Khoa Nguyen, MPH

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• Khoa Nguyen CV Spreadsheet

EDUCATION
Columbia University in the City of New York
September 2023 - May 2025
• Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health
• Master of Public Health in Sociomedical Sciences; Advanced Certificate in Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
• GPA: 3.98
• Activities: R.I.S.E. Peer Mentor Program; Advocates for Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Health; MOSAIC; Sexual and Reproductive Health Action Group; Queer Health Task Force; Global Learning Exchange; Columbia Vietnamese Student Association; Sociomedical Sciences Buddies; Student Leadership Engagement Initiative.
• Relevant coursework: Infectious Disease Epidemiology; Social and Economic Determinants of Health; Public Health Surveillance; Emerging Infectious Diseases; Healthcare Services for Vulnerable, At-Risk Populations; Data Visualization and Storytelling (Tableau); Sociomedical Sciences Applied Quantitative Research Methods (R); Public Health GIS (R/QGIS); Introduction to Data Analytics for Public Policy, Administration, and Management (Excel/Tableau); The Public Health Impact of Sexually Transmitted Infections; Investigative Methods in Complex Emergencies (Excel).University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
September 2019 - December 2022
• College of Liberal Arts
• Bachelor of Arts in Human Physiology; Minors in Integrative Neuroscience and Public Health.
• Activities: Student Union & Activities; Pre-Pharmacy Club; Vietnamese Student Association of Minnesota; Biology Colloquium; Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students; Asian Pacific American Resource Center; Asian American Student Union; Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life.

