This spring the Duke Department of Medicine welcomed its new division administrator, Nick Nguyen, MHA, into the division of cardiology. Nguyen is originally from Wilson, NC. He has an extensive background in healthcare administration; from working at CVS/pharmacy as a pharmacy technician for nine years to most recently serving as the Administrative Officer for the Department of Surgery of the Section of Surgical Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.
In this role, he was the administrative partner to the department chair and oversaw all finance and administrative activities for the department (the largest within the Section Surgical Sciences), which consisted of more than 85 faculty, 12 trainees, and more than 20 staff. The department of surgery was comprised of six divisions and 12 clinical programs across the general surgical discipline.
In his academic career, Nguyen earned a Bachelor of Music, concentrating in classical voice and opera, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After holding a management position as a pharmacy manager for two years at a CVS in Chapel Hill, Nguyen said that his community pharmacy experience inspired him to pursue a Master of Health Administration degree with concentrations in quality of care and financial management in the health policy and management from the Gilling School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill. He went on to complete an administrative fellowship in the Division of Surgical Sciences at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC.
Nguyen is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators (AASA). Recently, he became a contributing author for an editorial piece that will be published in Cardiovascular Business magazine in the upcoming months.
Down below, Nguyen explains what interested him in working for Duke Cardiology, his first impressions of Duke, and his love for music.
Q: Why did you choose Duke Cardiology? What piqued your interest in the Department's biggest division?
A: I was looking for an administrative leadership role within an academic medical center that continued to support the faculty, staff, and learners across all missions of the organization. While looking at job opportunities to return to the Triangle area, this position became available. The role was particularly interesting because of its breadth, complexity, and I had an opportunity to focus on supporting and leading programs that serve a great need for the North Carolina patient population and abroad. This role consisted of everything that was important to me for professional growth as well.
Q: What was your first impression of Duke and the Division of Cardiology?
A: During the initial discussions, I was immediately struck by the level of excellence at Duke and the passion each individual exhibited for their work and this institution. Manesh Patel, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiology, was obviously a driving force in my decision making. I am greatly honored to have the opportunity to partner with such a visionary leader with an esteemed faculty and program.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work? Do you have any hobbies?
A: Outside of work, I’m a huge fan of all music, especially classical and opera. I am excited to revisit several local venues and organizations where I either attended concerts at or with whom I had the pleasure of performing. During my time at Chapel Hill, I performed regionally with several professional organizations, including North Carolina Opera and North Carolina Symphony. Someday I hope to return to performing, if time and opportunities allow it.
In addition to music, I love playing tennis, being outdoors, and traveling.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add about your time here at Duke so far or about the cardiology division?
A: I’ve found Duke to be an amazing place. The people here are incredibly kind and helpful. Recently, I was able to hear a few presentations by our faculty and fellows. They are simply inspiring. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn even more about Duke, the Department of Medicine, and Division of Cardiology to support the great work that is being done across the institution.