As a former Vietnamese refugee, Dr. Nhi Pham understands the importance of breaking down barriers when it comes to treating her patients. In fact, breaking down barriers is pretty much her MO.
“Almost 20 years ago, I took a leap of faith and became the owner of a small practice in Mukilteo. Female-owned practices were rare at that time. I was four months pregnant, of ethnic origin, a Vietnamese immigrant, a refugee of war, and English was my second language. The million-dollar question was, ‘would these all serve as strikes against me?’”
“But I knew, as with everything in life, I had to defy societal norms to seek both survival and success. What others may see as weaknesses; I see as my superpowers. Facing challenges allows you to become more intuitive, flexible, creative, tenacious, and faithful.”
“I walked away from the safety and security of a comfortable job and decided to practice dentistry on my own terms.”
And those terms meant putting patient care above all else.
“Sharing your story, your heritage, your family history, your desire and goals as a healthcare professional are so important in the relationships you form with the people you care for and the people that work alongside of you.”
“Aside from your ‘dental buddies,’ no one really cares how perfect the line angles are in preparing a tooth for restoration. People want to know what makes you so passionate about what you do and what life events have led you to care so much about reaching that level of perfection.”
For Dr. Pham, her passion is genetic – her mother worked as a social worker for Pregnancy Aid/WIC and that dedication and commitment to community inspired Dr. Pham to want to do more.
“To serve is a way of life for me. It is an opportunity for me to connect with others and my community in a meaningful way. It’s the community that came together to support our family when we first arrived in America that really inspired me.”
“Amazing things can happen when we invest in the lives of others.”
And the list of amazing things Dr. Pham has brought to fruition? Well, it’s pretty remarkable.
Even as a business owner and busy mother of three, Dr. Pham still finds time to volunteer with outreach organizationsincluding Medical Teams International Dental Van, UW Urgent Care Dental Clinic, Project Homeless Connect, Seattle Stand Down for Veterans Dental Clinic, Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, and Seattle-King Country Dental Clinic.
But it’s her work with Medical Relief International (MRI) – an organization which provides dental, medical, and humanitarian aid around the world – that earned Pham the title of Washington State Dental Association’s 2017 Citizen of the Year.
With Dr. Pham’s help, MRI was able to establish the Barikiwa Clinic in Tanzania, a sister clinic to her Mukilteo practice which offers medical and dental care as well as a maternity ward.
Since the project’s inception, Dr. Pham has spearheaded efforts to bring the clinic to life – from raising funds for a clean water source and mentoring the clinic’s caregivers to personally funding two of the clinic’s operating rooms.
“One of things I am most proud of is our sister clinic, Barikiwa, in Tanzania which translates to ‘blessing.’”
“As a healthcare provider, COVID has been extremely difficult to navigate here at home. But it has also greatly impacted our international outreach. But God works in such amazing ways. There were so many that donated to keep Barikiwa alive this past year.”
“Over 44 babies were safely delivered during the height of the pandemic last year. Due to the generosity of so many, we were able to pay off the debt on the ultrasound machine, purchase a car to serve as an ambulance, and source difficult to find PPE.”
The success of the Barikiwa clinic is at the heart of who Dr. Pham is. As she explains it, working with underrepresented and underserved communities is, “pivotal to my personal and professional satisfaction.”
Whether it’s serving as a Class Representative on the UW Dental Alumni Board:
“The best thing a woman can do is to empower other women. Be a voice when others do not have one.”
“One of the reasons I began teaching at the UW School of Dentistry eight years ago was because I wanted to represent what I did not have as a student 25+ years prior. Female faculty of color was rare, and I longed for mentorship from a woman’s perspective in dentistry.”
Or guest speaking at the Nativity School, a middle school in the heart of Seattle that seeks to break the cycle of poverty through an education that nourishes souls and ignites leaders for love and service:
“Access to care and access to education and opportunity needs to start at the ground level. Allowing children at grade school and middle school to have visibility of professionals from diverse ethnic backgrounds empowers them to believe that certain careers are also within their reach.”
Or even in her day-to-day work at her dental home, Mukilteo Dental Center:
“My dream is to provide the highest caliber of dental care while at the same time making sure every family that comes through our doors feels at home.”
