VOICES OF HMSOM: Vu Uses Social Skills To Excel As a Future Physician

Lauren Vu is not one of those medical students who always knew she wanted to be a doctor. As a lover of all things dance, music and mixed martial arts, she knew there were several careers where she could make the most of being outgoing, social and wanting to help people.

But now that she’s found her passion in medicine and is set to graduate from the School of Medicine (SOM) this June, there’s no doubt her compassion for patients, love for education and superb bedside manner will be among the best in the business and she will stand out as a physician.

“Lauren Vu is a person of many talents - and all of them inform her burgeoning medical career,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D. president and dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Family Influence On Becoming A Physician

Raised in rural Pennsylvania and the oldest of four daughters, Vu closely watched the work her mom did as a pharmacist.

“She was really the first role model I had in healthcare, so I was able to see what her life was like as a pharmacist. And in some ways, it helped me realize that was not the field I wanted to pursue. I knew I wanted a more holistic approach to treating patients that includes lifestyle and social factors in addition to medications,” Vu said.

Vu explains the biggest impact on her decision to go to medical school was the number of family members with chronic conditions – particularly her father. She watched as he used a strict plant-based diet, instead of medication, to get his high cholesterol under control and found it both admirable and amazing.

“That was a real life, close example of how someone was able to use lifestyle in medicine,” she said.

That, coupled with a family-medicine doctor in her hometown who would use weekly cooking classes to show community members how to address barriers they face to making healthy meals, helped her find her calling.

SOM Highlights and Memories

As Vu looks back on her medical school experience, she is flooded with memories of making friends and being active socially – in addition to making a difference as a future doctor.

“I have found the most interesting people that I've ever met here; people from backgrounds I never imagined I'd get to meet. I did my best to befriend as many classmates as I could,” said Vu. “During Phase 1, the blessing was we were together all the time before going off to clerkships. So, between classes when we had breaks I’d try to get to know as many of my peers as possible. And I was really surprised at how many fun things we were able to do together.”

One of the ways she stayed connected with her classmates so well was by leading and being involved with several clubs at SOM, including the Latin Dance Club and the Arts in Medicine Club, where she was able to continue her lifelong loves of dance and music and share them with other aspiring physicians. In some ways, it was a continuation of her leadership from undergrad where she was Drum Major and Dance Captain of the Temple University Marching Band.

“It’s easy to form a bubble in medical school but I really did want to encourage others to keep doing what they love before stepping into the field of medicine because it’s easy to lose that,” she said. “It turns out, so many medical students have a musical background which I learned through our annual showcases.

“We were also able to collaborate with the pediatrics interest club for an interactive talent show at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. I have been blown away by the talent!” she added.

Perhaps one of the most impactful experiences was her work as a Human Dimension Voices Program Partner, where she helped care for an elderly woman transitioning into an assisted care facility.

“Something we noted right away was she didn’t have much social support. One of her biggest supporters was her sister, who sadly passed away during our time with her. It was a really tragic and eye opening experience,” said Vu.

“In the healthcare setting, there is unfortunately a lot of loss and we can’t forget what it’s like for these patients and their loved ones. As a doctor - it’s not just about the physical care and explaining the medicine,” she added. “You have to know how to sit there and support them. We encouraged her to join social groups and attend social events at the facility, which helped boost her support system.”

Plans For Residency and Beyond

Vu’s mantra for the next few months is to stay calm, cool and collected during what will be a busy time in her career. She is excited to have matched into the child neurology program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, which she admits was not an area of medicine she thought much about until recently. Again - that interest, inspired by family and those closest to her.

“My fiancee grew up with dyslexia and I didn’t really realize how much pediatric neurologists have a role with children with learning disabilities. I am super passionate about education and I think physicians have a great opportunity to help advocate for children in the classroom setting and really change the trajectory of their lives,” she said. “Plus, seeing how great my neurology rotation was and having a love for the pediatric population – it’s a nice way to marry the two.”

In fact, Vu already has experience working with the younger generations, thanks to her Middle School Community Health Project. Her group paired with Hackensack Middle School students to help them improve social skills they lacked after spending so much time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As for her ultimate professional goals after residency? They’re still up in the air.

“Right now I’m open to where this journey takes me but I do see myself pursuing some kind of academia given my enjoyment of education.”

Vu is just as busy in her personal life as she is professionally, as she is recently engaged and planning a wedding. She knows her family - both her parents/siblings as well as her future husband and the children she hopes to have - will continue to be a major source of inspiration.