Dr. Kevin Vu: Karen Kowalske Outstanding PM&R Undergraduate Award
Dr. Kevin Vu’s natural curiosity and resultant determination led him toward an unexpected path: physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Vu is the 2020 recipient of the Karen Kowalske Outstanding PM&R Undergraduate Award, which recognizes a UTSW medical student who demonstrates empathy, compassion, maturity, and inquisitiveness.
What this award means: “I’m incredibly honored to receive this award. When I started my medical career, one of the items on my ‘bucket list’ was to throw myself into research and learn more about the whole publication process. This whole journey in research and PM&R has taught me so many things, and I’m humbled to be recognized for the work that I’ve done. As the first physician in my family, this recognition means so much to me and gives me more motivation to continue my work.”
Mentor comment: “Kevin is one of the best students I have ever worked with. He took a paper of mine that was rejected and revised it and got it accepted. He has unceasing energy and a passion for patient care and research.” – Dr. Karen Kowalske, Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Background and family: “My parents, both computer engineers, are first-generation Vietnamese immigrants who settled down in Texas. I also have two younger brothers.”
What led to your career path: “I’ve always been interested in how injury and pain affect almost every aspect of patients’ lives. I hadn’t heard of PM&R until my first year of medical school, but soon realized that it really encompassed what my idea of medicine was: purely patient-focused with an emphasis on functioning in daily life outside of the hospital. The burn patient population here at UTSW was of interest because of the severity of their injuries. I took a lot of opportunities to shadow the great burn researchers here.”
College: “I graduated summa cum laude from UT Dallas as part of the seven-year accelerated UT Partnership in Advancing Clinical Transition (PACT) program. While there, I served as a Student Ambassador and received a research grant in microfluidic devices as an assay for neuropathic pain in in-vitro neurons.”
UTSW activities: “I served as a PM&R Student Interest Group Officer and was on the United to Serve games committee. I also was President of the Salsa Club.”
Surprising fact: “I really enjoy social dancing of all types (salsa, swing, two-step, etc.). I play a lot of strategy-type video games, and I’m a huge fan of Formula One racing. I also love baking and cooking. I’m really into hip-hop and used to produce music in college. I was a DJ for my own small radio segment, as part of the college radio station at UT Dallas.”
Future plans: “I hope to get more involved in the field of PM&R, especially in burns. I would really like to bring and create more modalities for controlling pain in these patients, and I’ve recently become more curious about the possibilities of regenerative medicine in PM&R. First and foremost, I’d like to focus on finishing my PM&R residency, which will be at Harvard Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Massachusetts.”
About the award: Started in 2011, the award is named in honor of the Department’s past Chair, Dr. Kowalske. The recipient receives a plaque and a $250 gift certificate.