“Parting is such sweet sorrow…” – Juliet, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Indeed, parting ways with those who are important to us and impact our lives is hard. The Olympia community experienced this as they said goodbye to Olympia Orthopaedic Associates sports medicine physician Dr. Leyen Vu on August 7. Dr. Vu was instrumental in establishing the comprehensive Sports Medicine Clinic when he arrived in 2012 and has set the stage for the future of this valued department at Oly Ortho.
Dr. Vu is a local. He was a varsity athlete at Capital High School and after attending the University of Washington and Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, he returned to Olympia for his residency at Providence St. Peter Hospital, where he has continued to mentor residents. Dr. Vu joined Olympia Orthopaedic Associates in 2012 as a sports medicine specialist.
Dr. Jordan Abel, Chief Resident at St. Peter Family Medicine Residency shares, “The family medicine residents at Providence St. Peter Hospital would like to thank Leyen. His knowledge, leadership, and passion make him a great teacher and mentor. He will be missed greatly, but we wish him the best as he moves forward in his career.”
“Leyen has been a great teacher for our residents and a wonderful friend to me,” noted Dr. Devin Sawyer, Program Director, St Peter Family Medicine Residency Program Clinical Associate Professor, University of Washington. “He is a dedicated, dynamic, intelligent individual who is a credit to his community. What’s more, he is a skilled and compassionate family physician.”
Dr. Vu recalls where he began over three year ago. “When I joined Oly Ortho, they had a vision for a Sports Medicine Center with rapid access for orthopeadic injuries in a clinic setting. These were two of the things I was interested in after completing my sports medicine fellowship, so it was a perfect fit.”
He has spent the last three years cultivating a strong relationship between Oly Ortho’s team of physicians and local high schools and colleges. He, along with his partner of nearly a year, Dr. Tracy Hamblin, work closely with all local high schools as well as Saint Martin’s University and The Evergreen State College. “It is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of my job,” Dr. Vu shares of working with student athletes. “I like the energy the kids bring – their motivation to get well.”
Dr. Hamblin agrees and has been creating her own strong ties throughout the schools over the past year. “I worked closely with North Thurston High School last year and will expand to more local high schools this fall,” she shares. By attending games in person, Dr. Hamblin has been able to “establish a rapport with the coaches and trainers. It’s a real team approach allowing us all to be on the same page for an athlete’s care.” Spending time on the field also allows Dr. Hamblin to gain the trust of the team, and the students, so when injury strikes they don’t hesitate to seek the Oly Ortho sports medicine team’s advice.
Jeff Carpenter, Director Health, Fitness and Athletic Programs Olympia School District explains the impact Oly Ortho’s sports medicine program has had on local schools. “Over the years, Leyen has been a great asset and support to all Olympia School District athletic programs. His personal efforts to provide care for injured athletes combined with training of coaches and work at our Free Sports Physicals has not only help students but our entire program. He will be missed.”
Dr. Vu moves this fall to Washington State University as a primary care physician. However he has another role for the Cougars. “I will be one of four physicians in the athletic department working with the WSU sports teams,” Dr. Vu shares, hardly able to contain his smile.
Dr. Kelly Golob, owner of Tumwater Chiropractic Center shared, “I am happy for Dr. Vu’s exciting new opportunity and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with such a great clinician and person over the past several years. I wish Dr. Vu great success with his new job over in Pullman, and I wish that he could find a way to clone himself so he can come back here and still practice in Olympia.”
While Dr. Vu can’t be cloned, Oly Ortho is excited to welcome another UW Husky to the team – Dr. Dominic Femiano. The Seattle native joins the sports medicine team after completing an in-depth sports medicine fellowship at UW. He will join with Dr. Hamblin in serving the student athletes throughout Thurston County.
Dr. Femiano is no stranger to working with sports teams. He has served as a Seattle Storm (WNBA) Team Physician, University of Washington Athletics team physician, Seattle Marathon assistant medical director, and Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon medical captain. In addition, his interest in, and expertise with, sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and concussion management will be highly valued as he creates partnerships throughout our area.
Throughout our community, people whose lives have crossed Dr. Vu’s, professionally and personally, will miss him. “I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Vu in a few medical tents over the past couple of years, and it has been a joy,” said Kim Stamp, Regional Business Manager, South Sound Physical & Hand Therapy. “There is much to be said for his professional skills but, I am even more impressed with who he is as a person. Seeing the way he engages with both patients and colleagues has been impressive to watch. Thanks for all you’ve done in this community, Leyen, and thank you for sharing yourself with so many.”
Don’t be too sad, Thurston County. Drs. Hamblin and Femiano are ready to take the torch lit so brightly three years ago by Dr. Vu and continue to serve the student athletes and their families throughout our area. “Dr. Vu helped Oly Ortho build this clinic and we will keep it growing,” promises Dr. Hamblin.
With relationships and trust so strongly established throughout our community already, Dr. Hamblin and Dr. Femiano are ready to launch the next chapter of the Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Sports Medicine Clinic.
To make an appointment at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates call 1-800-936-3386.
