By Casey Conway

Dr. Kevin Yi

Dr. Kevin Yi was just 6 years old when his parents immigrated to the United States from China to chase the American dream. Starting over in a new country taught him the value of a good education and the importance of serving others.

“My parents didn’t attend college, but they took on menial jobs and instilled in me the importance of a strong work ethic at a very early age,” he said. “They didn’t spare anything when it came to my education, and they sacrificed a lot of time and energy to make sure I did well in school.”

There is no doubt Dr. Yi has taken full advantage of the opportunities his parents’ hard work provided, having been selected as the 2017 recipient of the TAFP (Texas Academy of Family Physicians) Dallas Chapter Outstanding Graduate Award. He will soon begin his residency at Ventura County Medical Center in California, with plans to pursue medical missions and work with underserved populations in the future.

Dr. Yi majored in Asian studies at Rice University, where he also volunteered as an EMT Basic for Rice Emergency Medical Services and participated in research on nanotubes and fruit flies. He remained heavily involved in his home church, Houston Chinese Church. Prior to graduating, Dr. Yi traveled to Shenyang, China, for his first medical mission trip, an experience that sparked his interest in family medicine and influenced his time at UT Southwestern Medical School.

“During Medical School, I worked with family physicians on medical mission trips to El Paso and again in Shenyang, China,” he said. “Those two trips really opened my eyes to the medical needs in other parts of the world and how a versatile field like family medicine can help meet those needs.”

Dr. Dan Sepdham, Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine, is confident Dr. Yi’s personal experience and passion for serving others will make him an excellent family medicine physician.

“Kevin comes from a humble background, and he really knows what it’s like to be underserved,” Dr. Sepdham said. “As a result, he exemplifies the ability to empathize with his patients. I have no doubt he will be extremely sought after by patients.”

Dr. Craig Rubin, Professor of Internal Medicine, is among Dr. Yi’s mentors, along with Dr. Tom Dalton, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine.

Even as a busy Medical School student, Dr. Yi found time to give back to both UT Southwestern and the surrounding community. During his fourth year, he served as a peer mentor, assisting first- and second-year students with history taking and physical exam skills. He also took on the role of clinical clerkship liaison for UT Southwestern’s Family Medicine Interest Group.

He volunteered for multiple service organizations, including The Monday Clinic and The Center of Hope Clinic, which provide high-quality free medical care to underserved and uninsured populations in North Dallas, and Balancing Exercise and Nutrition for Students (BEANS), where he taught local elementary school students about the importance of nutrition and exercise.

Dr. Yi said he is thankful to his wife, Jessica, for her unconditional love and support throughout the rigors of Medical School, and to his parents, whose many sacrifices continue to make a difference in his life.

When his schedule allows, Dr. Yi enjoys playing Ultimate, rooting for his favorite basketball team – the Houston Rockets – and participating in fantasy sports.

Dr. Rubin holds The Margaret and Trammell Crow Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer’s and Geriatric Research; the Seymour Eisenberg Distinguished Professorship in Geriatric Medicine; the Sinor/Pritchard (Katy Sinor and Kay Pritchard) Professorship in Medical Education Honoring Donald W. Seldin, M.D.; and the Walsdorf Professorship in Geriatrics Research.

Dr. Sepdham holds the Drs. Malone V. Hill and John W. Pate Professorship in Family Medicine.