EXPERIENCES
Generator Health (Forus) - New York, NY
Operations Specialist
November 2025 - Present
• Support the execution of workflows and operational processes that enable Generator Health, a subsidiary of Tandem, to fulfill its mission of expediting access to critical medications.
• Collaborate with doctors’ offices, insurance companies, nonprofit foundations, and pharmacies to streamline prescription processing. Communicate with patients regarding the status of their prescription.
• Master proprietary software tools, including AI, to execute operational workflows efficiently, while continuously adapting and optimizing processes.Dear Asian Youth - New York, NY
Policy Research & Analysis Lead, previous Healthcare Policy Associate, Lead Policy Researcher
May 2023 - January 2026
• Co-led a team of 6 associates to conduct in-depth research on relevant policies, draft advocacy materials, and provide data-driven support for legislative and grassroots initiatives.
• Drafted policy briefs, white papers, legislative proposals, one-pagers, slide decks, and infographics explaining policy issues.
• Developed action plans for time-sensitive policy issues and provided real-time analysis to guide advocacy responses.
• Researched and collaborated with legislators on healthcare-related legislation at the state and federal levels.
• Established and grew relationships with external organizations concerning healthcare policy.
• Oversaw 5 other policy researchers researching New York state bills for DAY Day 2024.
• Researched various New York state representatives for the event and emailed to schedule meetings.
• Assisted with event logistics, co-led the DAY Day presentations and activities, and managed the researcher team during lobbying.NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Long Island City, NY
HRTP Research and Surveillance Intern
February 2025 - September 2025
• Participated in the Health Research Training Program (HRTP) Spring 2025 Internship 65th cohort and continued through the summer.
• Reviewed and abstracted prevalence, morbidity, and mortality data for a drug surveillance model to inform drug policy for the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use.
• Input data, created databases, and drafted summary reports and literature reviews for the Office of Research, Surveillance, Policy, and Communications while contributing to other background research.
• Analyzed and visualized data with SAS and R for a presentation on overdose mortality in public outdoor settings in New York City.
• Supervisors: Ellenie Tuazon & Melanie Harris.Project STAY - NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital & Columbia Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
Health Educator, previous Public Health Intern
June 2024 - September 2025
• Assisted with health education workshops, HIV/STI testing services, and referrals at different community events, focusing on underrepresented communities.
• Completed the Summer APEx internship with Project STAY (Services to Assist Youth), a joint initiative by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the Harlem Health Promotion Center (HHPC) within the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
• Developed and delivered sexual health and cardiovascular disease education workshops to participants and staff at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in the Bronx and the Financial District and at other events focusing on underserved populations.
• Drafted outreach materials, conducted informal interviews, and evaluated program impact based on environmental scans and interviews; focusing on accessibility to services and affirming care.
• Supervisors: Zoe Plewa, MPH; Dr. Alwyn Cohall, MD; and Renee Cohall, LCSW-R, ACSW.NewYork-Presbyterian School-Based Health Centers - Bronx, NY
Critical Service Learning Associate
February 2025 - May 2025
• Collaborated with coordinators and physicians to develop recommendations for improving sexual health service engagement and utilization for POPF P8606: The Public Health Impacts of Sexually Transmitted Infections.
• Worked in a group to develop a survey and collect data from seven high schools at the John F. Kennedy Educational Campus to assess barriers to school-based health center (SBHC) enrollment and service utilization.Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
Sociomedical Sciences Ambassador
January 2025 - May 2025
• Emailed campaigns to prospective students to the Department of Sociomedical Sciences.
• Attended virtual office hours for admitted students.
• Participated in Admitted Student's Day and other admissions activities.Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
FORWARD Fellow
September 2024 - May 2025
• One of eight students selected for a stipend to develop an initiative, grounded in established theory, that addresses a racism-related problem of practice in the school community to present later.
• Supported the Office of Field Practice's "DEIB in the Student Applied Practice Experience" project to enrich the FORWARD Community Summer APEx Fellowship.
• Interviewed students to determine education gaps and created a training module that better prepares them for culturally informed, service-based community work.
• Principal investigators: Dr. Carly Hutchinson, PhD and Ana Jiménez-Bautista, LMSWColumbia University Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
Graduate Teaching Assistant
September 2024 - December 2024
• Assisted in teaching the course PUBH P6040: Determinants of Health to a class of 200+ students, focusing on social, biological, and environmental determinants of health.
• Graded student assessments, facilitated discussion groups, hosted office hours, met weekly with lead teaching assistants, and regularly responded to student inquiries.Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
Student Support Worker
July 2024 - December 2024
• Provide administrative support to Mailman’s central programming in the MPH and DrPH core curricula, as well as for certificates.
• Draft weekly emails and cross-reference logistical information for the Office of Educational Initiatives.
• Maintained the Courseworks site, developed educational materials, and drafted weekly Core Navigator and Faculty emails.Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota - Saint Paul, MN
Teaching Aide
December 2021 - June 2023
• Taught English to students in both individual and class-sized settings.
• Helped clients with filling out intake forms or calling them while communicating in both Vietnamese and English.
• Translated English for Vietnamese families while filling out government forms.
• Facilitated English Language Learning exams.
• Helped plan and facilitate a Southeast Asian celebratory event centered on community healing, mental health destigmatization, arts and culture, and wellness advocacy.
• Gave the elders a presentation on holistic health regarding COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, in both English and Vietnamese.O'Connell Lab, University of Minnesota Medical School - Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Research Assistant
April 2021 - February 2023
• Assisted with physiological research involving mice tissue for the O’Connell Lab (Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology), focused on histology, genetics, and cardiology.
• Performed techniques such as pipetting, DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and preparatory methods like agarose gel preparation, perfusion buffer preparation, etc.
• Took on technician tasks such as sanitizing, glasswashing, restocking supplies, feeding mice, and mentoring new lab members.
• Worked with Principal investigator Dr. Timothy O’Connell, PhD on a capstone paper examining therapeutics for HFpEF in the aging heart.M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, East Bank - Minneapolis, MN
Surgical Oncology Nursing Unit Volunteer
August 2021 - December 2022
• Volunteered in the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center - East Bank location’s surgical oncology nursing unit.
• Assisted patients with their needs and provided a social presence. Organized supplies, sanitized surfaces, and answered phones from patients’ rooms.
• Straightened and set up rooms for patients and transported patients in wheelchairs.
• Also volunteered for a few shifts throughout the summer of 2021 at M Health Fairview's COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Saint Paul, MN.Asian Pacific American Resource Center, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN
Program Coordinator
June 2021 - December 2022
• Planned and organized workshops, events, and activities through APARC centered on AAPI identity and intersectionality.
• Developed the ASPIRE mentorship program for 80+ students through advising and coordinating opportunities.
• Managed the social media accounts for the program. Planned the 3-day mentor training retreat and led a house of 14 mentors and mentees.
• Taught and created curriculum for AAS 3993 (ASPIRE LEADS: Empowering Future Leaders—Directed Studies in Asian American Studies) for mentors.
• Supervisors: Peter Limthongviratn, MEd; Tev Lee, MEd; and Kong Her, MA.Minneapolis VA Healthcare System - Minneapolis, MN
Curbside Volunteer
June 2021 - June 2022
• Greeted and directed patients and families at the patient hospital entrance of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.
• Wheeled patients to their destinations and collected and organized wheelchairs.M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital - Minneapolis, MN
Inpatient & Discharge Pharmacy Volunteer
February 2020 - July 2021
• Volunteered in the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital - West Bank location’s inpatient pharmacy from February 2020 to March 2020 and discharge pharmacy from January 2021 to July 2021.
• Responsibilities included medication delivery throughout the hospital; covering several floors and units, assisting pharmacists with daily tasks, and informing nurses and physicians on medication instructions.University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences - Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
September 2020 - December 2020
• Led a group of undergraduate students in the College of Biological Sciences (CBS)-offered class; BIOL 1020 - Biology Colloquium.
• Connected with research labs for tours for the students, graded student work, and assisted the class coordinator and CBS dean with speakers and slideshows to introduce students to careers in biology.
• Supervisors: Dr. Valery Forbes, PhD, MS; Magan Aziz; and Emily Weyenberg.

