided to stay with him until she got back. 3) patient that went through a brain surgery, had to take out stables, i tried to talk to her about her favorite movie to distract her from the pain

Nevada demographic

50% white 30% hispanic or latino 10% african american 10% asian

Why Touro University Nevada (facts)

==----. -small class size -You will have many opportunities to give back. You will help make healthcare more accessible to underserved populations. Enrich your life in and out of the classroom as you provide healthcare through free medical clinics and extend your reach toward the homeless community. -The Health Center at Touro Nevada gives you the opportunity to provide high-quality health care services and education to the community. Receive hands-on experience as you work with patients under physician supervision. -The Active Age Center is dedicated to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for older adults. Provide education and wellness opportunities in this center as you learn how to care for your patients. -Continuing Medical Education Advancements in healthcare are made available through continuing medical education classes. -Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Multi-disciplinary staff in the Center for Autism and Development Disabilities (or CADD) provides evaluation and treatment for children. You have the opportunity to observe this life-changing program. Students interested in pediatrics have learning opportunities in the Center -Stallman Touro Clinic at The Shade Tree Provide free healthcare to those in need in the Stallman Touro Clinic at The Shade Tree. Homeless women and children who have been victims of abuse are provided free healthcare services by students of Touro Nevada. -Health Center The Health Center at Touro Nevada gives you the opportunity to provide high-quality health care services and education to the community. Receive hands-on experience as you work with patients under physician supervision. -Active Aging Center The Active Age Center is dedicated to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for older adults. Provide education and wellness opportunities in this center as you learn how to care for your patients. -Continuing Medical Education Advancements in healthcare are made available through continuing medical education classes. -Community service is at the heart of the Touro Nevada experience, and you'll learn while serving others as much as you will in the classroom. -Mobile Healthcare Outreach Initiative: Staffed by our faculty and students, Touro's mobile healthcare outreach initiative provides medical care to our community's underserved populations. At Touro Nevada, you will join a mission to impact the lives of the vulnerable and underserved. Through the Mobile Healthcare Outreach Initiative, you will help those who need it most by taking acute care services directly to them. Providing free medical care to the homeless community, including homeless veterans, in the Las Vegas Valley was the founding principle of the first mobile healthcare clinic at Touro Nevada. Since 2014, the Mobile Healthcare Clinic run by the School of Physician Assistant Studies has given free acute care for our underserved populations. -Serving the Developmentally Challenged. Touro Nevada has a long history of helping those with developmental disabilities. The second Mobile Healthcare Clinic keeps that tradition alive with their initiative to work with developmentally challenged adults. Working with experienced healthcare professionals, you can join an initiative that truly changes the lives of the developmentally challenged. By providing services to this group, common illness treatments and educational programs are available not only to those affected but their families as well. You will gain valuable, one-of-a-kind medical experience working with development challenges while also improving and impacting their lives. -Serving the Senior Population. The Las Vegas Valley is one of the most densely populated cities for low-income seniors. The need for proper healthcare increases dramatically as we age. The third Mobile Healthcare Clinic partners with Nevada HAND and others to reach our low income, aging population and provide acute care services. -Health Center: primary care, OMT, The clinical setting also provides an opportunity for our students to learn under the guidance of the faculty physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to gain valuable experience and education. Our goal is to be your partner in healthcare -providing compassionate care in a variety of specialties backed by the latest academic expertise. - -Stallman Touro Clinic at Shade Tree: Touro Nevada faculty and students volunteer at The Shade Tree, a shelter for women and children. From providing medical care to walking dogs to sorting donations to serving meals, volunteers are welcome and needed. You will provide shelter residents with basic healthcare services including acute medical care with the management of chronic illness and care for children at the facility. Helping the residents stay healthy is a commitment you will share with staff and students. (Adult health care, Acute medical care, Chronic illness management, Preventative health measures, Pediatric services) -Center for Disaster Life Support ===> We provide educational courses to students, healthcare providers, first responders, law enforcement, and other community members on how to prepare and successfully manage a public health emergency or mass casualty disaster. We are an official training facility for the National Disaster Life Support Foundation (NDLSF), which strives to achieve and promote world-wide excellence in education, training, research and response related to disaster medicine and public health preparedness based on competency-based educational principles, scientific evidence, and the best clinical and public health practices. -Touro University Nevada Community Raises $5,500 to Assist Those Affected by the October 1 Shooting -transparency (list of the recent basic science research professors and research interests and publications) -Dual DO/MPH: The TUC Public Health Program, with its focus on social justice, trains graduates who are dedicated to reducing health inequities in local and global communities. Integrated education and training in our dual degree program provides medical professionals with a holistic understanding of health issues and the tools to address health and wellness from the perspectives of the individual patient, the community and the general population. ==> Increased knowledge of and sensitivity to the political, historical, economic and social environments of health promotion and health services delivery; Greater knowledge in the area of health policy and management; Opportunities for physicians who want to initiate change in managed health care, hospitals, and acute care centers;The TUC Public Health Program is dedicated to reducing health disparities in local and global communities with an unwavering focus on social justice. The COMMUNITY ACTION FOR HEALTH CONCENTRATION prepares students to respond to the health needs of communities, especially those communities that face unique vulnerabilities due to current and historical policies and practices and is comprised of the following courses: --In the realm of public health we offer both a local and international perspective with clinical experiences at sites around the globe including Taiwan, Bolivia, Israel and two sites in Africa (Tanzania and Ethiopia.) -dual degree DO/MPH program (complement public health in its mission to promote and protect individual and population health, focuses on understanding that with each patient, there is an opportunity to impact overall community heterm-60alth by examining health issues on a population basis rather than the individual, Students gain an awareness of population medicine -beyond the emphasis on just how to treat individual patients, Increased knowledge of and sensitivity to the political, historical, economic and social environments of health promotion and health services delivery; Increased capacity to incorporate preventive practices into care of individual patients, The TUC Public Health Program is dedicated to reducing health disparities in local and global communities with an unwavering focus on social justice. - The COMMUNITY ACTION FOR HEALTH CONCENTRATION prepares students to respond to the health needs of communities, especially those communities that face unique vulnerabilities due to current and historical policies and practices and is comprised of the following courses: Health Disparities and Community Organizing; Health Education and Promotion -the Big Game with Touro California -tutoring center, supportive environment, center for clinical simulation -touro instagram (close friend got accepted, follow, active students body that seem to be very connected/bond to each other (not only DO students but students from all the schools like nursing and PA schools), Day in a life of a medical student, keep track of touro nevada community services and community outreach that extend into COVID-19 pandemic, very supportive of each other, strong sense of community) -open door policy

what did you learn about playing badminton and why is it significant to you?

