Fremont Native Joins Medical Staff at USCF – Washington Cancer Center

Jasmine Huynh, MD, a medical oncologist treating gastrointestinal cancers, recently joined the UCSF – Washington Cancer Center in Fremont, happily returning to her hometown.

A new mom of a 10-month-old, Dr. Huynh wanted to be closer to her parents and family in Fremont. She relocated from her position at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, DC, where her husband worked at the White House.

She and her husband are settling in nicely here, enjoying the familiar places of her youth –Mission San Jose High School, the local libraries, Lake Elizabeth for morning runs, and more. “I’m happy to be treating patients in such a diverse and grateful population,” said the daughter of Vietnamese refugees.

Dr. Huynh earned her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; and completed a residency and fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center, where she was the chief fellow in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Oncology.

Administering Chemo, Coordinating Care

Medical oncologists administer chemotherapy treatment and coordinate cancer care. Dr. Huynh specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, treating the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, colon, and rectum.

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Huynh is also a researcher, always seeking new therapies. “We need to improve on treatments,” she explains. “We have to find better treatments for tough-to-treat cancers, like pancreatic tumors.”

UCSF -- Washington Cancer Center’s research program attracted Dr. Huynh, who likes participating in clinical trials. “Clinical trials are especially good for many of the cancers where standard options aren’t great. Being in a clinical trial gives patients a chance to get an alternative treatment.”

One of her goals is to grow the center’s clinical trial program. The first person in her family to go into medicine, Dr. Huynh initially considered a research career because she always liked science, but quickly pivoted to patient care. “It’s a privilege to help patients. It’s rewarding to be able to provide this care.”

Meeting Cultural Needs

The diversity of UCSF – Washington Cancer Center patients also interested her. “I get to take care of all types of patients,” she says. “There’s the scientific part of medical care, and then there’s the other part, taking into account patients’ cultural needs. A lot of patients remind me of my family members. Understanding culture is really important for me.”

For example, she notes, Asian cancer patients often hear that they should eat more potatoes to gain weight, but this advice isn’t well received because they prefer to eat rice as their carbohydrate. In addition, English words can have different nuances in Asian languages, according to Dr. Huynh. For example, saying one feels weak can infer laziness.

Her philosophy of care is to always honor a patient’s decisions and needs. “My job is to explain the treatment options, what to expect, and the potential outcomes. It’s up to patients to decide what they want to do. I really value shared decision-making and am happy to support them in their decisions.”

“I often tell patients that getting chemotherapy and radiation is a full-time job. It takes a lot of time. If an elderly patient doesn’t appear to have much time left and doesn’t want to spend it coming to us, I understand. There’s no right or wrong answer.”

A particularly difficult part of her job, she notes, is managing expectations and outcomes, especially if a patient is too sick or weak to undergo more treatment, or when all options have been exhausted. Nonetheless, she values the closeness that comes from the doctor-patient relationship, and helping patients through tough times.

In addition to morning runs, Dr. Huynh and her husband are enjoying exploring the area’s restaurants, especially sampling ice cream shops. Afterall, the two got engaged at an ice cream shop. The admitted ice cream connoisseur says her favorite flavor is cookies and cream.

Besides its ice cream shops, the best part of Fremont, she says, is the the expansive outdoors and great weather — a nice change from Washington, DC’s humidity and congestion!

For more information on the UCSF – Washington Cancer Center, visit www.WashingtonHealth.com/Cancer.