Dr. An Lu: Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award in Internal Medicine

Dr. An Lu
Dr. An Lu

By Ryan Daugherty

Growing up in a small village in Vietnam, Dr. An Lu knew the struggle of adapting to new places. At age 14, Dr. Lu and her parents, both manual laborers, moved to the United States. The first few years were difficult, and she didn’t speak any English at the start, but that didn’t stop Dr. Lu.

“Fortunately, quitting is not a trait I possessed,” she said. “Seeing the sacrifices my parents made for me to have better opportunity, I was motivated to overcome any challenges.”

That motivation has resulted in quite a few impressive accomplishments for Dr. Lu. In 2010, she obtained an associate’s degree in science with highest honors from Eastfield College. She then graduated summa cum laude from UT Arlington with a bachelor of science degree in biology in 2012.

Dr. Lu has had further success while in medical school. She is the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award in Internal Medicine, given annually to a graduating medical student who excels academically during clinical rotations and exhibits an interest in and compassion for patients.

While at Eastfield College, Dr. Lu was named National Science Foundation – Science Talented Expansion Program Scholar. This honor opened the door for her initial UT Southwestern experience when she participated in the STARS summer research program.

Dr. Lu’s work during the summer research program at UT Southwestern was published in the Journal of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. All in all it was a life-changing experience.

“I have always wanted to be a doctor because of my ambition,” she said. “But the patient interactions I had during this research solidified my interest in medicine and gave me the confidence to apply for medical school.”

Dr. Reeni Abraham, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, noted Dr. Lu’s accomplishments and said she will make a positive impact. In March, Dr. Lu matched for an internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern.

“An is an impressive, warm, and enthusiastic young woman who is interested in serving indigent populations,” Dr. Abraham said. “A junior Alpha Omega Alpha-inducted member, she is already quite accomplished in her young career, but we know she will be a role model throughout her life.”

Dr. Lu garnered her interest in internal medicine during her third-year clerkship. The observational skills, medical knowledge, and meticulous analysis that allowed her to understand patients’ stories and be by their side in medical decision-making, made it feel like a perfect fit.

One of Dr. Lu’s fondest memories at UT Southwestern took place when she worked as an anatomy teaching assistant over the summer between her first and second year, and again her fourth year.

“I fell in love with teaching and it planted a seed for my budding interest in medical education, inspiring me to become a clinical educator after my residency,” she said.

Dr. Lu hopes to become a clinical educator at a large academic medical center like UT Southwestern, where she can take care of patients and contribute to the education of future residents and medical students. “I feel very privileged to be in this profession,” she said. “To be able to take care of patients who are not afraid to expose their vulnerability and bare their personal stories; there is not an environment where I am happier or more satisfied.”