This month, we’re excited to feature Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Victoria Huynh, M.D., for this month’s UAB Department of Surgery’s Access & Engagement Committee Spotlight.
Dr. Huynh is a graduate of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Colorado, where she was also a breast surgical oncology clinical research and quality improvement resident. She subsequently completed her fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Huynh joined the UAB Department of Surgery this year and, in her feature, shares her experiences as a new UAB Surgery faculty member and Birmingham-area resident
Share your journey into the medical field with us. What areas were you most interested in and what do you like about your current role in Surgery?
I was initially drawn to medicine after my grandmother passed of ovarian cancer. I saw the great, the bad, the ugly when it came to patient care and bedside manner, and I felt compelled to become a physician that would treat all patients, regardless of background, with respect, and one that would try to relay information in an understandable way. I actually thought I wanted to become a medical oncologist but had my surgical rotation as a third-year medical student and absolutely loved it. Fast forward to residency, and I started out thinking I wanted to be a colorectal surgeon – really loved working with colorectal cancer patients but didn’t so much love the IBD side of things, so I kept an open mind. Ultimately, I decided to become a breast surgical oncologist – we have meaningful surgeries, excellent patient outcomes, continuously evolving research, and, above all, I love working with the strong-minded women that not only make up our patient population but also make up many of my colleagues.
What is your surgical specialty and how does that translate to how you practice at UAB?
Breast cancer is not only one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women in the U.S., but it is also one with excellent outcomes and survival when detected at an early stage. With that, I think it’s important to focus not only on cancer treatment but also on survivorship and long-term quality of life. As a breast surgical oncologist, I try to practice and counsel patients with both the short-term and long-term in mind.
If you could share anything about your role with readers, what would it be? Why?
As new faculty, I honestly feel like I’m still figuring out my role. But I will say that I’m grateful to be here at UAB and excited to learn from and grow with this great department. I come from humble beginnings, and there was a point in time in my life where I recall a college counselor telling me that I should switch career paths and that I would never make it into medical school. That obviously didn’t pan out, but it makes me greatly appreciate the opportunity to be here taking care of our breast cancer patients.
Fun facts! What do you enjoy outside of the OR / clinic? What’s your favorite restaurant?
Rock climbing, hiking, cooking and eating. Hanging out with my wife and two cats. Binging on true crime documentaries and competitive cooking shows. I haven’t found a favorite restaurant yet, but I do enjoy the brews at Birmingham District, Back Forty, and TrimTab!