Ton & Chieu MDS Internship: Bridging Disparities Next Door

Presenter: Ngoc (Jady) Hang, Biochemistry, Global Public Health Scholars

---

---

---

During my summer practicum, I worked at Ton & Chieu MDS, a family-owned primary care clinic located on the border of Langley Park and Takoma Park, Maryland. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ton Chieu, I completed over 90 hours of hands-on clinical experience assisting with patient intake, physical exams, and data entry using electronic medical records. My responsibilities included greeting and sitting patients, recording their vitals, assisting with diagnostic tests such as ECGs, Pap smears, orthopedic assessments, and scribing physician notes during consultations. I also supported logistical operations that kept patient flow efficient. This experience gave me direct exposure to the barriers faced by underserved populations, especially patients who are non-English speakers or rely on Medicaid for care. I witnessed the impact of language barriers, insurance limitations, and low health literacy on patients’ ability to receive and follow through with treatment. Through this work, I gained a deeper understanding of how social determinants of health, such as income, language access, and insurance coverage, directly shape healthcare outcomes. This practicum strongly connected to public health by illustrating how equitable access to primary care can improve health outcomes in underserved communities. It also reinforced my commitment to addressing health disparities and pursuing a future in internal medicine that prioritizes cultural competency and accessibility. Working in such a diverse, community-based setting helped me realize that public health starts at the local level — sometimes the most impactful changes happen not globally, but right next door.