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MCHC Health Centers is pleased to welcome Vanessa Nguyen, DDS, as the newest dentist on the team. Nguyen provides dental care to both children and adults at Hillside Health Center in Ukiah.
Nguyen is honored to join the staff of a community health center dedicated to delivering dental care to as many people as possible, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Her passion for providing care for underserved populations stems from her upbringing. Born and raised in Central Florida to parents who emigrated to the United States, she says, “I grew up understanding what it was like to have limited resources.”
Her firsthand experiences with social support programs, such as free school lunches and Pell Grants—federal financial aid for college students with significant financial need—shaped her perspective. “Through my childhood, I became curious about ways I can contribute to improving others’ quality of life,” she says.
“I think that’s the reason why I love helping others; it’s fulfilling. In many ways, it reminds me of my past and brings a sense of healing to it, too.”
As a college student in Florida, she volunteered at the Florida Mission of Mercy, where dentists donated time and resources to care for patients in need. Watching people stand in line as early as three in the morning in hopes of receiving dental care they could not otherwise afford had a deep impact on Nguyen. At the same time, she was inspired by the dental providers who volunteered, skipping lunch breaks and staying past the time the clinic was supposed to close to make sure everyone in line was seen. Witnessing this illuminated her path toward a career in dentistry.
After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, Nguyen graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York.
For Nguyen, providing dental care to individuals who might not otherwise have access is a meaningful way of giving back. “I want to feel that [my work as a dentist] it’s more than a job, and I want to do what I can to support our communities,” she says.
Currently, Nguyen serves as an active-duty member of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, a role she earned through her exceptional academic performance and volunteer work.
Volunteering is a priority for Nguyen. As a dental student, she wrote grants to raise funds for vulnerable populations of Washington Heights and worked with other disciplines, like the School of Nursing at Columbia, to bring hot meals to patients during the holidays. As she resettles in Ukiah, she is interested in partnering with the local library system to improve public awareness and education about the importance of oral hygiene.
Of her volunteer work, she says, “I felt like if we could all help each other in some way, we could make the world a much better place. That’s why I want to dedicate my life to treating others. It feels meaningful and makes life worth living.”
When Nguyen is first introduced to a new dental patient, she does her best to identify something they have in common, even if it is small. Whether she asks about their day, who came with them to their appointment, or offers a compliment, “that one thing can lead to many topics of conversation,” she says.
Those conversations build connection, which Nguyen believes increases patients’ likelihood of returning for future appointments and makes it easier to have trust-based, two-way communication if concerns arise.
“Dr. Nguyen’s approach to patient care makes her a wonderful addition,” says MCHC Dental Director, Dr. Neha Sharma said. “She is very thorough, well trained, and cares about her patients. We are very delighted to have her.”
Outside of work, Vanessa Nguyen likes cooking and trying new recipes, reading, running, photography, and exploring Northern California. She stays in touch with friends and family living across the country through phone calls and writing letters. At the same time, she is happy to be forming new friendships in Ukiah and says her colleagues at MCHC have helped her feel at home.
“It’s reassuring that there are people out there who care about you, even if you haven’t known them for a long time,” she says. “It reminds me, ‘I can do this. I can move to new places and make an impact wherever I go.’”
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MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.