-badminton is the first and also the only sport that i have ever played. i started playing it when i was in high school and i was in our school's badminton team. now that i only play it for fun, it was pretty intense before. it was when i just came to the US for maybe 1 year and living in vietnam i didnt do a lot of exercises so i was very very physically weak. but in order to make it into the team i had to pass the screening which involved a lot of practice like running and other forms of endurance training. honestly i felt like i was dying every day because i was constantly pushed past my limit. honestly it wasn't fun but i kept trying bc i wanted to be in the team. i eventually made it to the team but the thing was that our team constantly lost. there were a few members who were older and have played for several years before i and many other members, but the rest are just i think mediocre just decent, but the thing is that the coach constantly encouraged us to keep trying and trying. and although we didnt win most of the matches we always tried and because of that every match that we won was a huge deal for us, a huge accomplishment. although it was way back in high school, i still remember this sport and those memories very dearly because they taught me to be resilient and to take pride in what you achieve with your best effort.

what essential clinical and non-clinical knowledge and skills did learn from volunteering at An Lanh free clinic?

-clinical: chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, how the doctors gathered information about a patient and use those info altogether to come to a final conclusion or diagnosis and an appropriate treatment -non-clinical: medical administrative skills (scheduling, call patients), interact with patients

how did working at Dr. Kramer's office help you "gain a more in-depth understanding of the diagnosis and treatment plans?"

-i learned from Dr. Kramer the meanings behind some of the physical examinations that he did and why he did them. i also learned about the interaction between medication prescribed or not prescribed in conjunction with the procedure that the patient is going through. for example if i remember correctly, prolotherapy triggers the body's natural inflammation process and then promotes healing and reconstruction at the site of injury. therefore, even though a good amount amount of patients at our clinic are prescribed anti-inflammatory NSAIDs, those undergoing prolotherapy were instructed not to take any NSAIDs. and then i also learned about half-lives of medication and its effectiveness which i didn't learn at other clinics before. so there was this patient who was taking some overcounter medication but she didnt wanna take any medication so she took them very sparingly and the Dr. Kramer told her that the half-life of that meidication is very low so if she takes them rarely then the medication of course does not have any chance to reach effective concentration in her blood, so it was that moment it's like a lightbulb moment for me that oh wait this is something i learned from chemistry and it makes sense why i'm learning that now. at this clinic, i found many things i learned from school starting to make sense in context of the human body and that's also something that one of the physicians there, they have a total of 3 different doctors, one of the drs told me that when i get to medical schools, things will start to make sense

if come back to your childhood, what would you tell yourself

-i would tell my younger self to worry less because there are things that are out of my control, and it's best to let them happen instead of constantly thinking about them. this is something that i learned as i get older, and realizing it helped me release a lot of stress and anxiety. for example, when i was an undergrad, i used to have really bad test anxiety. no matter how hard i studied, i was still afraid that i would be unlucky and get a question that i can't answer. however, i learned to trust myself more and let go of things that i can't control

questions

-is there going to be a chance to visit the campus? -Are there opportunities for students to design, conduct, and publish their own research? -how hard is it to be accepted into a basic science lab? and what is the process for students who are interested in doing research? do they contact the professor directly or is there a separate application process? --do students do research through out the years, during the summer, or both? What is the most exciting research going on at the school this year? -Is there a mentor/advisor system? -approximately, how many students enroll in the dual DO/MPH program per year? -Are the grades from the MPH classes going be affect my transcript in the DO program or are they completely separate? -What type of clinical sites—ambulatory, private preceptors, private hospitals, rural settings— are available or required for clerkships? Does this school allow for students to do rotations at other institutions -Does this school provide guidance to its students, and to its graduates/alumni, on debt management? -How much time do you get off to study for board exams and interview for residencies? -Do you have any tips for me as I move through my medical education?

why do you like playing badminton?

-it's a popular sport in vietnam and also it's similar to another informal sport that kids in Vietnam played when i was younger, and that informal sport was something that i grew up playing during my childhood so it had significant meaning for me. i think that's why i really love playing and enjoy playing badminton a lot

"What do you know about healthcare problems in Nevada?"

-language barriers (30% dont speak english) -in 2019, increase in preventable hospitalizations in adults ages 18 to 64 ==> Nevada is probably one of the lowest in primary care providers ==> Based on cost and lack of doctors available, Dr.Tyler says many adults wait until the last minute to get care. Since many avoid getting a primary care physician, by the time they get to a hospital or urgent care it's too late. "And so as a result patients are looking to come in and manage symptoms as opposed to really managing problems, " Dr.Tyler said.

how did your experience at OCCHA help improve your leadership and teamwork skills?

-leadership: group speaking skills as i train groups of new volunteers during our events, communication skills as i clearly express and articulate my ideas when i explain the steps of processes such as how to properly take blood pressure or blood glucose level safely (teach and mentor also as i recommend high school students steps to take and resources to reach out to in order to explore the medical field or just to explore what they wanna do in the future), delegating skills as our events get busy i become better at assigning members with different tasks and ensuring that each station has at least one more experienced member and also switch members around so that everyone gets to rotate and perform different tasks and improve their skills, taking initiative as, decisiveness (during event, quick thinking) -teamwork: effective communication, cooperative/collaboration with other board members as well as with all of the volunteers during our events in order to make sure that every step that the patient goes through when they participate in our event is carried out smoothly and properly.

