YenpEsook is stuMent Moctor of yeEr
Touro University junior receives National Student Doctor of the Year award just 10 years after being diagnosed with cancer
Ten years after Teekz Yenpasook was diagnosed with cancer, he’s doing an excellent job helping other people defeat it.
Last week the third-year osteopathic medical student and 31-year-old from Touro University California’s was named the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents’ 2021 National Student Doctor of the Year.
Each year, the organization selects one student, chosen from a pool of thousands nominated by their schools, as Student Doctor of the Year based on their service to their community, leadership and dedication to the osteopathic profession. Yenpasook was honored for his tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in the health care field and his leadership, both on the TUC campus and in Vallejo.
“This is really over the top for me. I never imagined I would win a title like this,” Yenpasook said. “I didn’t even think I was going to win the local award. I’ve always been an advocate for the underprivileged and this is amazing, surprising and I’m happy and overjoyed to
win it.
“I told my mom that I had won it and she cried because she was so happy,” Yenpasook continued. “We both ended up crying in what became an emotional moment for both of us.”
Dr. Tami Hendriksz, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at TUC, who served on the committee that nominated Yenpasook for Student Doctor of the Year, said in a news release that, “In a crowd of impressive medical students, Yenpasook stands out due to his diligence, compassion, focus and ability to elicit positive change. I am honored that he is one of our students and will soon
be an osteopathic physician. Our entire profession benefits from having Teekz as a member.”
Not bad for someone that just a decade ago had a hard time just passing classes at a number of community colleges after graduating from Pinole Valley in 2008. But that was just a minor problem compared to what would occur in 2011: Yenpasook was diagnosed with lymphoma — a cancer of the lymphatic system. It develops in lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. These cells help fight disease in the body and play an essential role in the body’s immune defenses.
“I was working up my way in the business ladder at Starbucks when I was diagnosed with cancer. My whole world changed,” Yenpasook said. “I started chemotherapy and radiation, but I also met a lot of cool people in the hospital.”
Still, Yenpasook was worried.
“I was the youngest person in my group being just 21 years old at the time,” Yenpasook said. “Most of the people in the group were older and sometimes they just wouldn’t come back and that started to scare me.”
Yenpasook is now cancer-free, but his journey was about more than just beating the disease. Along the way, he gained empathy for people who worked in the field and in fact, decided that’s what he wanted to do — become a doctor.
“I always knew I wanted to do something with science because I knew I was good at it,” Yenpasook said. “I started to work with cancer patients and that started my drive to want to advocate with other support groups. I felt patients were connecting with me more being that I had been on the other side like them. You can reach people a little better that way.”
Yenpasook has made it his goal to increase the diversity of the TUC student body and help promote inclusion throughout all aspects of health care. During his preclinical years, he served as the Vice President of Admissions in his school’s student government, focusing his term on increasing the representation of minority communities.
At TUC, Yenpasook recognized a gap in the medical school curriculum and worked to bridge it by developing a course about LGBTQIA+ Considerations in Healthcare. Yenpasook also directs the Biotech Academy Summer Internship — a program started by TUC students to educate and mentor underrepresented minority high school students within the community about osteopathic medicine, health sciences and higher education.
“Teekz Yenpasook exemplifies the values of Touro University — he has demonstrated time and time again his commitment to equality, the practice of osteopathy and to his fellow man,” said Sarah Sweitzer, TUC CAO and Provost in a news release. “I can’t think of a more worthy recipient of this honor and I look forward to watching Teekz continue to do great things. I know that as a physician, he will be a fierce advocate for his patients and the communities he will work in.”
A frequent keynote speaker, his personal presentations have helped to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and inspired hundreds of high school, community college and premedical school students to follow in his footsteps.
“Through mentorship, I discovered that I had an ability to pull out the light and strength in others who were struggling to believe in or nurture their own light,” Yenpasook said. “Through friendship, I found interest in revamping medical curricula and how we view and interact with patients from a psycho-social-cultural lens … Through advocacy, I gained courage to support and fight for social justice causes, uplift marginalized communities, and inspire higher education and health sciences to local Bay Area students,” he continued. “But I did not accomplish any of these amazing feats alone and I am so grateful for my community and positive inspirations that have helped me during my time at Touro.”
Yenpasook said that winning this award during a year of watching hospital workers take on COVID-19 makes it even more special.
“I’m really proud of the frontline workers and respiratory workers and I’m glad to be able to work sideby-side with them,” Yenpasook said. “To see death every day and still have to endure, that’s not easy. It takes a toll physically and mentally. It’s a very taxing job but also very rewarding when you realize you can help people during this crazy pandemic.”
Although Yenpasook doesn’t know what he will do after graduating, he does know that he wants to focus on helping the underprivileged when he picks his specialty when applying for residencies. More than anything, however, he wants to try and be an inspiration for others.
“No matter where you are or who you are, as long as you are passionate about something your background doesn’t matter,” Yenpasook said. “You can do this. Look at myself. I’m an underdog. I had a low GPA in community college but I didn’t let that deter me. You can do anything if you put your heart into it.”
“Teekz Yenpasook exemplifies the values of Touro University — he has demonstrated time and again his commitment to equality, the practice of osteopathy and to his fellow man.”