In celebration of AANHPI Month, we are proud to highlight the voices and experiences of three of our exceptional employees whose stories reflect the resilience and contributions of the AANHPI community. Through their unique journeys, they share how their heritage has shaped their personal and professional lives, offering inspiration and insight into the power of identity, culture and community in the workplace.

Meet Joann Chang, MD

I was born in Los Angeles and my heritage is Korean. Growing up as a second-generation Korean American has meant that, like so many other immigrant children, I had a world in the United States but also knew of a world outside this country. I was lucky enough to spend many summer breaks in Korea. One of my happiest childhood memories is of laying on the porch on a humid day eating rice cakes with my grandmother and listening to the cicadas. The pace of life was certainly slower than it is now.

Working in southeastern Massachusetts, it has been a privilege to be part of the lives of immigrant families and treating the multiple generations that walk through our door. It is certainly a priority to make sure we create a safe and welcoming healthcare environment for our patients.

Meet Ngoc Tran

I immigrated to the US in 2003 as a family-based immigrant at the age of nine. My father was a part of the group of people who fled Vietnam after the war in search of better opportunities. He traveled to many places within the US and Canada, but settled in New Bedford, which is how our family ended up here. New Bedford is a wonderful city, but it lacks a Vietnamese community.

Since I came to the US only knowing very basic English, this became a point of struggle for me for many years. School and making friends were not easy, and the weather in New England made it hard to adapt and integrate. I grew up in southern Vietnam, on a small island named Phú Quý Island that had a population of about 20,000 people. It was hot and humid most of the year and we only have two seasons.

Although it was a small island, I can always recall the Lunar New Year and the lantern festival. There’s nothing that can compare to that type of celebration here in the US. It’s something I miss all the time when that time of the year comes around.

Luckily, within an hour drive, there is a Vietnamese community where I can still enjoy many Vietnamese dishes. There’s nothing like ordering what you love to eat in your own language, it makes me feel like I can still keep my culture alive and pass it on to my kid. New Bedford doesn’t have a big Asian community, but there are a lot of little programs that shine a spotlight on the different ethnic groups here. I was proud to be a part of a couple of those projects to help share my culture and others within our community.

Meet Khin Sein Yin, MD

I am originally from Myanmar (previously known as Burma). I completed medical school in Yangon, Myanmar and followed my husband to Stuttgart, Germany with my son. I worked at the US army hospital and clinic for about three years, as a physician. My daughter was born in Germany, after which we migrated to the United States where my husband pursued his Internal Medicine residency. I stayed home with my children a few years, then started my residency in New York and Chicago Loyola University Medical Center in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, then a fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. 

Wherever we go, there are Burmese communities and we were always able to find Asian restaurants and groceries stores. Although Burmese restaurants are hard to find, I have always cooked traditional Burmese food at home. We have Burmese Buddhist monasteries where we join the local community to participate in religious ceremonies. People come together to cook delicious traditional food, including authentic dishes like fish soup with rice vermicelli called “mohinga” and chicken coconut noodle soup called “ohn-no-khauk-swe”. 

We are first generation immigrants and have fulfilled the American dream, raising my son and daughter with excellent education in the United States. My husband and I also belong to the Burmese Medical Association, a non-profit organization through which we help people in Myanmar with humanitarian aid, healthcare education, providing text books, medical equipment and computers. We also support physicians in transition and provide mental healthcare through various programs.

Although we struggled in the beginning as immigrants, I find Americans are warm and friendly, and embrace other cultures, races and religions. People are helpful and respectful. At Southcoast, it is no different. I enjoy working in an environment that shows respect and embraces diversity and equity. Most of all, I love working with my wonderful team and staff at Southeast Rehab and enjoy talking to patients and making a difference in their quality of life.