Touro University Nevada's Mission Statement

-prepares students to become outstanding osteopathic physicians who uphold the values, philosophy, and practice of osteopathic medicine and who are committed to primary care and the holistic approach to the patient. -the program advances the profession and serves its students and society through innovative pre-doctoral and post-doctoral education, research, community service, and multidisciplinary and osteopathic clinical services. -TUN Mission: "To provide quality educational programs in the fields of healthcare and education in concert with the Judaic commitment to social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity."

examples to remember

-pressure: pregnant patient whose baby's heartbeat was undetectable and vaginal bleeding patient ==> STAT Ultrasound -patient at OCCHA's flu shot event who thought that she had to pay out of pocket and had to pay for a doctor visit as well in order to get her flu shot. she was planning not to get a flu shot at all because of cost -chest/breast/lung imaging -patient with colon cancer --> pelvic ultrasound -patients who don't understand why their doctors ordered certain imaging and what images -Dr Tran's Pt with Parkinson's disease: defining moment that drives me toward primary care; shuffling gait -a patient accompanied only by a taxi driver holding in his hand a STAT MRI order saying that he had a stroke a couple days ago. -I saw the same heartbreaking despair in another mother whose son was in a coma and was carried on a gurney that could not fit our MRI machine. The technician denied the case due to concern for his safety. The mother broke down in tears. Her inability to fully communicate due to language barrier only aggravated her sadness. This time, I could not help her or her son. I wished I could do more than just trying to get the patient in -Hoag patient, patient care assistant told me to hold his arms down, "Hold his arms very tightly so I can change his diaper," i went against that and decided to gently hold his hands in my hands, Esta Bien = it's okay -Hoag: patient who just had a brain procedure and her husband went to get some food at the cafeteria, she told me she was lonely so i decided to stay even past my shift with her, talking to her until her husband comes back -Hoag: elder patient who talked to me about her life experiences and stories, patient after stroke who gently nodded as a thank-you, -Hoag: talk to an elder patient to help distract her from the discomfort and/or pain as the physician is removing stables from her head after a brain surgery

while volunteering at An Lanh free clinic, how did you learn about the importance of considering a patient's socioeconomic background?

-refer them to other facilities for labworks or check-up, they consider their distance from those facilities, the languages that they speak, and also whether they have insurance or not. it was my first time learning that there is more to medicine than treating the symptoms and diseases, but also to consider more aspects of a patient's life in order to provide them with a more well-rounded treatment.

how often do you play badminton?

-since graduating from high school, i play badminton for fun with my friends and we usually play while talking. sometimes it has become mainly a means for us to spend time together and talk to each other and hang out with each other. i would say i play around at least once a month.

strengths

-sincere: i'm the kind of person that's not afraid to talk about my flaws or what i fail or didn't achieve when those things come up, and i tend to be honest with other people around me as well. i think that helps other people feel closer to me and trust me more. -Empathetic person. I find it easy to put myself into another person's shoes and that always motivates me to provide the best care and service for patients and to help them as well as people that i work with as much as possible. it also helped me make a connection with other people faster. -although i consider myself to be a good team player, i also am good at working independently as in i usually dont necessarily need other people to tell me what to do or when to do my job. i can also others for advice and feedback but i dont depend on them. -detail-oriented: depending on the situation, i can be very detail-oriented and thorough with my work

Why Touro University Nevada

-small class size

values

-with the skills and knowledge and patient interaction skills that i have gained from my clinical experiences, i believe that i can help contribute to an excellent experience that the patient can have here, including at the student run free clinic. since the activities of OCCHA is similar to the services provided at the mobile diabetes education center, i can also contribute what i learn as a volunteer and as a leader at the center to help develop it more and to help contribute to Touro's dedication for reducing health disparities.

list 2 healthcare problems cho 5 M $ thi se lam gi

1) shortage of primary care physician ==> give money to help reduce the cost of medical education (without compromising the quality of the education) and helps reduce debts for graduating medical students so that students who are interested in primary care are more like to pick primary care specialties. this is because i heard that some students prefer non- primary care specialties in order to have a higher income that would help them pay off their medical school debts 2) a national program that gives incentives to US residents and agencies to help them improve their medical literacy.

Why DO?

Although I didn't have a chance to shadow an osteopathic physician, while I was working with allopathic physicians, I found myself being drawn to many aspects that are valued by osteopathic medicine. The first factor that draws me strongly toward osteopathic medicine is the prospect of gaining a deeper understanding about OMT and incorporating it into my medical education and career. When I started working for Dr. James Tran, who is a neurosurgeon, i found myself mostly intrigued by the physical exams that he does on his patients using his own hands to manipulate joints and muscles and evaluate their functions and the nerves' functions. It was extremely fascinating for me that he was able to perform such exams that are efficient, informative, and non-invasive with his own hands and with very little reliance on external equipment or technology. As i explored about osteopathic medicine on my own and through talking to a couple of DO students, i learned that OMT would not only allow me to diagnose patients like Dr. Tran did but also to treat and prevent illnesses for patients using my own hands. I think that technology and advanced medical equipment make huge differences in medicine, but I absolutely love the ability to have an extra set of skills from learning and practicing OMT as a DO student in order to help my patients in the future. As much as I love medicine, I think that traditional medicine without OMT doesn't feel as complete. This is because I believe that as a physician, I should try my best to help my patients with all resources and knowledge that I can gain. I understand that there are ofc going to be limitations even for physicians but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to try my best, so becoming a DO student provides me with such useful and impactful tools is the biggest motivation for me to pursue osteopathic medicine. At Dr. Kramer's office (he's a physical medicine and rehab physician), he also performs similar hands-on exams but on a more extensive level, but he also prefers to treat his patients more conservatively such as through prolotherapy and PRP (plalete-rich plasma) therapy that promote the body's own healing processes. I was extremely drawn to this conservative approach and treatments that he uses and also found them to be very similar to one of osteopathic principles that the bod is self-healing and self-regulating. My experiences with these physicians, along with my own research about osteopathic medicine, make me significantly intrigued to become a DO in the future in order to offer my patients with a treatment approach that is more non-invasive and natural in addition to the traditional allopathic approach. I had the opportunities to talk to DO students who helped me learn more about OMT and the principles of DO. A DO student that I met last year at a mock interview event told me about how he had had this migraine for as long as he could remember, he tried so many treatments and medication but he couldnt solve his migraine, until he met a DO who performed some manipulation and migraine just went away.

describe a time when you displayed leadership?

As Orange County Community Health Affiliation's secretary, I help organize health screening events and health fairs. An example was a health fair where we worked with Lestonnac Free Clinic, one of our partners. During the event, I led a team of five volunteers and gave them an orientation on patient flow, vital measurements, equipment, and areas within the health fair. During the health fair, I applied my clinical experiences and skills to assist and guide the volunteers. I trained them on a checklist system to monitor patient flow and room turnover. Because we were assigned different tasks, the system enabled us to keep track of the completion of each other's tasks and to coordinate with each other better. I also designated volunteers to different stations throughout the day in order to ensure all stations were covered. In the end, we were all able to learn more about patient care while accommodating all patients efficiently despite the busy health fair.

give examples of the times you formed "meaningful connections with many patients and families at the hospital and community health events" at Hoag.

