Van Nguyen, MD
Employment
07/2021 - 07/2022
University of Southern California (USC): Glaucoma Fellowship
Specialized training in glaucoma management, developing expertise in advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques.
07/2018 - 06/2021
University of Missouri, Columbia (UMC): Ophthalmology Residency
Comprehensive training in ophthalmology, gaining experience in clinical decision-making, patient care, and surgical procedures.
06/2017 - 06/2018
University of California, Irvine (UCI): Internal Medicine Intern
Broad clinical experience in internal medicine, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration skills and providing a foundation for understanding patient care across various specialties.
09/2022 - Present
University of Southern California (USC): Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Provide patient care, teach, and conduct research all while fostering a deep understanding of clinical workflows, medical documentation, and the integration of AI in ophthalmology.
02/2025 - Present
Vitazi.AI: Clinical AI Consultant
Apply clinical expertise to the development and evaluation of AI solutions in diabetic retinopathy screening and screening for systemic diseases via oculomics, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technologies relevant to healthcare applications.
01/2025 - Present
MedSchoolCoach: Physician Advisor
Provide guidance and mentorship to aspiring medical professionals, honing communication and educational skills valuable for collaboration and knowledge sharing within a multidisciplinary team.
06/2014 - 05/2017
01/2010 - 09/2011
White Donut Productions: Aerial Cinematographer and Editor
Develop skills in visual communication and storytelling, project management, and creative problem-solving, with experience capturing and editing aerial footage for diverse projects. Clients included the Crescent City Classic, Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, the Louisiana University Marine Consortium, and Camp Tiger.
06/2006 - 07/2009
Megumi Japanese Cuisine: Sushi Chef
Hone skills in precision, efficiency, and teamwork within a fast-paced environment, developing a strong work ethic and commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Esperance Pharmaceuticals: Lab Technician
Start-up biotech company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Responsibilities included aiding in production and efficacy analysis of antibody drug conjugates using proprietary membrane disrupting peptides and assisted in compiling a comprehensive report on root causal analysis of varying drug concentrations and efficient drug delivery among multiple phase 1 clinical trial centers.
Leadership
07/2015 - 05/2017
Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine (SOM): Vice President
GHHS is an organization that recognizes students and physicians that uphold the humanistic values of medicine. Projects included designing a lecture series for incoming first years on how to more efficiently practice humanism throughout medical school and organizing the annual patient solidarity day.
07/2012 - 06/2014
Ethikos at LSU SOM: President
Lead a student organization that explores humanism in medicine through engaging speaker events and volunteer projects that explore health policy, health disparities, and cultural competency. Some events included the end of life care symposium, a meditation workshop by a licensed cardiologist, and a talk delving into ethical challenges of disaster medicine during Hurricane Katrina.
07/2010 - 05/2011
Multiculturalism in Health Care (MHC) at LSU: Cofounder
Established an organization to promote cultural competency among pre-health students via exposure to speakers of diverse cultural and medical backgrounds as well as immersive volunteer events. Responsibilities included but were not limited to managing organization finances, planning a Peace Corp talk about Azerbaijan, and organizing a volunteer experience at a local Buddhist temple.
09/2022 - Present
Global Ophthalmology at USC: Director
Spearhead global ophthalmology partnerships aimed at advancing equitable eye care through AI innovations and community-centered strategies. My leadership focuses on bridging healthcare disparities through clinical, surgical, and AI collaborations at international hospitals in Mexico and Vietnam.
09/2024 - Present
Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program at USC: Champion
Support efforts to increase diversity in ophthalmology by mentoring underrepresented students and fostering their competitiveness for residency programs. Through this role, I contribute to creating a more inclusive healthcare system by promoting opportunities for underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in ophthalmology.
07/2024 - Present
Ophthalmology Inpatient Consult Service: Director
Oversee the evaluation and management of inpatients with eye-related disorders, ensuring timely and effective care through triage and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. My leadership role involves coordinating complex ophthalmic consultations, guiding residents in patient care, and fostering a high standard of inpatient ophthalmology services.
