Ngoc-Anh Ta, M.D.

"I was born in Saigon, Vietnam and have lived in the Seattle area since the age of seven. Growing up in Seattle, my family’s medical care was provided by Swedish. I can still remember sleeping over at First Hill after my mom delivered my twin sisters. I have wanted to be a doctor at Swedish ever since I planned on being a doctor. I attended the University of Washington and studied bio-engineering, fascinated by the science that made our world possible. During college, my love for technology and its ability to improve lives led me to pursue medicine. Starting medical school at Saint Louis University, I was sure that I would be a physician-scientist, researching a drug or designing medical technology. However this changed during my first year, when I was chosen to be a lead for our student-run clinic. Here I met people who were struggling to put food on the table, never felt safe in their own homes, or have fallen through the safety net. Their health often took a back seat to other pressing issues. These patients taught me that the majority of the things affecting their health were not found in a doctor’s office, designed in a lab, or sold in a drugstore. My relationships with these patients led me to Family Medicine. I am proud to pursue a specialty that through strong relationships, takes care of both the whole person and their community. I am interested in advancing health equity, improving communication in the care of immigrants and refugees, implementing public health policy, destigmatizing mental illness (especially in my own community), and increasing the efficacy of medical education. Outside of medicine, my favorite hike is Lake Serene, favorite restaurant is Tamarind Tree (favorite secret restaurant is That’s Amore), favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption, and favorite person is my fiance Linh-Ai, who will be next door at Harborview. After being away in medical school for four years, I am indescribably excited to come back to her and also to serve the city that I love."