FORT HOOD, Texas  –   For Dr. Peter Lam, chief of nuclear medicine at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, the path to medicine began with a desire to fix what was broken — and evolved into a lifelong commitment to caring for others.

“When I was little, I wanted to be an engineer. I wanted to fix things that were broken,” Lam said.

That perspective changed during his junior year of high school, when a close family friend passed away unexpectedly at the age of 53.

“He was in great shape, but he had hypertension and saw his health care provider regularly,” Lam said. “He was a very stubborn man and probably wasn't very compliant.

The autopsy showed myocardial infarction with severe coronary artery sclerosis. It could have been prevented with better persuasion by the health care provider and comprehensive care.”

That moment shaped his future.

“Since then, I wanted to be a doctor to prevent untimely death,” he said.

Lam graduated medical school in Myanmar in 1991 and immigrated to the United States in 1992. He completed his residency in 2001 at Yale-New Haven Medical Center, became a Medical Corps officer, and arrived at CRDAMC in 2003. He separated from active duty in 2008 and has continued serving at the hospital as a Department of Defense civilian ever since.

Over the years, his role has evolved alongside the needs of the organization.

“In the past, we had more staff and a higher volume of patients,” Lam said. “Now we are more short staffed, so I help with direct patient care, assist the technologist, maintain equipment and handle administrative duties, in addition to my physician responsibilities.”

Despite the changes, his focus remains the same — ensuring patients understand their care and feel supported.

“Most of the issues are about their exams, and I find it very useful to draw diagrams or show their images to explain,” he said.

That approach, he says, can make a lasting difference.

“When I do DEXA scans and explain the normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis levels, and show them where they stand, patients understand better,” Lam said. “Most promise me that they will be compliant.”

For Lam, patient care is rooted in empathy and personal experience.

“My mantra is to put myself in the patient's shoes,” he said. “I have been a patient myself, and also a patient's husband and father in the physician office, emergency room and dental office. I treat my patients the way I or my family would want to be treated — with respect, courtesy and care.”

That mindset has stayed with him through both rewarding and challenging patient interactions.

He recalls one elderly patient who, after years of treatment, finally understood the importance of her care.

“She told me no one had explained to her why she had to take her medication like I did,” Lam said. “She wasn't very compliant before, but I knew she would be from that moment.”

Not every interaction ends in success, but each one offers perspective.

“There was a middle-aged female patient who frequently came to the hospital and had many medical issues,” he said. “She openly expressed her dislike for CRDAMC and other hospitals. We treated her like any other patient, maybe with a little more attention to try to change her attitude.”

Despite their efforts, the outcome was mixed.

“It’s a reminder that we will not win every time, but we have to try harder at the next encounter,” Lam said.

Practicing medicine in a military and federal environment brings both opportunities and challenges, from resource limitations to staffing constraints. Still, Lam credits teamwork for ensuring patient care remains the priority.

“We have a great team with a solid technologist and strong support staff,” he said. “We rely on each other, and we always manage to take care of our patients through teamwork.”

Outside of work, Lam enjoys a quieter pace, spending time gardening and reading, as well as with his family — a role that continues to shape how he approaches patient care.

“I am a family man, and I spend as much time as possible with my family,” he said. “I understand the love of family, and I can sympathize with family members, even the overbearing ones.”

His career path itself reflects both curiosity and adaptability. After initially training in pathology, Lam discovered a new passion through advancements in medical imaging.

“When using antibody staining in histology, I thought labeling radiotracers with these antibodies could revolutionize medical imaging,” he said. “Even though it wasn’t feasible at the time, I fell in love with interacting with patients during stress testing and found my calling in nuclear medicine.”

After more than two decades at CRDAMC, Lam says the hospital has become more than just a workplace.

“CRDAMC is my second home since I have spent many years here,” he said. “I am fortunate to have a great team.”

For Lam, the mission remains simple — care for every patient with the same compassion and respect he would want for his own family.