Besides completing my regular shifts at the hospital, i also participate in community events such as health fair and cancer screenings during which there are also small activities like making cactus plants and decorating the pots. through these events, i also become more connected with the participants by just talking to them and getting to know them, just like when i talk to like my friends. at the hospital, i also find myself forming connections with both patients and their families. two special occasions that i still remember were the one time at Brain and Spine Department, a Spanish speaking patient was really confused and scared and refused help from the patient care assistant, so when i came in i decided to hold his hands and tried to comfort him and he kept holding me hands for like 10 minutes and i stayed with him until his family arrived. another occasion was when i was showing the wife of a patient to the parking structure and she was really sweet but she also started telling me about how she's struggling with taking care of her husband, they're both in their 70s i believe, and at the end we exchange some words before saying goodbye and we hugged each other. my entire interaction with that person was around maybe 10-15 minutes but as a volunteer, i had the opportunity to have her, as well as some other patients or family members, open up to me that i may not have if i were to meet them under another circumstance. and i really appreciate these moments as they're really meaningful and inspiring to me.

covid

Ever since COVID-19 was getting serious, things have changed substantially for me. The most significant change was that this pandemic gave me and my organization OCCHA, a chance to make a difference. I have been working with the other board members of OCCHA on a Free Face Mask for All campaign to help flatten the curve in the United States. We have recruited over 30 volunteers, donated more than 800 masks to 4 different cities, and reached past our $1000 donation goal over the past 3 weeks. We're currently working with more city halls to make more public distributing sites available throughout California first, and we're also starting to ship masks to all residents in the US. I've also started a new job as a Vietnamese medical and legal interpreter, which I think is essential now during the pandemic when people rely so much on telecommunication. Personally, I have found both old and new hobbies. I've gotten back to drawing and coloring, and I've been trying watercoloring and playing the ukulele as well. Playing ukulele is totally something new because honestly that is the first musical instrument that I've ever tried to play. I've been baking and cooking more and have more time to spend with my mom and my dog, who is a Golden Retriever. He's 2 years old and his name is Sushi, and he's still a little puppy to me, although he's over 100 lbs.

tell me more about this: "Ibake around 50-100 cookies every month during my free time and donate them for the homeless children and women at a local nonprofit"

I actually started doing that around the time that i was studying for my mcat, it was a really stressful time as i think many of us could relate. So i started baking more and more like one to two times a week with around 50 cookies each time, it kinda got too much and i didnt wanna keep feeding my family with all the sugar. And then i realized that i should donate for a homeless shelter because that way baking can both helps me relax and allows me to do something meaningful because doing something meaningful also gives me more motivation and to feel connected to other ppl more which would help me not too stressed out from studying. So i then emailed a bunch of homeless shelter from my area and i eventually found one around 20 mins from my house for homeless women and children. So every month i started baking oatmeal and raisin cookies, chocolate chips cookies, green tea cookies and come to the center to donate. They complimented on my cookies so that also makes me feel good too.

how does baking help you relax?

I find baking very relaxing and calming because it's such simple tasks and also because i like mix things. It's also calming because when i bake i usually have my dog come in the kitchen and he usually lies down near me and he just keeps his eyes on me to watch me like he's curious, and i think it's relaxing also because of that. And also when i bake i usually focus on the recipe and that helps me take my mind off of other things which could be stressful things in my life.

what do you bake?

I mostly bake cookies, the regular cookies and also Danish cookies which are also called butter cookies or biscuits. They're lighter, crispier, and the flavors are more prominent so it gives me more room to play with the flavors. I sometimes bake brownies. I used to try to bake cakes but i feel like its kinda hard for me and i need a lot more practice but i'm planning to bake a cake for my boyfriend this weekend.

you said that you realized "not everything is clear or has an answer in these two fields (science and evidence-based medicine)." tell me more about this.

I think this realization is significant to me because when i started to become interested in medicine when i was in high school i was also under the impression that science and medicine are more like absolute as in our knowledge about the world around us and our bodies are facts. As i went to school more, learned more about science, and did research, although i dont remember any specific examples from my research lab but doing research helped me realize that although there are facts that we know, many many things that we know are in fact not absolute at all, or they are parts of a certain fact, or they're just totally something that we dont completely understand yet, and i think that's when research comes in to help develop and further our understanding and knowledge. similarly in medicine, i have an example that i can recall, so i grew up thinking that eating seeds can lead to appendicitis. as i grew older, i just somehow kinda realized that that's prolly not true but i never actively seek for an answer until one day when i was working with the gastroenterologist and i asked him about that because the topic came up. that's when he told we that we dont really completely understand why appendicitis occurs and that his theory was that it's some kind of autoimmune issue, but what we "knew" before that seeds cause appendicitis is in fact not truth. so my exposure with research and with medicine helps me understand this evolving aspect of both of these fields and i think it's fascinating and that motivates me to be a part of the medical world, to be at the frontier of helping develop our understanding and also to use my connection with other people as a physician to help educate them and help them update any knowledge or understanding that may have been outdated.

"Despite what many people may say, HMOs seem to do a lot of good for our society. Do you agree? "

PCP

why Touro Nevada?

