Who am I?
Physician. I am a primary care doctor with a fellowship in dermatology. Since the beginning of my career, I’ve worked in rural medicine, serving marginalized communities. I am a relentless patient advocate, and a radical believer in patients and their embodied experiences.
Writer. As a nonfiction writer, my opinion pieces appear on healthcare-focused platforms such as MedPage Today regularly. I write about medical/social justice, medical ethics, medical racism, misogyny, and reproductive rights. And as a blogger, I embrace my vulnerability as a human and a doctor. You can also find good advice on common medical conditions, medical training, and the art of practicing medicine. Once, I wrote a letter to my patient with whom I shared a diagnosis.
Children’s Book Author. I’ve never dreamed of writing a children’s book. But serendipitously, my children’s book Why We Eat Fried Peanuts: A Celebration of Family and Lunar New Year Traditions, by becker&mayer! kids, will come out in January 2025! Based on the true, heroic story of my great-grandmother, this book invites kids to join my dad and me at our Chinese New Year dinner preparation. While enjoying yummy snacks, I discover our family legend — the most important ancestor without a name — and the legacy of kindness she left behind. Pre-orders are available!
You can read the story here, and read a “spin-off” story here. You can also get a signed copy of the book by becoming a paid subscriber! (Guaranteed for founding members, and very likely for monthly subscribers!)
Scholar. For my book project agented by Kathryn Wilms of The Rights Factory, I was awarded the NERFC fellowship by the Massachusetts Historical Society. For 10 weeks in 2023, I researched the hidden history of American medicine at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Smith College, and Brown University.
Person. Most importantly, I am a woman, a person of color, and an immigrant. I come from a long line of courageous women: my great-grandmother gave up her dignity to save a life, and my mother “stole” me back from an adoption facility in China. To follow in their footsteps, and to become the same person inside and outside the exam rooms, I am not afraid to admit my mistakes, dig deep, or look inward.
Dog mom. But if my well-behaved labradoodle, Moshi Moshi, is why you are here…well, get ready for some adorable photos!
Why this news(love)letter is exactly what you need.
Everyone needs a good doctor — not just someone intelligent, but someone who listens, believes, and cares. But the current trust crisis in healthcare is driving patients and doctors further and further apart.
In this newsletter, I write about common conditions in dermatology and primary care through patient encounters, supported by research. Some topics covered are hives, rashes, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, eczema, etc.
But more importantly, by reflecting on patient stories, asking people how they need us to practice medicine, and fighting alongside people to get the care they need, I write to find a way for patients and doctors to be on the same team again. If you need a reason to have faith in healthcare, doctors, and even humanity again, you have come to the right place.
Beyond medicine, I make book-related updates, announcements, bonus content, and giveaways via this newsletter!
Often, I write about non-medical true stories because I enjoy storytelling. I still can’t believe my writing is getting delivered to your inbox! I hope these stories warm your soul, make you smile, or help you get through the day. ❤️
Here are the ethical codes my team and I live by:
1. Believe the patient. Every time.
2. Really, really listen.
3. NEVER blame the patients.
4. Treat everyone with equal respect and call ourselves out when we don’t.
5. Acknowledge that patients are the experts of their own embodied experiences.
6. Look beyond the “chief complaint” and see the whole person.
7. Never try to enlarge ourselves by belittling others.
8. Listen to that “one last thing” door knob concern.
9. Apologize when we make mistakes.
10. Make ourselves available for questions from patients and colleagues.
What do you get?
As a free subscriber, you get my monthly newsletter Ask The Patient delivered to your email. In it, you may find content such as:
news about my writing and publishing
my professional opinions and recommendations on common skin conditions seen in a primary care setting (I believe in keeping care primary)
my vulnerable and introspective writing about my patients’ stories which taught me something valuable
true non-medical stories that might put a smile on your face
lessons I’ve learned from my most recent #AskThePatient Twitter/X poll
summaries and links to my most recent publications and blog posts
any publishing updates!
…and finally, Moshi Moshi cuteness
If you choose to become a monthly subscriber for just $6/month or a founding member for $150 a year, you get my gratitude and love! But you absolutely do not have to! Writing newsletters is a new experience for me. My goals are to build up readership and find the best way to interact with readers in the near future. When ready, I plan to incorporate Q&As, chats, and other features. Paid subscribers will have the chance to be featured in Ask The Patient, and will be prioritized when the above perks become available!
Thank you for supporting my work.
