Volume 4, Issue 1

March 2003

Page 7

Dr Angela Nguyen
(continued from page 1)

In time, Angela attended the local Catholic primary school. When asked what were her most lasting memories of those early years of schooling? Angela reflected: “ Although from the word go, I implicitly believed I was an Australian, I was constantly reminded that I was different." "I made up my mind to accept the reality of difference. I convinced myself that far from the difference becoming an impediment I was going to make sure that it was a force to release all my energies to capitalise on my different abilities and sensibilities to help make this land a more caring and understanding one.”

She was convinced that she would be “ an Australian with a difference.”

Angela with her parents and Sr Mary

On completion of her primary schooling, Angela attended Iona Presentation College. Angela acknowledges that on her first day she had convinced herself that “ I am OK as I am.” She had decided that she would participate fully in all College activities-academic, sporting and extra-curricular. Her inner strength was her driving force; she faced the challenge of high school with a great determination to achieve to the best of her ability. Sister Mary Mackin, who was a mentor to Angela, describes her “ as a shining light in her five years at College.” Sr. Mary continues “ Angela tackled diving, studies, public speaking and involvement with Amnesty International (AI) with inspirational vim and vigour.”

Angela believed that if she was to share her vision, ideas and cultural heritage with others it was important to be able to communicate with ease, facility, and fluency in the language of discourse.
To this end Angela applied herself to her studies with singular dedication. But Angela felt that sports and extra-curricular activities allowed her to relax and enjoy herself. Corpore sano et Mens sano.

Angela distinguished herself in Public Speaking and Debating Competitions. She particularly enjoyed
Mock Law Trials in years 11 & 12. In year 12 Angela was awarded the Fitzgerald Prize for Public Speaking. To this prestigious award she added English Literature prizes in year 11 and 12 for good measure.

Her difference was palpable!!!

Having experienced personal difficulties, dispossession and deprivation she found solace in all that Amnesty International stood for. Her participation in AI from year 8 to 12 was passionate. She understood the problems of disadvantage and her sense of compassion encouraged her to participate fully in all the AI activities at College.

In 1996, Angela began her medical studies. With her near perfect mastery of English and her concern for those who are different she attended to the needs of the non-English speaking students. She was appointed Conversation Tutor for ESL. During this time she organised lesson plans for10-15 students. Her knowledge of Vietnamese, Japanese and French, together with her healthy communication skills and a profound understanding of the English language, helped her to explain to her students the structure and colloquialisms of the language.

In 1997, Angela made a Presentation to SPINRPHEX (Students and Practitioners Interested in Rural Practice Health Education Etcetera) club for a Bill Jackson Scholarship. Her topic of presentation was “ 10 ways to work effectively in Aboriginal communities.” In this presentation she discussed different methods that can be used to work with Aboriginal people in a culturally appropriate way.
Once again her understanding and concern for her fellow human being, played a significant part.

Angela relaxing in Kimberley

Continuing her interest in the welfare of our indigenous people she spent 2 weeks in 1998 on an elective attachment to Jigalong Aboriginal Medical Services. She worked with the Martu people, doctor and nursing staff to deliver community health care to Yandeyarra, Nullagine, 12 Mile, Jigalong, and Marble Bar. During this time she was involved with some Royal Flying Doctor Services (RFDS) evacuation flights, rotation to Roebourne and Aboriginal Medical Service.

In the summer of 98/99 she was awarded a Research Scholarship from the Medical Research Foundation. Her research paper on “ Mental health of Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people in rural and remote areas.” was done in collaboration with the Dept. of Psychiatry at Royal Perth Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Janca. Her article on the research conducted in Roebourne, Port Hedland and Broome was published in “UNIVIEW”, a UWA publication.

In 1999 her research on ”Aboriginal Youth Suicide in Carnarvon” involved looking at the services available in Carnarvon to address aboriginal youth suicide and factors behind it.

In December of the same year Angela did a 4-week elective at Children’s Medical Centre in Dallas, USA in the Haematology and Oncology Unit. Here she looked after children with blood disorders and cancer.