PRIMARY CARE. Touro Nevada has all of the factors the I'm looking for from a medical school. The first and major factor that draws me towards Touro Nevada is the school's commitment to social justice and community service. As I was doing research on the school, I realized that I could gain new hands-on knowledge and skills in a variety of settings while making contributions to many different populations that are disadvantaged. Specially, I'm talking about the ability of students to volunteer to help the homeless community, the homeless women and children at the Stallman Clinic who have experienced abuse previously, the senior population at the Active Age Center, developmentally challenged adults, and children with autism and developmental disabilities. Growing up in an underserved community both when I was in Vietnam and here in the United States and having lost my dad due to consequences of low access to health and low medical literacy, I feel very passionate to help decrease health disparities. It is something that I'm committed to do for my entire life, as a premedical student, a medical student and a physician in the future. Therefore, going to a medical school that has a strong commitment to community service is a significant factor for me to choose medical schools. Another reason is the location of the school. This is sort of like a double-goal. I want to go to a medical school that is out of state so that I could experience living outside of California. Don't get me wrong, I love California, but I'm aware that there are so much more outside of California that I want to explore. And this may seem contradicting, but I also don't want to live too far away from California because my family is here and because the organization that I'm a board member of, which is OCCHA (Orange County Community Healthy Affiliation) is a big part of my life and my career in medicine. I want to be close enough to California to be able to come back when I have a chance, such as during a holiday, to visit my family and to participate in OCCHA health fairs and health events. That's why I applied only to schools that are in California and around California, and Touro Nevada is the closest school that is also out of state. Other than these 2 reasons, there are so many reasons that would take me a lot more time to explain, and I would love to go over them but some of them are the Dual DO/MH Program, the friendly and family-oriented community at Touro Nevada. I didn't have a chance to visit the campus, but one of my close friends got accepted and he's going to Touro Nevada next year, and he told me a lot about the school, how students seem to be very close-knit together and supportive of each other, which I can also see from following Touro Nevada instagram. Those are some more reasons, but I absolutely love Touro Nevada and would be so so excited to go here.

can you elaborate on how research helped you become more intrigued to pursue medicine?

Since Dr. Lakey's lab focuses on islet transplantation as a treatment for type 1 diabetes, it was on some level clinical as well although it technically wasn't a clinical research lab. but by learning about the research that are being carried out with the potential of developing a treatment to be used in medicine, i learned that the process of research is not a straight line and that there isn't alway a clear cut or clear answer because of the complexity of the human body. that also makes me recognize that medicine and science are both not absolute and that there are a lot to learn about the human body that scientists and physicians are trying to understand for the betterment of human health and quality. by reacognizing that, i wanted to pursue medicine even more, to be involved in this constantly evolving career is intriguing to me, and being to make a difference potentially in the future will also make me feel very happy and rewarded.

how did working at Dr. Madokoro's office help you improve your communication, teamwork, and patient interaction skills?

Working at Dr. Madokoro helped me improve my communication skills because i worked closely with him to modify the procedure report and tailor them to what he wants, and of course i have to communicate with him regarding how the software work or what i can and cannot do, and then from there we work together to get the result that he want or to achieve something as close to it as possible. at his clinic, i improved my communication and teamwork skills with my co-workers as i work in check in. so i would prepare paperwork for patients and give them to my coworkers who work in check out, and we also switch tasks with each other to cover for each other when we get too crowded. so that improves both my ability to improve communication skills but also my collaboration and teamwork skills. At his clinic, since i work in check in, i'm the first person to interact with the patients and i take their paperwork, help them with payment, and take their vitals, answer any question they may have on payment, insurance, paperwork. so those interactions help improve my people skills more and over time i become better at talking to them, communicating with them.

How did working at Dr. James Thao Tran help you prepare for medical school and your future career in medicine?

Working at Dr. Tran's office was one of the very meaningful experiences for me that consolidate my determination to pursue medicine because it gave me a chance to have a lot of one-on-one interactions with patients. although with the more serious and clinical parts that i cant absolutely do by myself, like when Dr. Tran performs physical exam or read radiograph images and propose plans and treatment and education for patients, when i take the medical history of the patient, i get to talk to them and interact with them just by myself, and that gives me some insight into how it feels like to be a little bit more independent while participating in patient care and i realize that i like it. and it also gives me a chance to improve my patient interaction skills, how to express my sympathy for a patient who's going through a difficult time, or just to expose me to the patients more so that i'm not as shy as i was before when i have to talk to someone i literally just meet. By observing Dr. Tran's interactions with the patients., i also learned how he builds relationship with his patients and how he interacts with them. overall, all of my clinical experiences as well as Dr. Tran's office show me that in medicine, patient care always comes first, or at least that's the right way to do or how it's supposed to be, like caring for patient is really at the heart of medicine and the priority above all else. so this experience helps me both recognize and appreciate the importance of putting patient care as the center of medicine and as my ultimate goal in the future: to provide the best care for me patient in the future.

how did research help improve your "ability to communicate scientific info to others?"

as I did more research and read more scientific paper, i learned more about terminology used in conducting and presenting research, and I also gained presentation skills as i presented my project to my peers, my PI, and my lab manager. i learned to speak concisely and clearly about my research ideas, how i conducted experiments to test out my ideas or hypothesis, and presented what i found to other people. i believe that the project helped me improve my ability to articulate my thoughts a little bit better

how did you find "a great sense of satisfaction that motivated [you] to seek and participate in more volunteer opportunities?" give us specific examples of these experiences

at UCI MC, i felt really rewarded when i helped other people, especially when i helped patients to discharge and transport them, but also when i helped the family members with simple things such as direction or taking them to a destination that they need to be, and also when i helped out with different department such as administrative department and pharmacy department. as i helped others, i felt rewarded like i was making an impact, and i also felt like it was stress relieving because i felt like it was taking my mind off of other things going on in my life for a little bit. so that's why i realized that i wanted a career of service and of connecting with other people, whether they're my patients or colleagues. and this experience helped confirm my interest in medicine more.

How do you customize cookies recipes and why?

b

why didn't you shadow any DO physician?

before i applied i explored a little bit about osteopathic medicine from different sources and i liked it. i wanted to find a DO to shadow in order to learn more about osteopathic medicine but after emailing around 6-7 DOs at UCI i didnt get any reply from them or they said that they're busy. i think i also emailed DOs from some other places but they said that due to some constraints they couldnt let me shadow them. but recently i found out that my mom's family doctor is a DO so i asked her to let me shadow her and she said yes so we're in the process of scheduling days that i could come in to shadow her

tell us more about your experience shadowing at Medizen? elaborate on how they showed you how they "analyzed radiological imaging studies and discussed [with you] the symptoms and findings." what did you learn from this?

before i left Medizen, i asked the doctors to let me shadow them and i watched some breast and thyroid biopsies. during these occasions, i was also able to observe how the physician interacts with his patients during the procedure. i also talked to them as they read scans, including ultrasound, x-rays, ct scans. and they talked to me about different tissue landmarks and most importantly they talked to me about the importance of having patients do breast ultrasound and mammograms as these diagnostic tests can help with early detection of breast cancer, which is important because breast cancer can progress really quickly.

