News
Celebrating Pride Month with Phuoc Le Nguyen, MD
June is Pride Month! We're taking this opportunity to lift up the voices of our LGBTQIA members and highlight their contributions to the field of transplant.
Phuoc Le Nguyen, MD
SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital
Why did you decide to pursue transplant?
I was exposed to transplant at a young age. My father had ESRD and underwent a kidney transplant. The transplant transformed our lives tremendously. I was grateful to have those additional years with him. Also, during my training, I fell in love with the surgical and medical complexities in caring for transplant patients. The sight of organs becoming functional after reperfusion never ceases to impress me. Thus, the decision to pursue transplant was an easy one for me.
Who has been your biggest influence?
I am extremely thankful to have wonderful mentors and co-fellows throughout my journey. However, there is one who stands out, Dr. Vinayak Rohan. He taught me the importance of having excellent surgical techniques, digging deep for intrinsic motivation, being a team player, and having fun while operating.
What does being an LGBTQIA+ transplant professional mean to you?
At the beginning of my surgical training, it was challenging to find a sense of belonging because I did not see many out LGBT+ surgeons. However, there has been a shift over the last few years where there is a concerted effort to increase LGBT+ representation and visibility in surgery. Thus, being an out and proud LGBT+ transplant surgeon means that I can empower future generations to take up space and feel belonged.
What is a key takeaway you’d like to highlight during Pride Month?
As our LGBT+ patients’ rights are continuously being challenged in this political climate,
it is important for us as physicians to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for our LGBT+ patients.