Who we are

President

Diem has been working as a Physician Assistant since 1999, specializing in Stem cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SCTCT) at The University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology at University of Houston, her Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant and Master of Medical Science at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She is currently serving as a Physician Assistant fellow advisor, a Physician Assistant student preceptor, a member of Rotating Training Committee and a speaker ambassador for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She also serves as an Ambassador for National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) since 2010.

With her passion, she wants to connect all advanced practice providers together to join her to promote the health of Vietnamese and other communities through education, outreach, to unite healthcare professional to exchange ideas, continuing education, and to help cultivate the next generation of healthcare providers.

Co-Vice President

Angela Quach has been dedicated to oncology care since 2011, working in the Leukemia Department and advancing to a Leukemia Advanced Practice Provider (APP) role in 2018. She is deeply passionate about providing compassionate, high-quality care to patients and families facing complex cancer diagnoses.

Beyond her clinical work, Angela is highly active in community service and frequently volunteers to speak to organizations about healthy lifestyles and cancer prevention. She strongly believes in the power of education—not only to increase public awareness about health and cancer prevention, but also to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals to serve the people and improve quality of life.

Angela joined the Vietnamese American Advanced Practice Provider Association (VAAPPA) to connect with talented Vietnamese American PAs and NPs across Texas. She envisions strengthening the organization’s impact and serving the community—locally and abroad—through educational conferences, health fairs, mission trips, and mentorship opportunities, helping the younger generation discover the meaningful and rewarding path of healthcare.

Co-Vice President/Co-Treasurer

Christopher has been in healthcare since 2009, initially as a Nuclear Medicine/CT technologist, and more recently for the past 7 years as a PA at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), predominantly in the radiology department.  Christopher has served in other roles including COVID-19 officer and department PA Senate representative. He currently serves as his departments APP Patient Safety Quality Officer and PA Fellowship Advisor, while continuing to practice in direct patient care.

Inquisitive by nature, Christopher has spent a lifetime asking questions about systems and seeking incremental improvement. Often asking himself, “how to better our processes,” he has often found solutions to improve the standards and environment for both his patients and his colleagues. Reflecting on the challenges he’s faced as a PA, he enjoys being a resource to others and empowering the next generation of healthcare providers.

Christopher earned his Bachelors of Science in multidisciplinary studies from the University of Oklahoma, his Bachelors of Science in molecular imaging from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and his Masters of Medical Science from Emory University School of Medicine. He also completed the postgraduate oncology PA fellowship and the APP Professional Program at MDACC. A life-long learner, Christopher is currently in the Certificate of Clinical Educator Excellence (C2E2) program, and is the Secretary of the Physician Associates in Radiology Society (PAIRs).

Co-Secretary

Jennie has been a Physician Associate since 2011. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2005 and began her career as an emergency room nurse, where she worked for two years before pursuing advanced training. She went on to obtain her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Saint Francis University and began her PA career in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. She is currently a proceduralist Physician Associate at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

While balancing a demanding career and caring for her family, Jennie continued her academic journey and earned a Doctorate of Medical Science from Butler University in 2023.

Growing up with limited guidance and without a mentor to help navigate a path into medicine, Jennie relied on her curiosity, resilience, and determination to reach her goals. Through independent research and perseverance, she achieved her dream of becoming a Physician Assistant. These experiences shaped her passion for mentoring students and early-career healthcare professionals. She is deeply committed to sharing her journey, fostering meaningful mentorship relationships, and creating opportunities that empower and support the Vietnamese community.

Co-Secretary

Dona is a Physician Associate who has been practicing since 2017. She began her career in gastroenterology with a focus on functional medicine before joining the Diagnostic Imaging department at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2022.

Working with Houston's Vietnamese community has always held a special place in her heart. She is passionate about patient education and increasing health literacy in underserved communities. Dona envisions VAAPPA as an essential bridge connecting the Vietnamese community with future Vietnamese healthcare providers.

Marketing/PR

Julie worked as a Physician Associate since 2014, initially in nursing homes for a year before moving to oncology care in the Leukemia Department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin before receiving her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies at The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth, TX. 