EXTRACURRICULARS
Student Leadership Engagement Initiative, Columbia University - New York, NY
Student Delegate
September 2024 - May 2025
• Represented the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health as a student leader delegate at biweekly meetings aimed at fostering student and faculty dialogue and engaging in cross-campus collaboration and workshops to provide advice to University leadership, including Interim President Katrina Armstrong, COO Cas Holloway, and other provosts and administrators.
• Topics covered are related to campus climate, policy, and administrative decisions across the Columbia schools and campuses.R.I.S.E. Peer Mentor Program, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
R.I.S.E. Peer Mentor
August 2024 - May 2025
• Participated in the Resilience, Inclusion, Solidarity, and Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) Peer Mentor Program as a peer mentee from August 2023 to May 2024 and a peer mentor from August 2024 to May 2025.
• Mentored 3 first-year Columbia MPH students from first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds via programming, check-ins, weekly emails, bonding events, and professional guidance.
• Mentee from August 2023 - May 2024.Columbia Advocates for Asian, Pacific Islander, & Desi American Health - New York, NY
Director of Marketing
January 2024 - February 2025
• Managed Columbia AAPIDAH's social media accounts and created flyers for events.
• Led event promotion ideas and programming that spread awareness for APIDA health issues and disparities through speaker series and campus events while also being a space for APIDA students on the medical campus.
• General member from September to December 2023 and February 2025 to May 2025.Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health - New York, NY
Sociomedical Sciences Buddy
August 2024 - December 2024
• Regularly emailed and checked in with 10 student buddies (mentees) in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences.
• Shared resources, events, and other information to guide MPH and MS students through their first year.