02/2025 - Present
Keck School of Medicine Global Strategy Advisory Committee: Advisor
Advise the Dean of the USC Keck School of Medicine matters that involve a global component within three key areas: strategy and policy, international partnerships, and short-term global health experiences.
Honors and Awards
05/2020
Awarded third place in Residents and Fellows Posters at the ASCRS Annual Meeting 2020
05/2019
Awarded best paper of session in Inflammation, Pain, Infection at the ASCRS Annual Meeting 2019
07/2015 - Present
Nominated by peers into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS)
08/2015
Visiting Electives Program Scholarship at Icahn School of Medicine
07/2012 - 05/2017
LSU School of Medicine Disadvantaged Scholarship Award
07/2012 - 05/2013
Foundation for the LSU Health Sciences Center Merit Scholarship
03/2024
01/2024
12/2023
Awarded top poster presentation in Epidemiology at the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) Annual Meeting 2024
Awarded top three poster at the Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation (CCOI) Annual Meeting 2024
Awarded the AGS Mentoring for the Advancement of Physician Scientists (MAPS) Grant 2023
01/2025
Awarded the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Young Eye Surgeon International Service (YIS) Grant
Publications
Nguyen V, Iyengar S, Rasheed H, et al. Comparison of Deep Learning and Clinician Performance Detecting Referable Glaucoma from Fundus Photographs in a Safety Net Population. Ophthalmology Science (2025), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2025.100751.
Shean R, Yu N, Guntipally S, Nguyen V, He X, Duan S, Gokoffski K, Zhu Y, Xu B. Advances and Challenges in Wearable Glaucoma Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Bioengineering. 2024; 11(2):138. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11020138.
Davuluru S, Jess A, Kim J, Yoo K, Nguyen V, Xu B. Identifying, Understanding, and Addressing Disparities in Glaucoma Care in the United States. Translational Vision Science & Technology. 2023 Oct 3;12(10):18. doi: 10.1167/tvst.12.10.18. PMID: 37889504; PMCID: PMC10617640.
Ponnusamy V, Nguyen V, An J. Comparative outcome analysis of bleb needling of fibrotic blebs in the clinic versus the operating room: a retrospective case series. BMC Ophthalmology. 2021; 21, 115.
Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, King J, Lee D, Nguyen V, An J. Effect of Excisional Goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) on Surgically Induced Astigmatism. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2020; 14:4297-4303.
Polk AJ, Nguyen V, Jarstad J. Is Palpation Sufficient for Estimation of IOP Immediately Following Cataract Surgery? Medical Hypothesis, Discovery and Innovation in Ophthalmology. 2020 Summer; 9(2): 143–148.
Nguyen V, Pandya M, Ahmad A, Eliassi-Rad B. Ab Interno Trabeculectomy and Trabeculotomy. American Academy of Ophthalmology, EyeWiki. August 2019. https://eyewiki.org/Ab_Interno_Trabeculectomy_and_Trabeculotomy. Accessed September 13, 2019.
Nguyen V, Jwo K, Bhatt A, Mosaed S. Association of Retinopathy of Prematurity and Plateau iris. Journal of Glaucoma. 2019; 28(7): e121-e123.
Nguyen V, Schmutz M, Farukhi S, Mosaed S. Baerveldt scleral patch graft abscess due to coagulase negative Staphylococcus. Case Reports in Ophthalmology. 2017; 8: 521-526.
Conference Presentations
Nguyen V, Iyengar S, Rasheed H, Kesselman C, Daskivich L, Pazzani M, Xu B. Comparison of Deep Learning and Clinician Performance Detecting Referable Glaucoma from Fundus Photographs in a Safety Net Population. Abstract accepted to the World Glaucoma Congress (WGC) 2025.
Nguyen V, Pham T, Ho T, Xu B, Do H, Nguyen L, Nguyen D, Nguyen S. Development and Validation of an Artificial Intelligence System to Detect Referable Glaucoma from Fundus Photographs in a Southern Vietnamese Population. Poster presentation at Global Ophthalmology Summit (GOS) 2024.
