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Hello, I am Dr. Phi
I'm going to share with you my personal journey to medical entry and what a career medicine has given me. I hope it shows you that I am someone who knows how to get things done. I also hope it demonstrates how life changing a career in medicine can be and inspires you to take action. I couldn't be happier where I am now and I want to help you achieve the same.
Background & Education
My parents came to Australia as immigrants due to the Vietnam war without a dollar to their name. They showed me the meaning sacrifice and hard work. While my siblings and I grew up poor, our family was rich in love. I received a public education at Adelaide High School.
I loved sports and couldn't get enough of it. In highschool, I played:
1. Table tennis for the SA state team
2. Badminton for the state training squad
3. Adelaide City club soccer team (selected for an Australian Institute of Sport try-out)
4. Athletics & Cross country
5. Volleyball
6. Chess
I also worked at Harris Scarfe in the city.
Overcoming Barriers
I was born deaf. I have moderate-severe hearing impairment and wear hearing aids in both ears.
Due to poor access to healthcare, this was not picked up until I was much older.
Teachers thought that I was a slow learner through much of my early schooling and placed me into special-needs classes (when in fact I just couldn't hear them).
I have always found it a lot harder to learn in classes taught verbally than my peers and always had to put in extra work behind the scenes.
In year 12, my immune system went haywire and I developed a severe skin condition that ravaged my body. I spent early year 12 in hospital and most of the year in pain. I often had no skin on my hands and feet and wore my winter uniform to cover it all up - even when it was 40 degrees outside. This was one of the toughest periods of my life.
It was medicine that saved me and ultimately cured me. This inspired me to pursue a career as a doctor.
Despite my upbringing, a hectic schedule, deafness and severe illness, I achieved an entrance score of 99 and a 1st round offer into medical school.
I still remember clear as day the moment I got my offer. I was overjoyed. I remember my parents smiling ear-to-ear, laughing and jumping up and down. They couldn't have been more proud!
This was only possible by using our family's and, now, inMed's system
(A system which has produced 10+ doctors in the same family).
Medical School
Medical school was one of the best experiences of my life. It was challenging but so rewarding at the same time.
I felt so lucky to be able to study something that was both intellectually stimulating and hands-on. It also gave me a sense of purpose, knowing that one day what I learned would be used to help others. It was a real opportunity for personal growth and I took that with both hands.
Despite the demands of university, I was also a registered student elite athlete, training multiple times a week and spending over 7 months in Europe training alongside Olympians, national and world champions. It was an incredible experience I will never forget. My efforts culminated into national team selection, representing Australia in international competition during university. Donning the green & gold is definitely my proudest sporting moment.
I also met my incredible partner and now wife, Dr. Karen, in medical school. And travelled the world with her on our uni breaks! We also both tutored throughout university, helping many students to academic success. We fine-tuned inMed's system and helped numerous students enter medical and dental school with a 100% entry rate. It's an incredible feeling to be able to help students achieve this.
Overall, my university experience was absolutely remarkable - I wouldn't have it any other way! After years of hard work and resilience, I graduated from medical school. My parents were so proud. I felt a profound sense of gratitude to my family for supporting me throughout my journey and couldn't thank my parents enough.
[Pictured in the group are my parents and sister - who now happens to be surgeon]