elaborate on how Dr. Kramer's experience has "helped you gain a more extensive clinical exposure and more active role in patient care" compared to the other clinical experiences you have had?

every work experience gives me a different perspective of the medical field but i found this job at Dr. Kramer's office a little bit more extensive because it allows me a little bit more authority of ordering tests for patients and ordering medications for patients, not that im doing that by myself but i'm the one who does the order, and also before Dr. Kramer sees each patient, i look over the history of the patient and look over their recent procedures with Dr. Kramer, and then i would do a brief presentation for him about the patient history, and that;s what also makes me feel like im helping prep him before he sees the patient, and since i looks at the patient's history, i also have a better understanding of what has happened and then connect it to what is going to happen or to be recommended by Dr. Kramer, so i think my flow of thinking or understanding of each patient is better. With other jobs, i was not really required to look at a patient's history to do my job and i mostly just do that on my own

you said that "working alongside a physician, I learned more about the reasoning behind the medical processes that help patients detect abnormalities, treat illnesses, and prevent the development of more adverse conditions," can you elaborate on this?

from my clinical experiences, i learned a little bit about tests such as it's important to check BUN and creatinine on some patients to make sure that their kidneys are working properly before having them undergo an imaging test that requires contrast injection, and how the physicians, which are the neurosurgeon and the physiatrist combine what they learned from the subjective findings including the patient's complaint and history of the illness and objective findings including the physical exam and medical testings such as diagnostic testing to diagnose the patient and propose treatment plan and recommendations. what i learned from these information is that treating patients require a lot of different information that you gather from different sources, from the patients, the testing, and from the physical exam, so that makes me realize that it's not rigid and it's more of a gradual process, and i think it's interesting.

"In 3 words, how will friends or family describe you?"

goofy hard working compassionate

you said that doing research help you gain a better understanding of the relationship between science and evidence-based medicine. tell me more about this?

i don't know the specific details about how research results are translated into clinical treatments but i know that only researches that consistently have effective results would be used in treating patients, and it's a very long process. while i was working on my project, i was totally new at it, i used a completely new type of dye that the lab didn't use before called congo red, and the project idea was something that is pretty different than other people's projects at the time too so all i knew was the backgrounds that i learned previously from the lab, so it was initially very difficult to me to figure out how to incorporate the new dye with the tissue that i had to achieve the dyeing process that i want or to make it effective. having gone through that makes me appreciate the existing treatments that are being implemented in patient care because now that i know the clinicians and researchers have gone through a lot to achieve the effective and safe treatments that we have nowadays.

what are your future plans for OCCHA when you get accepted into medical school and after that?

i plan to become a member of the advisory board to give my feedback and opinions to future OCCHA board members if they need them, and to join OCCHA's events in the future as a medical student when i come back to Socal during my breaks. i think it's going to be really cool to continue contributing to OCCHA but as a new position and with the new knowledge and skills that i gain from attending medical school.

working at Hoag, you said the you especially enjoy helping geriatric patients, elaborate on this and tell us why.

i tend to find myself enjoying spending time with geriatric patients because i found many of them to be really sweet and friendly. they would be really grateful even when i do small things for them like getting them a cup of water or juice. they would tell me stories about their children, their spouses, their best friend, or just life stories that they have. because of that friendliness i found it a little bit easier or faster to form a bond with them. it's also that since they're older or weaker, they tend to have more needs than other patients that i interact with so as i help them i could feel myself making a little bit of a greater impact than with other patients. and that feeling of making an impact is just really rewarding to me.

elaborate on how you gained a better understanding of the "physician-patient dynamics" at Dr. Tran's office and define what it is.

i think that the physician--patient dynamics are the characteristics of the relationship and interactions between the physician and his or her patient. from working at Dr. Tran's office and being able to observe how he interacts with his patients, from those that he meets for the first time to the patients that he meets before and after surgery and for a follow-up for some time after the surgery

without shadowing any DO, how are you certain that you want to become a DO? how do you know that you are knowledgeable enough about the DO roles and principles?

i'm certain that i want to become a DO because although i have never directly shadowed a DO, i have learned a good amount of knowledge regarding OMT, which is the main reason that motivates me to pursue osteopathic medicine, from reading online resources and watching video online and also talking to some medical students that have actually practiced OMT or are learning about OMT. Regarding DO principles, i have also read through it from some online resources and i thought they were really interesting and definitely something i want to apply in the future while practicing. -sharper ability to detect abnormalities in tissue through palpation with my hands or observations and because of the focus on the musculoskeletal system as well as OMT, i feel that i will gain a more extensive knowledge of the human anatomy

why medicine

it was a series of events that lead me to my decision of pursuing medicine. the first event was my father's passing away after a heart surgery and after having hepatitis c for more than 20 years without knowing. it was the event that pushed me toward working in the healthcare and it also sparked my interest in preventive medicine. after that, i have had a lot of valuable opportunities to explore different aspects of medicine. from school, research, and my clinical experiences, i enjoyed learning both about how the human body functions and about how different health conditions arise. i found it especially interesting to learn about how the human body can adapt to different conditions that i never would have expect they can do, such as in the case of neuroplasticity or how a patient's body tries to adapt to a congenital heart defect by growing new blood vessels in order to increase oxygen distribution. i think it's just incredible and thinking about those instances and about the many many incredible things about the human body that i will be able to learn gives me so much excitement. Through my clinical experiences, i learned about one key thing that makes my heart set on pursuing medicine, which is the connection the doctor has with the patient and the large impacts on the patients and community that a doctor can have. that's something that i learned from observing the interactions that the doctors i work for have with their patients. as a volunteer and a medical scribe, i was able to form my own connection with patients several times. i learned about how it feels to connect to those patients in a way that probably wouldnt have happened if i were not someone in the position to take care of those patients or advocate for them, especially patients from underserved populations. it gives me a sense of satisfaction that i cannot imagine myself finding in another career. overall, i want to become a physician in order to gain a deeper knowledge about the human body and use those knowledge and my authority as a physician to advocate for my patients' health, well-being, and quality of life.

how did working at Dr. Tran office help you learn more about the "approach of treating chronic pain?"

