What happens when your dream shifts from something you must accomplish to something you can accomplish? Dr. Bryan Bui, an aspiring osteopathic primary care physician, described exactly that in his winning entry for PracticeLink’s Spring 2025 First Practice Fund.

Dr. Bui, one of six recipients of the Spring 2025 inaugural scholarship, shares a powerful personal story of illness at a young age and a clear progression into socially informed pre-med engagement. His narrative is deeply personal, reflective and mission driven, tying early experiences to a broader vision for systemic equity in healthcare.

Judges were impressed with his authenticity, a commitment to underserved care and account of managing complex patient care with sensitivity, all of which illustrate strong ethics, a clear professional trajectory and mature reflections on systemic inequities.

PracticeLink: Why did you enter medicine? 

Dr. Bryan Bui: When I was six years old, I woke up unable to stand or walk. My parents rushed me to the hospital, where doctors quickly admitted me for a cardiac issue. Amid the fear, what stayed with me most was the compassion of healthcare professionals who made me feel safe and cared for. When I finally walked out of the hospital, I left healed and inspired to one day help others the way they helped me.

When I began my undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, I did not feel a sense of belonging as a first-generation, low-income pre-med student. However, I found community through the Pilipinx Academic Student Services (PASS), a student-run recruitment and retention center dedicated to empowering low-income, first-generation students of color to pursue higher education. PASS is where I started working with underserved communities, and it played a pivotal role in developing my awareness of social justice, all of which I want to incorporate into my career in medicine.

Learning about systemic barriers that cause disparities in accessing higher education, such as race, parental education and income, contextualized my own identity and its role in my struggles to pursue medicine. These experiences inspired me to plan a Southern California Outreach program as PASS’s Operations Coordinator. In this role, I directly engaged with students from under-resourced schools and presented different pathways to higher education. I even recall meeting students who sought my support because they also wanted to become doctors. I was able to give back to my local communities while developing my understanding of barriers these students face, which do not just stop at education but also extend to all aspects of their lives, including health. As an aspiring physician, I believe it is crucial to view healthcare through the framework of socioeconomic barriers to truly make an impact on improving the health of the most vulnerable.

I believe medicine is not just a science to heal, but also an avenue to serve. My community has empowered me to become who I am today, and I carry their stories with me, those of the anxious patients, hopeful students and resilient families I’ve had the privilege to work alongside.  They continue to inspire my commitment to becoming a physician who can help restore trust in the healthcare system, expand access to quality care and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable.

PL: How have you demonstrated professionalism in your medical training?

DR. BUI: Promoting diversity and equity has been a cornerstone of my medical training at Western University of Health Sciences. As a member of the Executive Board for White Coats for Black Lives, I led campus-wide initiatives aimed at addressing systemic racism and health disparities. I facilitated Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism workshops for over 1,000 students across all health programs at Western U.

We discussed issues such as the “weathering effect” (premature biological aging associated with repeated exposure to social adversity and marginalization), race-based medical algorithms and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities. These initiatives equipped future healthcare professionals with the tools to recognize and challenge systemic inequities. Through this work, I demonstrated professionalism by fostering respectful dialogue, encouraging accountability and emphasizing clinical excellence must be paired with cultural humility and a deep sense of social responsibility.

My clinical experiences at county hospitals like Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Arrowhead Medical Center have been equally transformative. During one case, I encountered a patient presenting with euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) due to a recent switch to an SGLT2 inhibitor. The patient and his family were understandably anxious and confused about the need for ICU-level care. I took the time to explain the pathophysiology behind his condition, the rationale for close monitoring and long-term strategies for managing his diabetes. By educating them on the etiology of DKA and preventive strategies, I empowered the patient and his family to take an active role in his health. This experience highlighted my ability to effectively communicate complex medical concepts, fostering trust and understanding while building the health literacy of my patients.

PL: How have you built and utilized strong interpersonal and communication skills in your training?

DR. BUI: Throughout medical school, I intentionally sought rotations at county hospitals like Harbor-UCLA and Arrowhead Medical Center to strengthen my ability to serve diverse and underserved populations. One particularly impactful encounter was with an unhoused man with schizophrenia and bilateral knee amputations who frequently presented to the emergency department with suicidal ideations. He was hesitant to take psychiatric medications, and prior hospitalizations had not addressed the root of his crises. Using motivational interviewing techniques, I learned his recent emotional distress was triggered by the theft of his electric wheelchair, his only means of mobility. I also discovered he had been unable to access the pharmacy to pick up the antipsychotics prescribed by his crisis center psychiatrist. I secured the medication and ensured it was initiated during admission, something overlooked in prior hospitalizations. This experience taught me that strong communication begins with active listening and genuine curiosity about the patient’s story. By building rapport and engaging empathetically, I was able to uncover key barriers to care and advocate for a shared treatment approach with my patient. It reinforced that effective healthcare requires addressing not only clinical issues but also the social determinants that impact a patient’s wellbeing.

PL: What are your career goals and how will First Practice Fund help you achieve them?

DR. BUI: As the first in my family to attend college and medical school, I grew up in Stanton, CA, a health professional shortage area. This background has given me a profound understanding of the challenges faced by medically underserved communities. As a future osteopathic physician, I am dedicated to improving healthcare access in these areas. My clinical experiences at safety-net hospitals have solidified my passion for Internal Medicine, and I am excited to match into my top choice program, Harbor-UCLA, for residency. Training at Harbor-UCLA, a county institution where many Western U students have flourished and a significant safety net hospital for the South Bay area, will prepare me to be the type of physician I aspired to become since the beginning of my journey.

The First-Practice Fund scholarship speaks directly to my experiences and aspirations. Financial support has always been a limiting factor in my education. My father, an immigrant refugee from the Vietnam War, worked as a low-wage laborer and could offer little financial assistance. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease my financial burden but also affirm the path I have taken. With this support, I will strive to serve those who need it most, ensuring everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to compassionate and equitable care.