Working for California

Mychelle Pham arrived at Cal State Fullerton set on pursuing a career in business.

Twelve years later, her business is caring for the sick.
Pham, a pediatrician who works in Orange County, began her studies in 1993 as a business administration major but quickly changed paths after being drawn toward science while taking a biological science class during the fall semester of her freshman year.

“I was bent on business and kept telling myself ‘I’m getting out of here in three years,’” said Pham, who was a prestigious President’s Scholar.

“But by the end of the semester, I just really enjoyed [my biological science class] and it was something that just came naturally for me. I wasn’t spending much time with the business classes, and I thought that was a sign.”

Pham, who passed through the Health Professions Program, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in biological science in 1997. She went on to medical school at UCLA, where she finished in 2001, and then spent three years serving her residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Pham now works part-time for Pediatric Subspecialty Faculty (a group of pediatricians) assisting area hospitals in several capacities. She helps transport patients in ambulances for Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Orange. But she spends most of her time working in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at CHOC and the newborn unit at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

“Taking care of [intensive care unit] patients is the most rewarding thing,” Pham said. “Usually, [the babies] are premature but they’re so resilient. They can go through hell and back, and then a week later, they’re drinking breast milk.”

Pham said she has always enjoyed helping others and giving back to the community, which coupled with her enjoyment of biology and physiology, pushed her to study medicine.

She became one of the university’s top scholars during her time at CSUF, receiving the President’s Associates Scholastic Award — the university’s pre-eminent honor for academic achievement — and the Miles D. McCarthy Award, which is presented to the outstanding Health Professions graduate. She said the help she received from the Health Professions advisory team played a crucial role in furthering her medical career. The team assists students in choosing a major, research interests and clinical experiences, as well as helping them through the application process to medical school.

David Drath, coordinator of Health Professions and professor of biological science, was one of Pham’s key mentors. Pham spent close to two years helping Drath research lung cancer while at CSUF.

“The best part of going to Cal State Fullerton was the direct teaching contact with the professors,” Pham said. “When you go to office hours, the professor actually recognizes your face, and you’re working with a professor and not a [teacher’s assistant], and I think that’s priceless.”

Added Drath: “We still use people like Mychelle as an example to other students. Look at the education she got at Cal State Fullerton and what she has accomplished. She’s a poster child for Cal State Fullerton.”