CHOC wants its patients and families to get to know its specialists. Today, meet Dr. Hoang “Wayne” Nguyen, a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Nguyen attended medical school at Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and completed a psychiatry internship at University of California Irvine. He completed his residency training in child and adolescent psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Utah Health Science Center. He has been on staff at CHOC for over 16 years and is currently serves as director of psychiatry and the chair of the physician well-being committee.
Q: What are your special clinical interests?
A: Psychosomatic medicine including eating disorders, psycho-oncology, tic disorders, and Autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.
Q: What are some new programs or developments within your specialty?
A: 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 the county’s Medi-Cal program for patients with co-occurring medical illnesses and psychiatric disorders.
Q: What are your most common diagnoses?
A: Anxiety, depression, ADHD
Q: What inspires you most about the care being delivered here at CHOC?
A: It’s comprehensive and we are always striving to do better.
Q: Why did you decide to become a doctor?
A: 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.
Q: If you weren’t a physician, what would you be and why?
A: Ideally, a rock and roll star, but most likely a software entrepreneur because I like to create new solutions.
Q: What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
A: 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.