what i noticed from the patients that were referred to Dr. Tran is that they have undergone more conservative treatments first before getting a consult from him, who's a neurosurgeon. Like they have already undergone physical therapy and other treatments like epidural steroid injection. so it makes me realize that in the medical field patients typically undergo more conservative treatment first and then progressively, if their symptoms do not get better or worsen, move to more invasive treatments. And i realize that one of the role of the physician is to help navigate the patient in getting better because it's not really a linear line either, there are so many options out there that one patient may benefit but not the other. and that's when i also learned that medicine is also like an art and not an absolute science.

how did your experience helping Dr. Madokoro generate procedure reports help you prepare for medical school or your future career in medicine?

my experience at Dr. Madokoro's clinic allowed me to observe how he forms procedure reports by paying attention to the words that he used, like i notice that he's very precise with his wording both in the report as well as when i talked to him and observed how he talks to his patients and other doctors and nurses, so i think that helps me become more aware of the words that i use more and to be more precise instead of using words with broad meanings that may lead people to misunderstand or misinterpret what you mean which could lead to consequences in patient care. so basically by working with him i learned to become a better communicator and i believe that will help me in the future when i interact with patients, families, and other health providers. From working with him, I was most inspired by his work ethic and his dedication to patient care. From what I learned, i think that he spent more time during the procedure, either colonoscopy or EGD, to look for any abnormalities. I think usually, from what i heard, he spends almost twice the amount of time that other gastroenterologists spend on average on a patient and i noticed that with patients that have completely normal findings he spent even more time sometimes to make sure that there really isn't anything concerning or abnormal. And with all patients, depending on their clinical history, he prints out some kind of education information, such as anti-polyp regimen or how to avoid and treat hemmorhoids, and i was really motivated by his determination to give the best care to his patients and to educate them. from the procedure report, to the procedure itself, to the information that he gives his patients, all are detailed and reflects his genuine care for the patient. and just like many experiences that i have gone through, this experience also gives me an inspiration that always remind me and motivates me to become more and more dedicated to the patients that i will encounter.

describe your research project at UROP and what you learned from it

my research project was about pancreatic amyloid fibrils. so basically from what i could remember since i did the project around 3 years ago. my lab had a focus on islet transplantation for people with type 1 diabetes, but one of the problems with islet transplantation is that the transplanted islets get rejected by the patient's body. however, based on previous research, compared to human islets, when they used pig islets, the rejection rates are lower and more islets survive, and this is correlated with a lower amount of amyloid fibrils produced by the pig islets. amyloid. When the blood glucose level is high, pancreatic beta cells secrete both insulin and premature amylin, but when too much of them are produced when the blood sugar is too high, the premature amylin cannot be properly processed in time, as a result they accumulate into amyloid fibrils, which can damage surrounding cells including pancreatic beta cells and endothelial cells of of the blood vessels, leading to the inability of nutrient to reach the islets as well as hormones such as insulin from going out of the islet into the rest of the body. so my research utilized histological staining including immuno staining to compare the amount of insulin survived after transplantation of pig islet cells vs of human islets, the amount of amyloid fibrils present, and the amount of blood vessels available after transplantation. at the end, i couldn't have time to obtain data due to having to figure out a staining protocol from scratch, but from what i found, it seemed like the pig islets have more insulin, less amyloid fibrils, and more blood vessels, but more research need to be done to confirm that.

"If you had one word to describe yourself what would it be?"

neutral

principles

osteopathic medicine makes use of the following principles that assist the osteopathic physician to look for health, and not simply treat a disease state: The human body is a dynamic unit of function. The human organism is self-regulating and self-healing. Structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) are reciprocally interrelated. The function of the musculoskeletal system goes beyond support and may be vital in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The role of the physician is to seek the health of patients, not simply to treat disease or symptoms. The human organism continually strives toward health, and disease is a disruption of this process. Disease in any body system will affect the entire body. The work of the physician includes assisting the patient's own body in fighting disease. All qualified individuals, regardless of race or sex, should be given the opportunity to become a physician. (His was the first medical school of any type to have an anti-discrimination policy, which it had from its beginning.)

how have your experiences strengthened your interest in medicine?

through the different clinical experiences that i have had, i learned about different aspects of medicine. such as by volunteering at the hospital and working as a scribe, i learned about the patient care and learned that i really enjoy having interactions with patients, of talking to them, and taking care of them. it's a really rewarding and fulfilling experience for me and also one of the top reasons why i want to become a physician. from my shadowing experience and work experience, i learned more about how it's like to become a physician to be more certain that this is a career that i will like. as i learned more about a physician's responsibilities and the work-flow when they see a patient, i really like how you have a vast amount of knowledge about the human body, and you combine that with what you learn from talking to a patient to come up with treatments that are tailored to the patient's need. i also learned that medicine is definitely not rigid and more like and art because different physicians can have different recommendation. so overall, all of these knowledge that i learned make me realize that medicine is a very meaningful career with and endless opportunity to grow yourself and be intellectually challenged. overall, as i understand what it is like to work in the medical field, to be a physician, i became more and more certain and interested in becoming a physician.

how did badminton help you become "resilient in improving myself and overcoming challenge" and learn the importance of team spirit?

to be honest, i'm really really not athletic naturally, like i dont have good stamina or strength naturally and these are really challenging when i joined my badminton team in high school. but since i grew up playing a traditional sport, more like a children sport, during my childhood in Vietnam and that sport is kinda similar to badminton and it also led me to become interested in badminton. both that sport and badminton have a special place in my heart because they're connected to my childhood memories, so that becomes my motivation to push through the challenges, both physical and emotional challenges that i faced when i started training before the elimination process and then became officially accepted into my team in high school. even after that, i was still one of the weaker players in my team, but with the support from my coaches and especially from all of my teammates, like when we did laps and i ran out of breath or stamina, they would cheer me, and they would always cheer me when i played in competition. so these experiences help realize the importance of being persistent, of having a motivation to keep going on. for me that motivation was to continue playing this sport that is very special to me and also the support that i felt from my teammates.

you said that at OCCHA events, "by talking to the patients, I heave also learned more about the barriers that hinder them from receiving the care they need." elaborate more on this.

transportaion, language barrier, financial barrier. flu shot patient

how did volunteering at UCI MC help you "understand the hospital structure and gain a better insight into patients' needs and feelings?"

