Tien Vo
Vo Medical Center
Calexico, CA USA
"Be a community advocate. You will achieve your goals faster and easier."
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Tien's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
In one of my ESL classes, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I said that I wanted to become a doctor. Everyone around me was shocked and skeptical because I was still learning English, so how could I succeed as a doctor? That was just hurdle, not a permanent blocker. I committed to overcoming it and didn't give up. You can't look at a challenge in a negative way if you want to succeed. You have to be encouraged by the challenge and commit to overcoming it.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
University of California, Riverside
Doctorate
Medicine
Ross University School of Medicine
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I came to the U.S. from Vietnam with my family as refugees in 1992 when I was 16 years old.
2.
While in high school, I had to simultaneously take community college classes to catch up, learn English, and earn enough credits to graduate.
3.
After three years of community college, I completed my undergraduate degree at UC Riverside.
4.
I wanted to go to medical school but my English was not good enough for a U.S. school, so I went to Ross University School of Medicine in the Caribbean.
5.
I was a good student and worked hard, so I was able to come back to the U.S. after two years to complete a rotation in Miami, Florida.
6.
Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York accepted me for my residency after I completed my Step 1 exam.
7.
I passed my licensing exams, completed my residency, and stayed in New York as an internal medicine doctor until my wife wanted to move somewhere warmer.
8.
We eventually ended up in El Centro, California, where I worked at El Centro Regional Medical Center before starting my own clinic.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You want to become a doctor? Are you serious? You don't even speak English.
How I responded:
In one of my ESL classes, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I said that I wanted to become a doctor. Everyone around me was shocked and skeptical because I was still learning English, so how could I succeed as a doctor? That was just hurdle, not a permanent blocker. I committed to overcoming it and didn't give up. You can't look at a challenge in a negative way if you want to succeed. You have to be encouraged by the challenge and commit to overcoming it.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I came to the US from Vietnam when I was 16. Learning English was a challenge. It was especially stressful in medical school because it took me four times the amount of time to read and study than my peers. I stayed motivated by focusing on my goal.