2022 Tillman Scholar Impact Round Up: Healthcare Part 2

Blog | 07/26/2022

In conjunction with our 60 Days of Scholars feature, we are taking a look at the different impact areas of our remarkable 2022 class of Tillman Scholars. Our scholar community has found their passions leading them to diverse fields of studies all with the same goal in mind, unite others and advance ideas that change the world. From business and STEM to education and public service, each week we will be highlighting our brand new scholars and how they plan to make their impact.

With a large pool of our 2022 class pursuing careers in healthcare, this is part two of our Tillman Scholar Impact Round Up for this impact area. Check out their stories below!

Mykel Jess, Duke University

“SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME; THAT’S WHY MY TOP PRIORITY AS A NURSE IS LISTENING AND ADVOCATING FOR PATIENTS’ NEEDS AND CARE.”

Mykel’s nursing passion has lead career into both palliative care and critical care cardiology. In an attempt to meld the two passions she is now seeking her Doctorate of Nursing Practice at Duke University. She plans to conduct a research project aimed to improve patients’ (and their families) quality of life and experiences through the progression of advanced heart failure symptoms. With her doctoral degree, she will also begin her teaching/mentorship career for new and advancing nurses in an attempt to promote a more holistic treatment plan for their future patients.

Andrew Nguyen, Harvard University

“WHEN I REFLECT ON MEDICINE, I DRAW MANY PARALLELS TO MY LIFE IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS. THE MISSION, ABOVE ALL ELSE, IS TO PROVIDE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THOSE AROUND YOU.”

From his service, Andrew realized that through a career in medicine, he could be more than just a bystander to suffering — he could be in the position to not only reduce unnecessary pain but to also help those affected by conflict and trauma be restored to the fullness of life. Andrew graduated from Yale University in 2022 with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and is currently an M.D. candidate at Harvard Medical School. In crossing from the path of a warrior to that of a healer, he hopes to continue a life of service with the mission to improve the human condition and reduce unnecessary suffering in the world one person at a time.

Nam Phuong Pommier, Rowan University

“FRESH FOOD IS A NECESSITY, YET IT IS OUT OF REACH FOR MANY. THROUGH LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE, I AM MOVED, HUMBLED, AND INSPIRED TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE.”

Leaving Viet Nam to lead a military family with her husband in 2013, Phuong found her way to establish her life in the States and connect with new communities at new duty stations through volunteer work. These invaluable experiences led her to realize her passion and calling for nutrition and public health. Phuong currently pursues her Masters of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics to become a Registered Dietitian specializing in working with patients with diabetes. Embracing the Food as Medicine approach, Phuong desires to improve the quality of life, health, and well-being of the underserved population by improving their access to fresh and healthy foods through public health initiatives.

Daniel Reyes, Vanderbilt University

“ACHIEVING TRUE HEALTH EQUITY CALLS FOR NOT ONLY AN INCREASE IN CLINICAL RESOURCES, BUT ALSO SOCIAL AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY HEALTH DISPARITIES.”

Since his separation from the Navy in 2013, Daniel has worked as an LVN in various specialties including pain management, diagnostic radiology, oncology, urgent care, and primary care. It was through these various experiences in healthcare that brought to light the various disparities in healthcare and issues regarding access to services affecting certain communities. Since taking a serious interest in health equity, he has volunteered with COACH for kids and their families at Cedars-Sinai which brings low to no cost medical services like health screening, immunizations and health education to families in underserved areas of Los Angeles county. Upon graduation as a Nurse Practitioner, Daniel plans to provide health care to underserved socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Thomas Roache, University of California – Los Angeles

“SUCCESS ON THE BATTLEFIELD REQUIRED TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, AND INNOVATION. AS A PHYSICIAN, I WANT TO EMPLOY THOSE SAME ATTRIBUTES IN THE EFFORT TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE FOR THE UNDERSERVED.”

With his career as a physician, Thomas intends to continue to work on behalf of those oppressed not by dictatorial states, but by socioeconomic factors. By leveraging lessons learned through his military, professional, and academic experiences, Thomas hopes to develop and implement better systems of care for communities around the world. In addition, Thomas hopes to use his background in media creation and civic organizing to shape the public discourse around caring for the underserved. By helping to provide platforms by which patients might tell their own stories, Thomas hopes to foster stronger and more widespread empathy – an instrumental factor in galvanizing public support for change.