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UKIAH, CA — In January, MCHC Health Centers welcomed Dr. Amanda Nguyen, who will see patients of all ages at Hillside Health Center in Ukiah. She joins MCHC after having served as a family medicine obstetrics fellow at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
Chief Medical Officer Justin Ebert, PA-C, said, “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Nguyen to MCHC and the community. Her full span of services will add to the already robust spectrum of care for our patients.”
Nguyen always knew she wanted a career focused on helping others. As she worked toward her medical degree, she learned about the shortage of family medicine providers, especially in rural areas. After enjoying a wide range of medical school rotations, she realized becoming a general practitioner best aligned with her interests and goals.
Nguyen earned a Bachelor of Science in psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, before going on to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
She completed her family medicine residency at the University of New Mexico Hospital. In addition to her focus on family medicine, the university’s robust labor and delivery department contributed to her interest in providing women’s health and obstetric care. Seeking to further her training in caesarean sections and high-risk pregnancies, she completed a surgical obstetrics fellowship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
In addition to her work with MCHC, Nguyen will provide obstetric care two days a week at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, where she will assess patients and support those who are giving birth via vaginal deliveries or cesarean sections.
She appreciates being able to provide care across areas of high need while working with a variety of patient populations. “I really like kids; I really like elderly folks,” she says. “I couldn’t pick one thing that I liked best.”
While completing her residency in New Mexico, many of her patients were located in rural areas outside of Albuquerque. “It was astounding, in a bad way, how far people had to travel for medical care,” she says. She understands the limitations that exist in rural settings when it comes to healthcare and resonates with MCHC’s mission of serving everyone who seeks care, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
“It isn’t revolutionary—I just think everyone should have access to healthcare,” she says.
She believes in the importance of general practitioners as an essential first point of care, especially in rural areas. “In family medicine, we fill a lot of gaps. We don’t do what specialists do, but we can help people take that initial step toward reaching their healthcare goals,” she says.
Her professional interests also include LGBTQIA+ care, including gender-affirming treatment, and medication-assisted treatment for patients with substance use disorders.
Nguyen approaches patients with curiosity, compassion, and a listening ear. “I think you should treat patients how you would treat anyone, like a friend or a family member,” she says. “It’s not my job to tell people what to do, but to listen, to be a confidante, and to be trustworthy in giving good information. It’s about listening, asking questions, and assessing what they need.”
She believes building trust is central to effective care. “I think it’s our job to meet patients where they are,” she says.
Nguyen grew up in Southern California and recently moved to Ukiah with her wife and dog. Outside of work she enjoys diverse interests including attending musicals, home improvement projects, and learning to fish.
MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.