PROJECTS
2023 Overdose mortality data in public outdoor settings, NYC, and other BADU project contributions
August 2025 - September 2025
• Cumulative presentation for HRTP internship requirements overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol & Drug Use at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, supervised by Ellenie Tuazon.
• The presentation covered task and project contributions, as well as a final project looking at 2023 overdose mortality data across New York City by different demographics in public outdoor settings. SAS, R, and Excel were used to analyze, produce, and visualize the graphs and maps for this analysis.School-based health centers: Assessing low enrollment and service utilization at the John F. Kennedy Educational Campus
February 2025 - May 2025
• Created a slide deck with a team as a service learning group project for POPF P8608 with Dr. Alwyn Cohall.
• Worked in a team on a critical service learning project aimed at improving sexual health outcomes by assessing low enrollment and service utilization at a high school educational campus in the Bronx. Partnered with NewYork-Presbyterian's School-Based Health Center program to conduct surveys with students and analyze data to make recommendations that would better serve the student community.
• This slidedeck was presented at a symposium in Spring 2025.DEIB in the applied experience: Preparing students and CBOs for equity work
September 2025 - May 2025
• Worked with a fellow student and the Office of Field Practice (OFP) to enrich the FORWARD Community Summer APEx Fellowship and service-based work with community-based organizations by interviewing students and site supervisors to determine educational gaps and inform resource deliverables that aim to strengthen supervisor–student partnerships and promote equity-centered service learning.
• This poster was presented at an equity symposium in Spring 2025.Trends in HIV prevalence with free condom distribution sites by zip code in New York City
March 2025 - April 2025
• Created a GIS spatial analysis poster for EHSC P8371.
• Analyzed existing datasets using spatial analysis tools in QGIS and Microsoft Excel to observe trends in the spatial distribution of free condom sites, incorporate HIV prevalence data, and determine whether NYC has been targeting high-prevalence areas. This analysis aims to identify opportunities for improving public health policy and practice.
• This culminating project was presented in a showcase.Sociocultural barriers to HIV prevention, detection, and access to treatment in AAPI populations
September 2024 - April 2025
• Worked independently under the guidance of Dr. Le Minh Giang on a master's thesis for the Sociomedical Sciences, MPH.
• In a literature review, existing sources were analyzed and synthesized to evaluate research on barriers to HIV care in the AAPI community and to identify limitations to be addressed. This review highlights a need for culturally sensitive, community-based, and multi-level public health interventions that center AAPI lived experiences while intricately addressing sociocultural and sociomedical inequities in HIV care and access.Mobilization of surveillance systems and activation of emergency response for nPMV-26 in the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region
December 2024 - December 2024
• Researched and wrote an epidemiological white paper for EPID P8475: Emerging Infectious Diseases with Dr. Stephen Morse, identifying and recommending three surveillance systems to track a fictitious, hypothetical, and novel paramyxovirus called nPMV-26 in the WHO's Western Pacific Region. Prior research was drawn to comparatively develop these systems that oversee emergency response, laboratory capacity, and pandemic preparedness, while also looking at past similar examples in countries in the region.A novel surveillance system for rabies in rural Tanzania
November 2024 - November 2024
• Worked in a team to develop a novel and feasible surveillance system, for EPID P8430: Public Health Surveillance with Dr. Batya Elul, that addresses a gap in existing systems, targeting rabies disease in rural Tanzania. The focus was on marginalized and hidden populations and/or on geographic areas with limited health infrastructure, rendering traditional surveillance systems inadequate. Traditional surveillance approaches were applied and adapted to this system.Project STAY & CEO staff cardiovascular disease workshop
July 2024 - August 2024
• This workshop was designed to inform and communicate to the staff of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) the risks of cardiovascular disease in clients affected by the carceral system.
• From adverse childhood experiences to case study examples, this interactive workshop presented relevant information aligned with Project STAY's mission of sexual, reproductive, and holistic health.
• This presentation served as a second component after the Sexual Health Workshop, with the addition of palm cards and flyers.Therapeutics for HFpEF through an aging lens: Protein lysine acetylation change vs. aerobic exercise training
January 2022 - May 2022
• Worked independently under the guidance of Dr. Timothy O’Connell on a capstone for PHSL 3062W (in the cardiovascular physiology area) for the Human Physiology, B.A. In a literature review, two different therapeutics on mice were considered to examine their potential to attenuate HFpEF phenotypes and outcomes: the use of nicotinamide riboside to lower lysine acetylation levels and aerobic exercise training.

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HONORS & AWARDS
• FORWARD Fellowship, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - July 2024
• Point BIPOC Scholarship, Point Foundation - May 2023
• Sociomedical Sciences Grant, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - March 2023
• Dean's List, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts - June 2022 & January 2023
• Top 10 People of the Year 2022, Musée Magazine - University of Minnesota - December 2022
• Community Health Initiative MCAE Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Minnesota - June 2022
• College Possible Scholarship, Minneapolis Foundation - April 2021 & May 2022
• Waller Scholarship, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts - April 2020
• NorthStar Education Finance Scholarship, Wallin Education Partners - June 2019
• American Friends Service Committee Named Scholarship, Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund - April 2019

SKILLS
• Programming/computer: Adobe, Avida-ED, Canva, Google Suite, JMP, Microsoft 365, QGIS, R, Tableau.
• Professional: AI workflow integration, environmental scanning, event management, health communications, health insurance, lobbying, marketing/publicity, mentorship, program evaluation, quality assurance, social media management, strategy & operations.
• Research: DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, interviewing, mouse handling, literature reviews, pipetting, polymerase chain reaction, quantitative/qualitative research methodologies, survey research.
• Academia: Grading, health education, HIV/STIs, infectious disease epidemiology, public health surveillance, social determinants of health, teaching.
• Languages: English, French, Latin, Vietnamese.

REFERENCES
Ellenie Tuazon, MPH.
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Director of Surveillance
• [email protected].Dr. Alwyn Cohall, MD.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center — Physician.
• Pediatrics, Sociomedical Sciences, and Population and Family Health — Professor.
• Harlem Health Promotion Center & Project STAY — Medical Director.
• [email protected].Helen de Pinho, MBBCh, MBA, FCCH.
• Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health — Associate Dean of Education Programs.
• Population and Family Health — Assistant Professor.
• [email protected].