Shean R, Xu B, Nguyen V. Impact of Smoking on the Development of Glaucoma in Los Angeles Safety-Net Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy. Poster presentation at AGS 2024 (awarded top poster in the category of Epidemiology).
Nguyen V, Iyengar S, Daskivich L, Kesselman C, Pazzani M, Xu B. Evaluating the Fairness and Bias of a Deep Learning Algorithm for Detecting Referable Glaucoma in a Safety Net Teleretinal Program. Poster presentation at Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Imaging (CCOI) 2024.
Arora S, Rao A, Burkemper B, Lee J, Fard A, Yu S, Nguyen V, Xu B, Wong B, Richter G, Song B. Intrasession Repeatability of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography 4.5 mm and 6 mm Scans for Glaucomatous and Non-Glaucomatous Eyes. Poster presentation at ARVO 2022.
Rao A, Huang C, Lee J, Burkemper B, Arora S, Wang R, Zhou X, Fard A, Yu S, Nguyen V, Wong B, Xu B, Song B; Richter G. Evaluation of Peripapillary and Macular Vessel Density following Intraocular Pressure Reduction Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. Poster presentation at ARVO 2022.
Xu H, Nguyen V, Alayoubi B, Abud A, An J. Correlation of Netarsudil-Induced Hyperemia and IOP Reduction. Poster presentation at AAO 2021.
Lee D, Nguyen V, An J. Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (mTSCPC) as a Predictor of Success for Netarsudil. Posterior presentation at WGC 2021.
Nguyen V, Voss J, Hooshmand S, An J. Predictive Factors for Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (mTSCPC) Success at 6 Months. Poster presentation at AAO 2020.
Nguyen V, Jarstad J. High-Dose Dietary Riboflavin and Direct Sunlight Exposure in the Treatment of Keratoconus and Post-Refractive Surgery Ectasia of the Cornea. Poster presentation at ASCRS 2020 (awarded third place in the category of Residents and Fellows Posters).
Virdi G, Nguyen V, An J. Comparison of Outcomes After XEN Ab-Interno Versus XEN Ab-Externo Approaches. Poster presentation at ARVO 2020 and podium presentation at WGC 2021.
Ponnusamy V, Nguyen V, An J. Comparative Outcome Analysis of Bleb Needling of Fibrotic Blebs in the Clinic Versus the Operating Room. Podium presentation at AAO 2019.
Nguyen V, Polk A, Jarstad J. Comparison of Palpation Versus Barraquer Tonometer Relative to Handheld Digital Tonometer for Immediate Postoperative Measurement of Intraocular Pressure Following Cataract Surgery. Podium presentation at ASCRS 2019.
Jarstad J, Roider L, Young D, Wittgrove C, Nguyen V. Necessity of Perioperative NSAIDs as Prevention for Cystoid Macular Edema Following Cataract Surgery with Immediate Postoperative IOP Adjustment. Podium presentation at ASCRS 2019 (awarded best paper of session in the category of Inflammation, Pain, Infection).
Research In Progress
Tien P, Xu B, Nguyen V, Tai H, Hiep D, Loc N, Quang D, Son N. Development and Validation of an Artificial Intelligence System to Detect Referable Glaucoma from Fundus Photographs in a Southern Vietnamese Population. Submitted to the Journal of Glaucoma for consideration.
Bolo K, Nguyen V, Wong B, Daskivich L, Xu B. Introducing artificial intelligence to glaucoma screening: A comparison of foundation and supervised learning models for automated evaluation of fundus photographs. Currently in the manuscript writing phase.
Shean R, Shah T, Sobhani S, Tang A, Setayesh A, Bolo K, Nguyen V, Xu B. OpenAI o1 Large Language Model Outperforms GPT-4o, Gemini 1.5 Flash, and Human Test Takers on Ophthalmology Board-Style Questions. Submitted to Ophthalmology Science for consideration.
Research
Board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology
Current active medical license in California
Languages: English (native), Vietnamese (proficient), Spanish (basic)
Hobbies include rock climbing, snowboarding, calisthenics, hot yoga, board games, and searching for the best unagi don in the world