She was promoted to Supervisor Advanced Practice Provider in 2022 and has served as Physician Assistant student preceptor as well as a trainer of new hires within the department. Education has always been important to her, so she decided to pursue a Doctorate of Medical Science, which she received in August 2025 from the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

Her passion has always been myeloproliferative neoplasms, and she has helped to bridge the educational gap about this subspecialized and rare disease within the community. Due to her role in patient care in this field, she was awarded the prestigious MPN Heroes Award in 2025.

Julie made the difficult decision to leave the world of clinical care to pursue a career as a medical science liaison in oncology to help build relationships with the medical community by sharing complex data and gathering clinical insights. She hopes that VAAPPA will grow to be a community that fosters lifelong learning, public service, and helps to develop relationships between various healthcare providers. 

Membership Chair ‍

With over 13 years of nursing experience—including five as a Nurse Practitioner—Tran  currently specializes in Hospital Medicine, providing compassionate, patient-centered care during critical inpatient stays at MD Anderson. Her extensive background in Oncology has deeply shaped her holistic approach, fueling a lifelong passion for supporting the physical and emotional well-being of patients and their families.

Tran joined VAAPPA with the goal of dedication to empowering the Vietnamese community through health prevention and awareness. She is equally committed to fostering the next generation of Advanced Practice Providers through professional mentorship and networking. When she is not advocating for her patients or her community, she enjoys exploring the culinary arts, traveling, and celebrating life’s special milestones with her family and friends.

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Co-Treasurer

Jeffrey is a Nurse Practitioner practicing since 2021 in hematology oncology. He has worked in nursing in hematology since 2015 before working as a NP in 2021. Background in home health care, and interested in community outreach initiatives such as health education, screening programs with the focus of decreasing health disparities and promoting preventative care. 

Oncology Board Representative

Hai Tran Dang is a board- certified FNP with over 12 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based care to diverse patient populations. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Prairie View A&M College of Nursing and is certified by the AANP.

Currently practicing at UT MDACC in Houston, Texas , Dang specializing in Leukemia, with clinical interests that include acute and chronic disease management, preventive care, and patient education. Known for her patient-centered approach, Dang emphasizes collaboration, respect, and open communication in every clinical interaction.

She has strong connection with the Vietnamese community, having volunteered in Houston and surrounding areas over 30 years. Fluent in Vietnamese, she actively promotes health and cancer prevention through volunteer work with BPSOS, churches, pagodas, nursing homes, as well as organizations such as VANA and VAMA. 

Dang wants to emphasize the important role of NPs and PAs in helping the community promote health, as well as in educating the young Vietnamese population to pursue higher education and continue providing care to all Americans. 

Primary Care Board Representative

Huyen is a Family Nurse Practitioner with experience in primary care and urgent care. She completed advanced training in Family Medicine at PVAMU and Emergency/Trauma care through UT Houston. Huyen is committed to advancing community health through compassionate service, collaboration, and teamwork, and is motivated to contribute her clinical expertise to VAAPPA’s medical missions to create a meaningful and lasting impact in underserved communities.

Primary Care Board Representative

Hanh is a board-certified Adult-Geri Nurse Practitioner with over 4 years of experience providing comprehensive, patient-centered care across the lifespan. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch and is nationally certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She greatly enjoys working at the clinic with her colleagues, providing adequate care to each patient, all while gaining invaluable experience for professional growth. 

Hanh began her nursing career as a registered nurse in a GI/Hepatology unit specializing in liver transplantation, where she developed a strong foundation in acute care and patient advocacy for over 15 years. Her passion for preventive medicine and long-term patient relationships led her to pursue her practitioner certifications to further be able to provide her community with the expanded healthcare required aside from being a registered nurse manager as well.

Being a member of VAAPPA helps Hanh to stay informed with the current guideline and best practices as well as network with other advanced providers who share the same passion for providing accessible and quality care to the underserved population.

Jenny Nguyen is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 18 years of healthcare experience. She spent 16 years as a registered nurse working in high-acuity and fast-paced settings, including the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Room (ER), and Endoscopy. These experiences built a strong foundation in clinical assessment, critical thinking, and compassionate patient care.

For the past two years, Jenny has practiced as a Nurse Practitioner in family practice, providing comprehensive, patient-centered care across the lifespan. She is committed to preventive care, chronic disease management, and health education, with a focus on building long-term relationships with patients and families.