In 2000 Angela presented a paper at the 21st Asian Medical Students’ Conference in Seoul on “Australian Snakebite Management." In this paper she discussed the different types of snakes in Australia and the first aid management and use of anti-venom kits. During this year she also held the position of College Tutor at Trinity College (formerly St. Columba-Kingswood College). Her duties included academic and pastoral care of students at college and holding tutorials for first year medical students. She offered support and advice to students seeking help and worked alongside other tutors and administration staff to develop a good environment for students to live and study in. She also undertook Leadership and Development and Discrimination Officer training. This, while still pursuing her medical studies. She also found time to do a 2-week General Practice attachment in Dunsborough, in the South West.

In 2001 Angela was elected President of SPINRPHEX –an honour conferred on her for her commitment to the ideals of the organisation. In March she attended the National Rural Health Conference, as a delegate, in Canberra.

In April she was appointed Mentor for first year medical students on rural week. Her duties included organising activities and mentoring students in problem based learning. She was required to encourage students to think laterally about the tasks they had to achieve and to liaise with academic staff and students to ensure a successful rural week.

In July, she undertook 3 weeks Paediatrics attachment at Derby Hospital and RFDS clinics to Lombardina and Looma.

In between, Angela was appointed Telefundraiser with the Office of Development, UWA. This involved contacting UWA alumni to ask for support in fundraising for the Hackett Foundation. Her strategy was to represent the University in a positive light to the Alumni. Her enterprising attitude helped raise one $1M for the Hackett Foundation and for scholarships for students.

Angela among friends in India

Early in 2002 Angela undertook a 6-week elective in Hyderabad, South India. She lived and worked in Dokur, a rural village with very limited resources. She worked alongside local paramedics and volunteer doctors. She was involved in the management of patient care, teaching of paramedics and clinic staff. She also initiated a men’s public health program to increase awareness of STDs and AIDS.

Dr Angela in a clinic in India

She also helped in school health awareness programs. During her time there, Angela was made very welcome and a part of the community.

On her return to Australia she undertook 2 week elective attachment in Warburton, in the Central deserts in WA. She worked in a community clinic with nurses and flew with RFDS to do clinics at Jameson, Wanon and Cosmo.
Later in July she undertook a 4-week General Practice attachment which involved Rotation to East Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service clinics to Turkey Creek.

Her involvement with a variety of electives and attachments helped her to enhance her clinical experience. Angela was also the recipient of a number of awards and Scholarships. In 1995 she won the UWA Graduates Associate Prize in Science. She was awarded second prize for the Bill Jackson scholarship in 1997 and again in 2001. She was also the awardee of the Freemason Scholarship in 1998 and carried the John and Louisa Voucher Memorial Prize in Anatomy in the same year. She also was the recipient of the John Flynn Scholarship for the years 1997-2001.

All during her training at Medical school (1998 to 2001) she worked as a Phlebotomist. Her duties included working independently in Clinipath Out-Centres collecting blood and other specimens from patients. During this time she had to liaise with the Pathology laboratory, doctors and nursing staff regarding tests and results. In an effort to keep abreast of developments Angela was continually upskilling and learning as new tests were made available.

Dr A Nguyen with Dr R paul

Angela is now completing her Internship at Royal Perth Hospital. She aims to be an empathic and caring doctor and hopes one day to work with Medicins Sans Frontieres. Her concern and compassion for people means that she is concerned about improving Aboriginal Health in Australia and is interested in working in rural Australia. She would also like to work overseas and offer her skills to third world countries.

In her spare time Angela likes swimming, playing squash, scuba diving and travelling. In her leisure time left she enjoys music and reading. I asked Angela if she had any religious affiliations. Angela confided to me that she considered herself to be lucky that she could draw on the two great Asian religious traditions of the world – the Vedic (Buddhism) and the Hebraic (Christian) to sustain her in moments of great stress and doubts about her place in the world and her relations with her fellow human beings.

Despite her great successes in the academic field and her achievements in her medical studies, Angela is a delightful, captivating and charming lady whose sights are set sensibly, whose involvement in activities associated with the disadvantaged is sincere and whose ambitions are circumscribed by the reality of our times and environment. It has been a privilege to talk with Angela.

We are dedicating this issue to Dr Angela Nguyen whom we consider to be a role model for our young people in our evolving multicultural society. My hope is that every Year 11 and Year 12 student in our state will have the opportunity to read Angela’s Journey.

Editor.

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