The Doctor Who Calls Your Family

Interview recorded on Mar 21, 2025

Meet Dr. Vivi Nguyen, a clinical pharmacist who's changing how mental health is approached in under-resourced communities—one conversation at a time.

Growing up as her mother's translator in Germany, Dr. Nguyen learned early that healthcare isn't just about medicine—it's about connection, understanding, and breaking down the walls that keep people from getting help. Today, as a clinical pharmacist at Wynn Medical Center in California's San Gabriel Valley, she's pioneering an innovative approach that's changing lives in ways that go far beyond traditional pharmacy practice.

The Human Story Behind the White Coat

Dr. Nguyen's journey began with a profound realization about her own family's relationship with mental health. "Growing up, I thought it would be normal to deal with your emotions in private," she reflects, describing how her mother would always say she was "fine" even when struggling. This cultural pattern of emotional silence became the driving force behind Dr. Nguyen's mission to bridge Vietnamese traditions with Western mental health approaches.

Her breakthrough moment came when her attending physician, Dr. Wynn Tran, recognized her unique gift: "You are really compassionate. You are really great with patients, and you have that diplomatic trait." This conversation sparked Dr. Nguyen's transition from traditional pharmacy into psychiatric care.

Beyond Pills: The Power of Human Connection

What makes Dr. Nguyen's approach special isn't just her bilingual abilities or cultural understanding—it's her recognition that mental health care often starts with the simplest questions. When patients come in complaining of sleep difficulties, she digs deeper: "With whom are you living?" This single question has opened floodgates of connection and healing.

In one particularly moving case, Dr. Nguyen helped a lonely 70-year-old patient reconnect with her daughter by facilitating a phone call right there in the clinic. The daughter had no idea her mother felt isolated because, true to cultural patterns, mom always said she was "fine." That simple intervention transformed their relationship and the patient's wellbeing.

Creating Solutions That Work
Dr. Nguyen 's success stems from her innovative integration of mental health screening into routine medical care. Rather than following rigid questionnaires, she weaves emotional wellness questions naturally into conversations: "How was your appetite lately? Can you sleep? How are you feeling emotionally?"

This approach works because it normalizes mental health discussions within the context of physical health—making it culturally acceptable for patients who might otherwise never seek help. Of the 20 patients she sees daily, 3-4 typically have some form of emotional distress, highlighting the massive need in her community.

The Future of Community-Centered Care
Dr. Nguyen 's impact is just beginning. By year's end, Wynn Medical Center will open a dedicated mental health clinic—a groundbreaking step for the Vietnamese community, where finding Vietnamese-speaking mental health providers has been nearly impossible.

"There are not a lot of Vietnamese psychiatrists around this area," Dr. Nguyen notes. "Having that clinic, it's a big step." She'll split her time between primary care and the new mental health clinic, continuing to serve as a bridge between generations and cultures.