Care Team Posts

As a primary care nurse practitioner, Scott is responsible for patient health assessments focusing on primary care diagnosis, chronic disease management, and acute illness management. “I approach each and every patient from the perspective that the outcome of my assessment could potentially alter their life.”  With that always front of mind, he treats each patient with empathy and understanding. 

Scott’s approach is to educate his patients, so they understand his thought process when he orders tests or develops a plan of care.  His willingness to listen with compassion is something he offers each patient and, he feels, is reflective of DAP Health’s mission. “It’s very, very patient-centric and patient oriented, and it gives me an opportunity to use all of the skills that I have.”

Originally from San Diego, Scott moved to the desert in 2021 and has since taken up golf. He also enjoys photography and travel.  He’s been on an Alaskan cruise seven times or, as he likes to say, “so many times I could narrate it.” He has also spent time in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Prior to joining DAP Health, Scott spent 13 years working in oncology both as a nurse practitioner as well as a volunteer educator.  He was part of California’s Breast Cancer Early Detection Project and traveled around the state teaching physicians and other clinicians in underserved communities about breast cancer including how to do a proper breast exam and what workups should be done.  Scott was also involved with an end-of-life nursing education consortium where he taught nurses about the end-of-life experience and how to manage and care for a patient.

Scott brings many years of experience in a wide variety of positions - and several degrees and certifications - to DAP Health. In addition to working in the operating room and intensive care units in hospitals, he has also worked in internal medicine, pulmonary care and end of life and pain management. “I’m a nurse first and foremost. There are about 12 letters after my name, but the first two are the ones I'm most proud of. And those are RN.”

DAP Health clinicians, including Scott provide the latest HIV/AIDS treatments in a safe, judgment free environment. They are skilled in working with LGBTQ+ individuals to craft treatments that work and enhance their patients' quality of life. Services includes HIV testing; STI screening; linkage to care; HIV medications, including antiretrovirals, PEP and PrEP; patient education; mental health services; dental services; and more.

As a primary care physician in DAP Health’s medical clinic, Dr. Vu will be taking care of HIV PrEP and PEP patients as well as the general population.  A California native who is fluent in Vietnamese, Dr. Vu did her internal medicine residency at Desert Regional Medical Center and completed a fellowship in infectious disease at Los Angeles County+ USC Medical Center. She takes great pride is being able to provide quality care to people from all walks of life. 

Dr. Vu, an osteopath, treats patients as a whole; She looks at their overall wellbeing including physical and mental health and not just their individual symptoms. From there, she can assess the entirety of the illness, make the necessary connections between mind and body, and assign a treatment plan.  She provides individualize care based on where clients are coming from.  “I want to meet them where they are and from there, create a plan based on goals with them, alongside them, as opposed to just making it a directive.”

Dr. Vu’s passion is to serve underprivileged populations as an infectious disease specialist and to provide care to vulnerable populations in the community.  Her interests lie in public health and hospital epidemiology, HIV, and hepatitis C. Being an infectious disease trainee during the COVID-19 pandemic gave Dr. Vu an opportunity to be involved in the research and study of trends and characteristics associated with severe coronavirus disease and related pulmonary infections.

When not at DAP Health, Dr. Vu spends her time volunteering. During her fellowship at USC, she started a non-profit organization to help bring mobile medical clinics to people living with homelessness. Here in the Coachella Valley, Dr. Vu created a wellness program during her residency at Desert Regional Medical Center. She is also a classically trained pianist and enjoys playing everything from contemporary music to classical and hopes one day soon to add jazz to her repertoire.

DAP Health clinicians, including Dr. Vu, provide the latest HIV/AIDS treatments in a safe, judgement free environment. They are skilled in working with LGBTQ+ individuals to craft treatments that work and enhance their patients' quality of life. Services includes HIV testing; STI screening; linkage to care; HIV medications, including antiretrovirals, PEP and PrEP; patient education; mental health services; dental services; and more.

Providing care to underprivileged communities is the reason Sergio Godinez studied medicine and why he joined DAP Health. Now at the blue clinic, Sergio previously worked at Valley Comprehensive Medical Group and West Coast Wound and Skin Care.He graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in biology and earned his master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Samuel Merritt University.

Conversing with patients to learn about their medical conditions and whether they are well controlled or if the patient is struggling is key to his practice. Fluent in Spanish, Sergio understands that patients -- whether they're Spanish speaking or English speaking – just want to be heard. “First and foremost, I'm here to listen to their concerns. Often, patients don’t know what to say during a consult with their provider or feel rushed. I'm here to listen to every single one of their concerns. There's no such thing as something that should be overlooked. There's no such thing as a small complaint. Everything has its viability.”

Sergio believes patient care is a team effort. “I do not make decisions for my patients and, likewise, patients do not make decisions for themselves. It's a team-based effort. Having a complete understanding of what they're doing increases adherence. And I've noticed there's been much more success when the patient is on board with the treatment plan.”

When he’s not working, Sergio loves to draw and paint. This creative outlet helped him tremendously during his PA program. In fact, he took such meticulous notes and incorporated such detailed drawings that they were shared with students who were struggling with their studies. Even now, drawing remains a great outlet for him.

A relative newcomer to the valley – he’s been here for 15 months – Sergio is still learning his way around. “ I have a great appreciation for the patient population here in the valley and I  just want to reach out to as many as possible and provide that care.”

DAP Health clinicians, including Sergio, provide the latest HIV/AIDS treatments in a safe, judgment free environment. They are skilled in working with LGBTQ+ individuals to craft treatments that work and enhance their patients' quality of life. Services includes HIV testing; STI screening; linkage to care; HIV medications, including antiretrovirals, PEP and PrEP; patient education; mental health services; dental services; and more.