Meet Dr. Giang Nguyen, "Our Stories, Our Health"

University of Pennsylvania Asian Health Initiatives

What it means to be an immigrant in the United States:
I was born in Saigon and came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1975. To me, being an immigrant has meant embracing the world that I live in now while remembering where I came from . . . and taking advantage of the best that both worlds have given me. I was a child when I left Vietnam, and I am grateful that my parents (both teachers), made sure that I maintained my native language and learned how to read and write in Vietnamese. Now, as a family physician who sees immigrant patients, I recognize the important role that language plays in the healthcare setting, but addressing language alone will not solve all of the problems and difficulties faced by immigrants. Healthcare systems need keep all of social determinants of health in mind in our increasingly multicultural nation. 

A wise practice I wish people in the United States would adopt:
Asian cultures often demonstrate respect for elders and emphasize harmony and balance. These are aspects that I find to be positive and worthy of emulating. I also love ethnic foods, so I also encourage everyone to go beyond their familiar diets and try something new! Many Asian diets, for example, are very vegetable-rich, which is also very healthy.

Topics: New Routes Leaders