Medical Vietnamese Elective 

Course Title: Medical Vietnamese Terminology and Culturally Competent Care Elective

Location: Wynn Medical Center Clinics and WMC Research and Education Institute, Rosemead, California

Instructors: Dr. Huynh Wynn Tran, MD, FACP Associate Professor and Other Attending Physicians

Contact: Khloe Truong, Course Coordinator (Khloe.Truong@wynnmedicalcenter.com)

Course Description:
This 4-week elective is designed for medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians who seek to enhance their communication skills with Vietnamese-speaking patients. The course offers an in-depth understanding of Medical Vietnamese terminology, enabling healthcare professionals to communicate effectively and compassionately with Vietnamese patients, particularly in the context of complex medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, oncologic diseases, and end-of-life care.

Course Objectives:
1. Basic Medical Vietnamese Terminology:
Learn essential Medical Vietnamese vocabulary and phrases to facilitate basic patient interactions.
Understand common Vietnamese terms in medical anatomy, pathophysiology, and diagnosis.

2. Culturally Competent Communication:
Develop culturally sensitive communication strategies tailored to Vietnamese patients.
Explore the cultural nuances that impact patient perceptions of illness, treatment, and healthcare interactions. Gain insights into culturally appropriate ways to discuss sensitive topics, including terminal diagnoses and end-of-life care.

3. Special Focus on Complex Medical Conditions:
Acquire specialized terminology and communication techniques relevant to complex conditions such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, and palliative care.
Engage in case studies and role-playing exercises to practice conveying medical information with empathy and cultural awareness.

 

Clinical Practice:
Learners will participate in Vietnamese patient encounters and case discussion to apply learned terminology and communication skills. Student/Resident should have California educational/permit license in order to participate direct patient care at WMC. 
 
Instructors Profile:

• Dr. Huynh Wynn Tran, the course leader, is an Associate Professor with extensive training and practice in Vietnamese medical language. He is the author of medical books in both Vietnamese (Trong Phòng Chờ Series, Chuyện ICU) and English (Internal Medicine for the Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner). Dr. Tran brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in bridging the language gap between healthcare providers and Vietnamese patients.​

• Other WMC attending physicians/providers who are Medical Vietnamese competent
   

Who Should Enroll:

• This elective is ideal for medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians who wish to:

  • Enhance their ability to communicate effectively with Vietnamese-speaking patients.

  • Improve their cultural competence in providing care to the Vietnamese community.

  • Gain practical skills that can be applied in a variety of clinical settings.

Evaluation:

Participants will be evaluated based on their participation in daily discussions, performance in simulated and real clinical interactions, and a final project involving a case study presentation.

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Contact:
Course coordinator, Khloe Truong, at Khloe.Truong@wynnmedicalcenter.com.