WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY
MEET YOUR DOCTOR
"In a gentle
way you can shake the world."
--Mahatma Ghandi
Dr. Tuan Vo, DO, MPH, BS
Osteopathic Family Physician
A page from my story:
Parents push their children to be their best. I originally wanted to be a teacher. Who knew I would become a teacher of a different kind who was blessed to guide people through some of the most special stages in their lives.
In my grade school years my mom got sick and needed a lot of care. We saw a lot of doctors, but never understood what and why things were done. It was just "necessary." No one explained anything to her in a way she could understand. No one listened. She just did " what the doctor told her to do." Maybe her accent, gender, skin color, social status, or sub par insurance defaulted her to poor care. We never felt a part of the decisions in our care. I couldn't help but feel powerless and frustrated in being shuffled through what I know now as a complicated disjointed system. These experiences motivated me to become a doctor who cared enough to stop-- listen intently and with kind purpose to help direct my patients to their goals and navigate their way.
Years later I sat across from a seasoned woman in her 70s with gray tousled hair. She presented with severe back pain and was found to have fractures of the bones in her back. A large mass in her breast suggested that breast cancer had spread all through her body causing the breaks that now physically broke her back. She managed a smile while we talked. I asked if she knew what was going on? She knew something was not right. She had felt the mass growing in her chest for some time. Why did you wait? I asked. And my heart sank in shock to hear: " I did not want them to take my breast. I did not want to be less of a woman." I saw the regret wash over her, yet I saw the pride in defending her dignity and identity as a person and not a cancer. We sat there at her bedside for some time talking. I thanked my short white coat as it gave me time. We talked about her family, dreams, regrets, and fears. I transferred services and never knew what became of her. I still think about her and see the essence of humanity in her eyes which I look for in my patients now. I remind myself each time I reach for the chart to remember the person sitting in front of me.
I have been fortunate to share in many sensitive moments in my career to date. I played make believe with a little boy with a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. He was a super hero. I smiled with a first time mom holding the miracle we just delivered. I empathized with the single mom with daily pain who works taking care of others to care for their family but often forgets herself. I encouraged the diabetic man terrified of needles who was struggling with insulin shots. I comforted the person and their family who had cancer and chose to carry out the remainder of their life comfortably at home in their own bed on their terms. These are the blessings of my life's work.
I carry the gift of the opportunities my patients have given me as I help more people. They help me learn about the human spirit. Their stories and experiences build and impress on to me again a reminder to look deeper than the illness of the person in front of me so I can be the best doctor I can be for them.
I choose DPC so I can take the time to walk with patients on their journey.
Dr. Vo is an American Board Certified Osteopathic Family Physician who practices outpatient family medicine.
His education includes:
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Undergraduate studies in Anatomy and Physiological Sciences at the University of Arizona
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Master's of Public Health with concentrations in Health Education and Program Planning at the University of Arizona
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Medical School with a grassroots startup at Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Residency training at Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education innovative National Network Family Medicine Program partnered locally in Tucson, AZ with Tucson Medical Center, and El Rio Community Health Center
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Helm's Medical Institute Physician Medical Acupuncture Training
Work experience after Residency:
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Locom tenens travel medicine across several states and organizations in the US
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Including work with: Loma Linda Veterans Affairs, Middle East refugees in the Pacific Northwest, Health Point Community Health Center, Mariposa Community Health Center, Dignity Health Medical Center
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International volunteer medical work in South America
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Extensive work in Women's health/Gynecology at El Rio OBGYN
About Dr. Vo:
He is a foodie, loves exercising, playing with his fur babies, and winning toys out of the crane machine. He enjoys taking care of people and strives to be a positive change for his community. Dr. Vo was born and raised in Tucson and returned to be closer to his family. He loves the big city, small town feel of Tucson, and enjoys the breathtaking sunsets and aromatic monsoon rains that the southwest gem offers.
Dr. Vo is unique by offering patients a holistic osteopathic integrative family medicine experience. He includes comprehensive lifestyle review, along with fitness training, mindfulness practice, osteopathic manual medicine, and physician medical acupuncture to help patients achieve their goals in mind, body, and spirit. He is particularly interested in meeting the needs of Tucson Hispanic, Vietnamese, and GLBTQ communities. He plans to create a patient community with classes and social events to link communities of people together to support one another. He is fluent in Vietnamese and speaks conversational Spanish. He comes from a mixed cultural heritage and celebrates all cultures and people.