Meet Our Team – Phillip Nguyen, PharmD, BCACP
Chapa-De Indian Health Auburn Grass Valley | Medical Clinic
Chapa-De Indian Health’s Clinical Pharmacist, Dr. Phillip Nguyen, knows the value of community health centers.
“When my family first immigrated to the US from Vietnam, a clinic like this provided health care to my family and community when we were in need,” said Dr. Nguyen. “I am grateful that I am now able to return the kindness and provide care to another underserved community.”
Dr. Phillip Nguyen joined the Chapa-De team in June 2016. His daily tasks range from processing prescription refills to helping patients manage chronic conditions. Chapa-De uses an integrated approach to healthcare. This means that Dr. Nguyen works with other team members to care for each patient as a whole; instead of only treating each concern. “Being able to work alongside providers, nurses, mental health specialists, and others allows me to work at the top of my license. We can make team-based decisions to provide excellent health care to our patients,” said Dr. Nguyen.
Dr. Nguyen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from UC Riverside. He graduated from Wingate School of Pharmacy with a PharmD degree. He is a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist. He is also working on becoming a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist.
“Medicine is always changing,” said Dr. Nguyen. “I hope to continue to develop myself and expand my roles wherever I can. I want to assist in fulfilling the health needs of our Native and underserved communities.”
Being able to make a difference in someone’s life has deeply impacted Dr. Nguyen. He said, “One of the very first patients that I had shown up for his appointment with me and was very anxious. He carried a plastic shopping bag with all his medications. The bag was full of new, old, and expired medication bottles. There was one old monthly pill organizer that had nothing in it. Hundreds of pills and tablets had spilled out of their vials into a pool of different colored tablets and capsules at the bottom of the bag.
“He lived by himself and had just lost his caregiver that used to help him with his medications. He was very worried. He had medications for multiple concerns and had no idea how to take them. I spent the afternoon with him. We worked on identifying, organizing, educating, and working with his care team to optimize his medication therapy. By the time he left the office, all of his medications were sorted out. And he had been reestablished with his medical care provider.
“I called him a couple of weeks later to follow up. I greeted him and asked if he remembered me. He replied, ‘Of course I remember you; you’re the guy that saved my life.'”
For more information, call our Auburn location at (530) 887-2800 or our Grass Valley location at (530) 477-8545 or visit us online at chapa-de.org.
PASSIONATE PEOPLE. COMPASSIONATE CARE.
Chapa-De provides medical care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy services and much more.
Serving all American Indian, Low Income and Limited Income Community Members
