Dr. Hwang
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UGCONGUUVTCPUKVKQP Story by Virginia Payne, Photo by James Wang
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he first time I met Dr. James Hwang was six years ago in Acton, MA, during my routine dental appointment. Expecting to be examined by my long time dentist, Dr. Franklin Roth, I was surprised to be introduced to the new dentist. Yet, Dr. Hwang instantly put me at ease with his reassuring smile, friendly demeanor and his knowledge. Those qualities seamlessly transitioned him into the existing practice. The two practitioners complemented each other well. They have similar demeanors and philosophy. Dr. Roth seemed very comfortable to have his patients of 40 years treated by Dr. Hwang. At the age of eight, Dr. Hwang emigrated with his family from Taiwan to California. While in high school and through college, he had the opportunity to work for his family dentist, from doing chores to setting up dentures. This part-time employment, originally intended to subsidize college expenses, ultimately paved his decision to become a dentist. He earned his DMD 18
ASIAN BOSTON
degree from Boston University with honorable mention, and received further training in AEGD residency. Working as an associate, Dr Hwang aspired to establish his own practice. Years of dental office experience provided many fundamentals that served him well in this endeavor. “To be proficient in dentistry is imperative, but to be a business owner, one must want to be the chef and chief bottle washer.” Dr. Hwang, with his dental hygienist wife Peggy by his side, did just that. Through technology upgrades and streamlined management, they transformed the office, while not overwhelming the patients and staff. This practice in an affluent community with a 7% Asian patient base continues to grow, while retaining more than 90% of the existing patient pool. To those who aspire to be a dentist, he has this advice, “You have to like to work with your hands. Although science is the basis of dentistry, dexterity is the ingredient of the trade, like those of an artist or a carpenter.”
f you see Michelle Villarta on a weekend afternoon in downtown Boston, you would think she is like any other woman out for a stroll or doing errands. That’s what I would have thought had I not known that she is a pediatrician working at Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center (RoxComp) in Boston. Behind a youthful, goodnatured face is a woman who exudes maturity, confidence and vigor. As a general pediatrician, Dr. Villarta is responsible for children under 18 years of age dealing with issues ranging from early childhood development to counseling teenagers on various adolescent issues. Dr. Villarta is a recent transplant from Michigan. As a Filipino-American born and raised in Michigan, she attended medical school at Michigan State University and completed her internship and residency at University of Michigan. She then worked at a private clinic in rural Michigan before deciding to move to Boston, which she described as “the best city.” Her first exposure to Boston was when she worked as a research assistant in the Department of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, prior to attending medical school, and right after graduating from University of Pennsylvania. The research involved children with chronic diseases, especially asthma, and the affect it had on them after their families lost government resources such as welfare and food stamps.
When asked about the most challenging aspect of her work at RoxComp, she responded, “Making sure I’m addressing all my patients’ needs, and not just their medical issues, because often there are environmental and social factors that affect their overall well-being.” When not in the business of saving children’s lives, Dr. Villarta likes to listen to live jazz. So next time you find yourself in a place where there is live jazz, look around and maybe Dr. Villarta will be in your company, winding down after a long day at work.
Patients are a Virtue By Seong-Hoon Chung
Photo by Vincent Soohoo
Connecting Cultures