#2025UMMCGrad: Hang Nguyen
Published on Monday, April 28, 2025
By: Rachel Vanderford, rvanderford@umc.edu
Photos By: Jay Ferchaud/ UMMC Communications
When Hang Nguyen first began college, she wasn’t sure which career path to choose. She opted to follow many of her peers who were pursuing nursing school, only to realize two semesters in that it wasn’t the best fit for her.
But two semesters in, she realized that path wasn’t for her. What she did know was that she wanted to deliver health care to her community in Biloxi.
“I grew up in a predominantly immigrant and minority community of East Biloxi, notoriously known as ‘The Eastside,’” she said. “I started looking at what kind of health care is accessible to my community and what is often neglected in our population. The number one thing that stood out was the lack of dental care.
“The residents of my community did not regularly seek dental care because of the lack of dental accessibility, financial issues and language barriers. They also don’t trust dentists not to pressure them into treatments that they did not want or need.”
Ultimately, she decided to pursue dentistry to represent her community and bring accessible and affordable dental care to the diverse community that raised her.
Nguyen, whose first language is Vietnamese, often serves as a translator for her family, friends and neighbors for legal documents or medical appointments, she said. She is also certified in basic medical Spanish through UMMC and has continued to study the language further in her free time through language-learning apps and entertainment.
“Being multilingual has allowed me to understand that language and speech is a privilege and has the power to connect people from different cultures and backgrounds,” she said. “That understanding is a skill that allows me, as a clinician, to connect to different populations within my community and helps me serve patients from different backgrounds with an open mind.”
She brought that same passion for people to everything she has done during the last four years.
Through her active and continuous contributions at Jackson Free Clinic, Jackson Medical Mall, Mission First Clinic, Dental Mission Week and the SOD student clinic, Nguyen has provided crucial dental treatments to disadvantaged populations without the privilege of easy access to dental care.
“I have realized the dental challenges of underserved communities and aim to challenge myself to solve it,” Nguyen said. “These experiences serve as a motivation to work hard and become a dentist that not only could solve these social challenges but also raise awareness of the importance of dentistry and the ability to personally connect with the patients.”
“Hang Nguyen is an exceptional dental student whose outstanding hand skills are matched by her warm, professional demeanor with patients and peers alike,” said Dr. Joanna Seo, assistant professor in the Department of Care Planning and Restorative Sciences. “As both her clinical faculty and group leader, I’ve been consistently impressed by her clinical precision, thoughtful communication, and ability to work seamlessly in a team. She brings a rare combination of technical excellence and genuine compassion to every patient interaction.”
Everything she has learned and achieved during her time in dental school has been geared towards addressing gaps in care. And while she knows it’s not a challenge one person can solve alone, she believes she can make a meaningful difference through hard work, empathy and advocacy.
That same dedication earned her a seat at the table in two leadership roles at the School of Dentistry. As a member of the Admissions Committee, Nguyen conducted interviews, reviewed applications and participated in admissions decisions, bringing her own experiences and values to the process.
“I look for applicants with a genuine passion for dentistry who understand the importance of culture, diversity and service,” she said. “It’s disappointing when applicants don’t understand how valuable that is in health care.”
As co-chair of the Ethics and Civility Council, she helped uphold professional conduct and led investigations when violations of the honor code were reported. The position required fairness, courage and compassion—especially when decisions could impact a student’s future.
“Hang is a compassionate provider and knows what shouldering this responsibility means,” said Dr. Pia Chatterjee Kirk, interim dean of the School of Dentistry. “She has demonstrated a high level of integrity and has led the Student Ethics and Civility Council with a thoughtful process.”
Nguyen also gained hands-on clinical experience during her six-week community outreach externship at Brite Expressions Dentistry in Flowood, where she practiced general dentistry under the guidance of her supervising dentist. Her involvement in initiatives like Team Smile, Student National Dental Association Impression Day and the ARCH program further reflects her commitment to expanding oral health access and mentoring future providers.
After graduation, Nguyen’s journey will come full circle. She will return to Biloxi to work as an associate in a small, privately-owned dental practice.
“I didn’t want to work in a corporate setting,” she said. “I wanted to find a place where I could be myself, be mentored and genuinely care for my patients without burnout.”
Ultimately, her goal is to own and operate her own practice in Mississippi and continue advocating for equitable oral health care across the state.
She credits her success to many factors, including a strong support system at home. Her husband, James Berggren Jr., has been by her side every step of the way.
“He’s the best blessing I’ve ever had,” Nguyen said. “He drove me to and from school every day, packed my lunch, reminded me to eat and supported me through every tough moment. I don’t think I would’ve made it through dental school without him.”
Outside of dentistry, Nguyen finds joy and balance in a wide range of hobbies—gardening, sewing, scrapbooking, fishing, walking her dogs Cheesecake and Pudding, and taking spontaneous beach trips with her family and friends. These simple pleasures, she said, helped her stay grounded through the pressures of dental school.
Looking back, the most valuable lesson she’s learned isn’t clinical or academic. It’s personal.
“Have faith in yourself and your abilities,” she said. “There will be times when you doubt yourself, or others might doubt you. But if you trust your path and keep going, success will follow.”