VANA HISTORY

VANA was founded by Vi Ho, RN, PhD, FNP and Tri (aka Michael) D. Pham, RN, PhD, ANP/AOCNP, and a number of Vietnamese-American nurses in the summer of 2007 after many years of brainstorming, networking, and a desire to create a professional organization for Vietnamese-American nurses.

VANA Officers

Michael (akaTri) Pham, PhD, RN, ANP, AOCNP, BC

President

Dr. Tri (aka Michael) D. Pham is currently an Adult/Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at The University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Tri D. Pham obtained both his BSN and MSN from The University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center-School of Nursing. He obtained his PhD from Texas Woman's University College of Nursing-Houston Center. His research area has been cervical cancer screening practice among Vietnamese-American women in the United States of America. Among his missions are to increase cervical cancer and breast cancer screening among Vietnamese-American women as well as to increase smoking cessation among Vietnamese-American men in the U.S. He also interested in learning about the stressors experienced by male minority student nurses while completing baccalaureate nursing program, and in interventions to minimize or eliminate these stressors.

Anh Tuyet Le, MSN, RN, CRNA

Vice President

Anh Tuyet Le is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University and her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Wesleyan’s University. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing- Houston Center. Her research interest will primarily focus on holistic and spiritual healing for both the patients and healthcare providers, especially in surgical environment. She has been a member and volunteer with VANA since 2010, and started to organize and lead the Registration department for VANA Annual Preventive Care Health Fair since 2013.

Stacy Le (and Traci Le)

Secretary

Huong Dinh, RN, BSN

Treasurer

Ms. Huong Dinh graduated from the University of Windsor, School of Nursing, Windsor, Canada with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1994. Since then she had been practicing in Windsor & Ontario (Canada), Wyandotte (Michigan), and currently Houston (Texas). She is fluent in both English and Vietnamese. And, she always takes time out of her busy schedule to volunteer for many community activities.

Han Huynh, RN, BSN

Membership Committee Chair

Van Nguyen, RN, DNP, FNP, BC

Education Committee Chair

Dr. Van Nguyen is a nurse practitioner for the Acute Care Services/Nocturnal Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She graduated from Texas Woman's University-Houston Center-College of Nursing with her BS and MS/FNP, and from UTMB with her DNP. She is currently completing her post-master ACNP certificaiton. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Houston Area Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau International. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family.

Christy Nguyen, RN, MSN, FNP, BC

Scholarship Committee Chair

Christy Nguyen has been in the nursing profession since 1983. Most of her nursing career has been at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center (CLRMC) in Webster, Texas, where she has dedicated herself to the nursing profession as a Registered Nurse in ICU, CCU, and CVICU for 20 years. In 2009, with the support of CLRMC, Christy advanced her nursing profession and achieved a MSN degree and FNP certification from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She has continued to serve her patients at CLRMC, with an advanced level of care, as a Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner. Christy Nguyen has been a member of VANA since 2007 and is currently the Chair of the Scholarship Committee which provides scholarships to exceptional undergraduate nursing students with financial need through scholarship money donated by VANA members or donors in the community. Christy Nguyen is also a member of the Galveston Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses (GCAPN), Compassionate Service Society, and a volunteer teacher at Hung Vuong Vietnamese School in Houston, Texas. She also volunteers at the BPSOS to assist low-income women with free mammogram screenings.

Board of Directors

Vi Ho, RN, PhD, FNP-BC

Chairman

Dr. Vi Ho is currently a professor at Texas Women's University. Dr. Vi Ho's areas of research interest include, but are not limited to, cervical and breast cancer screening among Vietnamese-American women in the United States of America. Dr. Vi Ho has been well-known and highly respected among Vietnamese as well as other communities across the country thanked to her tremendous contributions to promoting the health and well-being of each individual and community as a whole. For those who have the privilege and the honor to get to know Dr. Vi Ho, she has been a strong advocate of patient rights and of building stronger and healthier Vietnamese communities around the nation.

Dzu Minh Ho

Advisor

Mr. Ho has been an invaluable advisor for VANA since its conception. He has been actively involved in all of the VANA meetings and healthfairs, as well as offered his advices and insights to better the organization and the Vietnamese community here in Houston.

VANA Officers 2019