CHOC wants its referring physicians to get to know its specialists. Today, meet Dr. Hoang “Wayne” Nguyen, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
What is your education and training?
I received a Bachelor in Computer Science with a minor in Electrical Engineering and Technical Writing from Texas A&M University. I completed Medical School at Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and did a Psychiatry Internship at University of California, Irvine. My residency in Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Pediatrics was done at University of Utah Health Science Center.
What are your administrative appointments?
Director of Psychiatry, Chair of the Physician Well-being Committee
What are your special clinical interests?
Psychosomatic medicine including eating disorders, psycho-oncology, tic disorders, and Autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.
How long have you been on staff at CHOC?
Sixteen years.
What are some new programs or developments within your specialty?
Our most exciting program is the building of an inpatient child and adolescent mental health unit. We are also involved in integrating psychiatric care and mental health in various outpatient specialty clinics. We are also a provider for county Medi-Cal program for patients with co-occurring medical illnesses and psychiatric disorders
What are your most common diagnoses?
Anxiety, depression, ADHD
What would you most like community/referring providers to know about you or your division at CHOC?
We are in the beginning stage of building capacity to see more outpatients.
What inspires you most about the care being delivered here at CHOC?
It’s comprehensive and we are always striving to do better.
Why did you decide to become a doctor?
At the age of 19 and having graduated from college, I was working as a software engineer at a startup, and there was a realization that there was more to life than what I was doing.
If you weren’t a physician, what would you be and why?
Ideally, a rock and roll star, but most likely a software entrepreneur because I like to create new solutions
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
I enjoy being with my five children and participating in their activities. I’m also very active in practicing my faith. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor activities and playing tennis.
