“We want to produce kind, intelligent, compassionate, highly skilled and adaptable physicians who appreciate both the medical and complex psychosocial needs of their patients.”
Pulmonologist and critical care specialist Dr. Jason Prasso was at the epicenter of the COVID storm that hit South LA in 2020 and so had a front-row seat to why high quality preventive and specialty care is so important. “Ours was a sick community to begin with, which made it vulnerable during the pandemic,” he recalls. “That’s why it’s so important to invest in South LA’s future health.” His role as a faculty and subspecialty education coordinator in the Internal Medicine Residency Program is part of his commitment to mitigating the pandemics of the future by training high quality, compassionate physicians with a heart for our mission.
Why were you drawn to working at MLKCH or what makes you want to stay long terms at MLKCH?
MLKCH’s patient population is very similar to the patients I loved working with during my training in NYC. I knew I wanted to stay in Los Angeles after fellowship, so when a colleague (Dr. Arredondo) told me all about MLKCH and the vibrant, warm, diverse and earnest but socioeconomically disadvantaged and disenfranchised community it serves, I knew it was where I was meant to be.
What are some essential values you would like to pass on to the residents joining MLK?
Compassion, accountability, humility, ingenuity in problem solving and perseverance.
What type of physicians would you hope our residents would become?
Kind, intelligent, compassionate, highly skilled and adaptable physicians who appreciate both the medical and complex psychosocial needs of their patients.
Why did you want to be a core faculty member?
I came to MLKCH knowing the ultimate plan that we would become a teaching hospital. For the past 2 years I have had the privilege of being a member of the Graduate Medical Education Committee, which has helped to make this IM residency program a reality. I am committed to this institution and the community it serves and I firmly believe that teaching is an integral part of a career in medicine, so when I was asked to be a core faculty member, it was a no-brainer.
How will our residency program benefit the community of South Los Angeles?
Our IM Residency program represents an investment in the community and a further appeal for its trust. When a healthcare system assumes the responsibility of becoming a teaching institution it does so with humility and the utmost respect for the people it serves. The presence of trainees at MLKCH will cement our accountability to our community and enhance our mission to elevate the standard of healthcare in South Los Angeles.
What do you do outside of practicing medicine to stay healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally?
Workout, travel, gardening/home improvement projects on our fixer-upper and hang out with my dog, Turkey Loaf.
Where do you draw your inner strength from to give your best to the patients?
My patients have nowhere to turn if I can’t help, so I have to be strong for them. The unfortunate reality is that South Los Angeles lacks sufficient access to high quality care. While our goal at MLKCH is to rectify that, it often means that our patients trust and rely upon us 100%.
Where did you grow up?
Queens, NY – about 5 minutes from Dr. Eapen but we didn’t know each other
Why were you drawn to working at MLKCH or what makes you want to stay long terms at MLKCH?
MLKCH’s patient population is very similar to the patients I loved working with during my training in NYC. I knew I wanted to stay in Los Angeles after fellowship, so when a colleague (Dr. Arredondo) told me all about MLKCH and the vibrant, warm, diverse and earnest but socioeconomically disadvantaged and disenfranchised community it serves, I knew it was where I was meant to be.
What are some essential values you would like to pass on to the residents joining MLK?
Compassion, accountability, humility, ingenuity in problem solving and perseverance.
What type of physicians would you hope our residents would become?
Kind, intelligent, compassionate, highly skilled and adaptable physicians who appreciate both the medical and complex psychosocial needs of their patients.
Why did you want to be a core faculty member?
I came to MLKCH knowing the ultimate plan that we would become a teaching hospital. For the past 2 years I have had the privilege of being a member of the Graduate Medical Education Committee, which has helped to make this IM residency program a reality. I am committed to this institution and the community it serves and I firmly believe that teaching is an integral part of a career in medicine, so when I was asked to be a core faculty member, it was a no-brainer.
How will our residency program benefit the community of South Los Angeles?
Our IM Residency program represents an investment in the community and a further appeal for its trust. When a healthcare system assumes the responsibility of becoming a teaching institution it does so with humility and the utmost respect for the people it serves. The presence of trainees at MLKCH will cement our accountability to our community and enhance our mission to elevate the standard of healthcare in South Los Angeles.
What do you do outside of practicing medicine to stay healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally?
Workout, travel, gardening/home improvement projects on our fixer-upper and hang out with my dog, Turkey Loaf.
Where do you draw your inner strength from to give your best to the patients?
My patients have nowhere to turn if I can’t help, so I have to be strong for them. The unfortunate reality is that South Los Angeles lacks sufficient access to high quality care. While our goal at MLKCH is to rectify that, it often means that our patients trust and rely upon us 100%.
Where did you grow up?
Queens, NY – about 5 minutes from Dr. Eapen but we didn’t know each other