Daniel Pham knows the outpatient pharmacy is typically a patient’s last stop before they head home – the grand finale – and he dedicates himself to making the experience a positive one.
“I am the team’s Greatest Showman,” said Daniel, summarizing his energetic and friendly approach to work in The Center for Women and Children – Southwest and the unique qualities that make him “The Difference” at Texas Children’s.
This Is Me: Defining Experiences
Daniel, who is Vietnamese American, embraces life with the same kind of enthusiasm he exhibits in his career. In high school he was very active. He joined the orchestra, played tennis, served on the student council, and was named prom king.
“In the Asian culture we are taught to just lay low and do well in school. I wanted to break that mold.”
Daniel’s outgoing nature contrasted with his older brother Dennis’s more subdued personality. In remission since 1999, Dennis is a childhood cancer survivor. Daniel says that Texas Children’s was a light for his family during a difficult time, saving his brother’s life twice.
Rewrite the Stars: Balancing Work and Life
Family and his culture are especially important to Daniel. His parents and grandparents left behind everything familiar in Vietnam to start a life in America. Daniel does not take his family’s hard work and sacrifices for granted but he has taken notes from his father who expresses regrets about spending so much time focused on his career while his sons were growing up.
From bath times and nighttime prayers to driving imaginary buses and dancing to favorite tunes, Daniel is embracing his “daddy era.” His daughter refers to him as Mickey Mouse, a title Daniel wears with honor. He knows every lyric to the hit song from Disney’s Encanto, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” because it helps his daughter fall asleep.
He and his wife Janel, who is a speech pathologist at Texas Children’s Specialty Care in Sugar Land, are an effective team and committed to savoring all the moments they have with their children while, as parents, they are “still their favorite people.”
“I feel like I am continuously unlocking new skills as a parent, and now I get to take all the skills from home and make connections with the kids and parents at work.”
Come Alive: Finding Purpose in a Passion
For almost 10 years, Daniel has been a source of light for our patients and families. Even five minutes spent with a patient in the pharmacy is important to him because he knows people will remember that he makes them feel safe, valued and seen.
“Drug interactions is a cool skill, but being remembered for your human interactions gives you purpose.”
Daniel attributes the comfort he feels in his own skin and the comforting presence he offers to others to his mother, Nhan Tran, who passed away last year. Nhan was multilingual, an artist, a space flight engineer and made the best homemade Pho and Bun Thang. Daniel, who has inherited her superpowers of attentiveness, generosity, and playfulness, has a positive impact on his team and the families in our care.
“I chose health care because it is a career where I get to use both my head and heart,” Daniel said. “My career at Texas Children’s has been a fulfilling journey of growth, lessons, and discovering my true north within the organization, and I hope to remain as a positive light for the future.”