Bay Pines VA Nurse Honors Vietnamese Heritage, Proud to Live American Dream
When Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Nurse Practitioner Thao Huynh thinks about the fortunes she’s experienced personally and professionally, five words come to mind.
“I’m living the America dream,” offered Huynh, who joined the healthcare system in 2020 and currently serves as an advanced practice nurse with the Home Based Primary Care team. “I get to work with a group of highly trained professionals that include registered nurse/case manager, pharmacy, nutrition, social work, and psychologists to provide care to vulnerable and high-risk Veterans.”
Huynh has been a nurse practitioner since 2014; however, her passion for nursing and helping others is deeply rooted in her culture.
"I grew up in Vietnam, and caring for those who are older is a core value of our culture,” continued Huynh. “Family is very important, and we often live in multi-generational environments where we can take care of our parents and grandparents; everyone has their responsibility, and we’re able to give the best support.”
Huynh often thinks about her time in Vietnam where she lived along the Mekong Delta, 20 minutes from the coast. Her father, a soldier in the army of the Republic of Vietnam, was put in a reeducation camp after the fall of Saigon. After serving several years in the camp, Huynh’s family was sponsored and able to move to the U.S.
Over the past four years, Huynh has also served as the Asian American Pacific Islander special emphasis program manager (SEPM) for Bay Pines VA employees. The role of a SEPM is to champion awareness and education resources that promote the importance of Inclusion*Diversity, Equity & Access as part of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
“Serving as a SEPM is very important because it allows me to help bring awareness of different cultures and ethnicities to my coworkers and Veterans,” offered Huynh who shared that, in her experience, people are often surprised to find out how many similarities are embedded in different cultures. “Recognizing our diversity reinforces the value of our experiences and provides a stronger understanding of who we are, which improves our teamwork.”
Huynh offered that she’s been impressed from the start by the amount of diversity across Bay Pines VA. As she thought about the many moments of her career, she offered that the special memories are the connections she’s been able to make.
“It makes me proud when employees and Veterans are able to identify my Vietnamese heritage and offer acknowledgement each May,” said Huynh. “I’ve also enjoyed connecting with Veterans from South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam who take the time to share their experiences in these countries.”
Huynh and her husband, who is also Vietnamese, have two children, and enjoy sharing their culture and traditions with them as they extend awareness to the next generation of Vietnamese-Americans.
As she thinks back to the fortunes that came before her at the age of 14, the wife and mother of two, who cares for Veterans in southwest Florida cannot help but remember the sacrifice her Vietnam Veteran father went through.
“I was able to come to America, attend college, have a career, and a family because of him and, because of him,” remembered Huynh. “I am so honored to be Vietnamese, but I am also proud to tell people I am living the American dream!”