As one of 10 children in a refugee family that emigrated from Vietnam in 1975, Dzung Trinh, MD, is no stranger to commitment, hard work and collaboration. He’d wanted to become a doctor since he was a young child. But when he arrived in the States at the age of 15, his family had no money, and he spoke no English. He studied hard, worked for 2 years picking grapes in the Central Valley, and never let go of his dream.

Today Dr. Trinh is the Chief of Geriatric Medicine and an integral member of the Continuing Medical Education and Graduate Medical Education Committees, three positions he’s held since joining The Permanente Medical Group almost 25 years ago. In these roles, he serves as an inspirational role model to other physicians, residents and medical students. He has developed a continuing care program for the elderly, and, as Chief of the Imaging Appropriateness Committee since 2011, he’s taken KP Fresno from one of the highest utilizers of imaging in KP Northern California to one of the lowest, simply by advocating to physicians the art of asking the right questions.

“My greatest joy in practicing medicine is the relationship I have with my patients—it’s such an honor to earn their trust,” says Dr. Trinh. “And my greatest satisfaction as a physician leader is being part of and witnessing our wonderful collaborative environment at KP Fresno.”

“He embodies everything Dr. Cecil Cutting stood for,” says Smita Rouillard, MD, Physician-in-Chief, KP Fresno Medical Center. “He has incredible vision and consistently advocates for physicians to provide the highest-quality care for patients, while balancing their own professional satisfaction and well-being.”