Medical residency is notoriously grueling, but that never stopped Nhu Y Doan from taking on more.

During her three years as a UC Davis Health internal medicine resident, she routinely carved out time for work that mattered to her.

She mentored students at the Paul Hom Asian Clinic on Saturdays, co‑led the UC Davis resident‑run inclusion committee and pursued research on equity and representation.

Doan, who goes by Thi, was recently honored by a UC Davis Health graduate medical education committee for her commitment to inclusion and community service.

She is the 2026 recipient of the Dr. Ifeanyi Onyeji Resident/Fellow Inclusive Excellence and Equity Award.

The award is named for a urologic surgery resident who died in 2022. The award recognizes a resident or fellow whose efforts demonstrate deep commitments to equity, advocacy, mentorship and service to underserved communities.

Thi said she was “definitely surprised” when she learned of the award.

“Just being able to be recognized for the work I’ve been able to do is really something that I’m grateful for,” she said. “I was really honored just to be nominated.”

Thi was nominated by a residency leader, then singled out in a review process involving representatives from the Resident Medical Staff Committee and the offices of Graduate Medical Education and Medical Pathways.

Director of Inclusive Excellence for Graduate Medical Education Erynne Faucett conveyed the news of the award to Thi. Faucett, an associate professor of head and neck surgery shared with Thi that her work “distinguished itself through the breadth and impact of your contributions to the community and the institution.”

From Vietnam to Seattle to Sacramento

Thi’s commitment to underserved and immigrant communities is rooted in her own journey.

She was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and immigrated to Seattle with her mother at age 6. She was accepted into the Rainier Scholars program, which recruits talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds and helps steer them toward college.

Thi attended Pomona College for undergraduate studies, then the University of Washington for medical school.

When it came time to apply for residency programs, she made UC Davis internal medicine her top choice, largely because of the opportunity to volunteer in a student-run clinic.

She got involved in the Paul Hom Asian Clinic, the oldest clinic in the U.S. dedicated to serving Asian immigrants, during her second year of residency.

“I’m a first-generation Vietnamese American who wanted to give back to an immigrant patient population that faces many difficulties navigating the health care system,” she said. “It’s really inspiring to see that there are 50 to 60 students on Saturday mornings who run the entire clinic.”

Advocating for underserved patients, inclusion and older adults

During her tenure at UC Davis Health, Thi was co-president of the resident-led committee within the Department of Internal Medicine, which is known as DICE, short for Doctors for Inclusion and Community Engagement.

She also served in the Transforming Education and Community Health (TEACH) program, which trains residents to care for medically underserved patients.

Despite a demanding schedule, Thi also made time for creative pursuits. She took part in an art activity she’s kept up since elementary school — making personalized greeting cards out of construction paper.

Upon completing her residency last month, Thi moved to Southern California for a yearlong fellowship in geriatrics at UCLA.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for the older adults in my life,” she said. “Geriatrics takes internal medicine to another level where the mission is doing everything we can to support patients and their families while minimizing risk.”

“Navigating the medical system in outpatient or inpatient settings can be very difficult for the communities I want to serve,” Thi said. “I strive to practice medicine in a way that centers on the patient.”