Board Member Since: 2021

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Michael Nguyen (he/him) is a medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University who aspires to address health disparities through patient-centered care, clinical research, medical education, and community advocacy. He led an initiative to create and publish an LGBTQIA+ language primer that has been integrated into his medical school’s curriculum to enhance medical student knowledge and comfort with LGBTQ health needs to instill social mindedness and respect for patients who deviate from the “norm.” In his free time, he enjoys dancing (as a former dancer on competitive Bay Area hip-hop dance teams), exploring Philly’s food scene, and immersing himself in a good book, movie, or video game. As a gay, first-generation college graduate and medical student raised by Vietnamese immigrants, he strives to be the role model that he never had growing up and he hopes to teach, mentor, and inspire students from marginalized communities and those with a passion for serving them.

Why did you choose to become a member of the Mazzoni Center Board?

I chose to join the Mazzoni Center Board because the Mazzoni Center’s mission of providing compassionate and holistic healthcare to the LGBTQIA+ community in Philadelphia aligns with my own calling to give back to underserved populations. Serving on the Mazzoni Center Board has given me the opportunity to share my knowledge, skills, and expertise to guide the organization towards success, promote LGBTQIA+ health on a large scale, and develop my leadership skills as an aspiring physician-advocate.