volunteering at UCI MC was my first time being in a hospital as a volunteer or as someone who's not a patient or a family member, so i learned more about the hospital setting and its structure. such as i learned more about how there are so many different departments in the hospitals, not only nurses and doctors but also labs and the administrative sides. i also learned that everyone has his or her role and all roles are important in providing support to the patients and their families. i also interacted with the patients as i discharged and transported them, and it was my first time having patient interactions so talking to them also allowed me to understand more how they feel, like they're usually excited to leave the hospital and also things i can do to make them feel comfortable, such as i learned to know when a patient wants to talk and when they just want to have their own space, basically learn to read a patient and to adapt accordingly.

how many volunteers do you have at OCCHA?

we have 56 volunteers total with around 30 of them being active members meaning that these volunteers participate in at least 6 events per year

how many events do you organize with OCCHA?

we organized around 16 events last year, the year before it was 13 i think, and that number includes collaboration with other organizations as wel

how did volunteering at hoag inspire you to become "a physician who is kind, compassionate, and empathetic?"

what i find special about medicine is the ability to interact with patients and to be with them when they're vulnerable. when i volunteered at Hoag, i have encountered many situations when not only the patient but also the family member are in a vulnerable position, both emotionally and physically. even with my limited knowledge and position as a volunteer, i was able to make connection with many of the patients and family members. like that one time that i held a patient's hands to comfort him, he didn't speak english and was very very nervous and refused to be helped by the patient assistant, and he then held my hands for like 10 minutes after i tried to comfort him until his family arrived. or the time when i walked a wife of a patient out to the parking structure and she was very sweet and tried to share with me that she was struggling with taking care of her husband. both were in their 70s. at the end we exchanged some words when we said goodbye and we hugged. these interactions sometime could only be as short as 10-15 minutes but as a volunteer, i had the opportunity to have these people open up to me that i may not have if i were to meet them under another circumstance. and i really appreciate these moments as they're really meaningful and inspiring to me and i want to be able to do more than that as a physician. i realize that to be a good physician, you dont just treat the patient's symptoms, but you have to go beyond that, to put yourself in their shoes, in their family's shoes, in order to take good care of them because as i could see from my volunteer experiences, when patients are sick it can take a toll on their as well as their families' emotional health, so it is important to be kind and compassionate and understanding to them.

what did you learn from shadowing at Newport Center Surgical?

when I shadowed Dr. Warren Kramer at Newport Center Surgical, it was my first time seeing an open surgery instead of an endoscopic surgery. i've learned about the significance of teamwork and communication in the medical field but i felt it was particularly important during surgery when the patient is literally on the surgical table and that everyone has to be really coordinating with each other to make sure the procedure is completed properly and that the patient is safe. i think this experience helped me appreciate the seriousness of surgery more when a person's life is more on the line. as i talked to the doctor, i asked him about his medical school experiences and asked him how much of the knowledge from med school and residency he is still using and i think he told me that none from medical school and some in residency, and how he develops different techniques for different cases and improvised. talking to him also helps me realize the medicine is both evolving and versatile, and because of that i think it's a really fascinating and exciting career to pursue.

what clinical knowledge did you learn from your job at Dr. Tran's office where you "record musculoskeletal and neurological exam findings, radiologic interpretations, recommendations, and plans?"

when i worked for Dr. Tran, it was my first scribe job and the first time that i worked a job that i could follow a doctor as he sees the patient. what i learned from my responsibilities was the usual flow of a doctor visit. so Dr. Tran would look into the patient's history to see the subjective part of the visit and then he would look at the objective part including the physical exams and x-rays or MRI. He's a really enthusiastic teach as well so he tends to explain things to me and my co-workers who were also pre-health students. so i also learned a little bit about different conditions like spinal disc herniation and procedures like microdiscectomy and a little bit about the anatomy of the spine. it's also through this experience that i became interested in less invasive treatment options and gain an appreciation of how advancement in medicine helps the development of those treatments possible

elaborate on how working at Dr. Kramer's office helps you "become more intrigued by his ability to utilize hands-on technique to guide the diagnosis"

working at Dr Kramer's office has been the first experience that actually allows me to be really exposed to the process that he undergoes while he diagnoses the patient. I really like how he performs physical examinations on his patients such as checking Tinnel's sign or checking muscle strength and reflexes, all of these exams done using his hands and some simple tools, to evaluate what's normal vs abnormal with the patient's body. such as, if i remember correctly, if a patient's hip flexion is weak then it can be inferred that the patient potentially has issues with his or her L1, 2,3, and 4 nerve roots. And then FABER can be used to infer that the patient's pain comes from SI joint rather than low back. I really like how with only his hands and some simple tools he can make possible diagnosis without relying solely on imaging tests like MRI.

How did your experience at Medizen help you prepare for a medical education and career in medicine?

working at Medizen was the first working experience for me so it definitely helped me break out of my shell and be more comfortable talking to and interacting with people that i've just met as well as people of different backgrounds, like different culture and languages. moreover, i also practice and improved my teamwork and communication skills. i think that these experiences are essential because as a physician in the future, hopefully, i will need to have those skills while interacting with my patients, their families, and other healthcare providers. working at Medizen also helped me realize some of the challenges in medicine regarding "massive paperwork, unwieldy insurance companies, busy long day," but from helping the patients and recognizing the sense of fulfillment that i feel while helping me make me realize that i'm much more motivated to become a physician.

Elaborate on how your experiences inspire you to "become a physician who treats patients' illnesses and treats them and their families with humanity, kindness, and sensitivity."

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You said that Dr. Tran " would then consider both clinical and non-clinical factors while treating patients and took additional steps to educate them on topics such as smoking cessation." Tell me more about it and how is it relevant to you becoming a a physician?

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You stated on your personal statement that " During these heartbreaking events, I have always seen the physicians offer patients and their families with genuine concern, guidance, and compassion," can you tell me more about this and what you learned from it?

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can you elaborate on "I assisted Dr. Glenn Madokoro as he informed a patient and his wife that his colon cancer had returned"

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describe what you do as Vietnamese interpreter for OCCORD? how is it related to becoming a phsician and a DO?

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how will your experience at Dr. Tran (one-on-one patient interactions and direct patient care) help you in your future career?

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what did you learn about anatomical landmarks from shadowing the physician at Medizen?

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what does it mean to treat patients with humanity and sensitivity?

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why do you have similar roles but at different clinics?

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you said that "It is extremely intriguing for me that medical advancement and the physician's expertise could help patients such as Mr. Ed get the medical care they need." Can you tell me more about how medicine make you feel?

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