Pediatric cardiac surgeon and humanitarian Dr. Nguyenvu “Winston” Nguyen received the Academy’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010.

Dr. Nguyen’s story is a remarkable one, and his Woodward education played a pivotal role in it. He was 9 years old when he left Vietnam with his family for the United States. The family spent a year in refugee camps before coming to the U.S. and settling in College Park. In the sixth grade, young Winston was admitted to Woodward Academy.

"MY WHOLE WORLD OPENED UP IN NON-THREATENING AND LIMITLESS DIMENSIONS," SAID DR. NGUYEN.

He recalls the time he spent in Carlos Library, reading for the first time about Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian culture; where he also relished learning Latin, English literature, and biological sciences. He took advantage of AP classes, played in the orchestra, was a member of the wrestling and track teams, and served on the Honors Council.

“I am grateful for the cultural diversity that existed at Woodward,” said Dr. Nguyen. “Not only was the student demographic diverse; our education was thoughtful and reflective of the world at large.”

Former Director of College Counseling Missy Sanchez was a profound influence. “From Mrs. Sanchez, I learned more than how to do well on testing. I learned to believe in the power of one individual to articulate his own voice and connect with others through common human experiences.”

Dr. Nguyen received his undergraduate degree at Harvard University. During college, he received an invitation from Mother Teresa to come to the City of Joy in Calcutta. “Taking care of sick and dying people and experiencing one-on-one interaction with my fellow mankind when they were most broken was a privilege. I learned how to be fragile and powerful at the same time, which impacts how I practice medicine today,” Dr. Nguyen said.

After Harvard, Dr. Nguyen completed a public service fellowship, collecting artwork and oral histories from refugee camps in Southeast Asia. Though he considered a career in politics, he found his true calling in medicine. As a Woodruff fellow, he attended medical school at Emory University. He went on to practice pediatric cardiology at Children’s Memorial Hospital at Northwestern University in Chicago and to donate his time, expertise, and resources to support and develop pediatric cardiac programs in developing countries—mainly in Vietnam.

Because of the financial aid offered at Woodward, Harvard, and Emory and other grants received throughout medical school, Dr. Nguyen has been able to choose his career based on what is fulfilling for him. In his work as a pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Nguyen feels he is using his education in the service of others and mending the hearts of children.