Linda Siy, MD, has been named the 2022 Texas Family Physician of the Year by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
This distinction is the highest honor among Texas family doctors and shows Dr. Siy's commitment to providing her patients with compassionate and comprehensive care.
"The Texas Family Physician of the Year award comes from family physicians who do the same thing I do every day. So, the distinction is meaningful because my peers selected me as the Family Physician of the Year," Dr. Siy said.
Dr. Siy started her journey at JPS in 1990 as an intern and completed her residency in 1993. Her love for caring for the population JPS Health Network serves prompted her to return in 1995 when she was offered a position to practice at Northeast Health Center.
“One of my good friends from residency, Dr. Daniel Lum, was starting at the Northeast Health Center and joining another physician there, but after about a month, the other physician informed him that he was leaving,” Dr. Siy said. “I didn’t have a full-time practice job at the time, and I enjoyed the patient population, so I decided to take the job. I told myself I would stay there a year and then move on to private practice, but I never moved on because I love serving this population of patients."
“I’ve had the ability to care for patients over the last 28 years, taking care of their parents, grandparents, and grandchildren. It has been nice to have that multi-generational continuity of care.”
Dr. Siy has served the JPS Northeast patient population for almost 28 years and has built rapport with the many families who visit the clinic. Most of her patients are underserved, but that is what she finds most rewarding about the care she provides.
“I always feel we do the most good for people who need the most care. It is challenging, but at the same time, it’s very satisfying,” Dr. Siy said. “I’ve had the ability to care for patients over the last 28 years, taking care of their parents, grandparents, and grandchildren. It has been nice to have that multi-generational continuity of care.”
Dr. Siy also provides medical education to students at the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine, the University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Texas Christian University Burnett School of Medicine.
“I have been involved in medical education ever since I’ve worked at Northeast Health Center, teaching students in the office on clinical rotations and helping to facilitate a Year 2 course at the medical school,” Dr. Siy said. “I try to advocate for the best clinical experience we can offer them, since a positive experience with a family physician early on can help influence a student's decision to pursue family medicine as a career. It’s rewarding to know that you have helped inspire the next generation of family physicians.”
Dr. Siy has a passion for helping others, which shows up in her work, whether it’s in medical care or volunteering in her community. In addition to her service at JPS, she has been an active volunteer in Girl Scouts and the local YMCA. She also serves as the current President of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
“I enjoy my role as President. Physicians are natural leaders, and to be involved in the community in which you live is something I value because it gives a sense of belonging,” Dr. Siy said. “In that role, we award scholarships to medical students and residents in family medicine. It is quite an honor to have this scholarship, which will hopefully help medical students who intend to go into family medicine.”
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