Khoa Nguyen, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, has been selected as one of 17 Global Fellows Program faculty members by the UF International Center. Nguyen’s appointment marks the first time since the program was established in 2015 that a UF College of Pharmacy faculty member has held this position.
“This recognition is incredibly meaningful to me, as I’ve always been passionate about global research,” Nguyen said. “The fellowship provides an exciting opportunity to establish a foundation for international collaboration and conduct impactful, cross-cultural studies. I look forward to contributing to global scholarship and addressing important international challenges through this program.”
As a global fellow, Nguyen will embark on a collaborative research project that addresses health informatics solutions to global oncology issues. Nguyen’s research interests focus on enhancing patient safety through health information technology and human factor engineering, encompassing fields like medical informatics, human-computer interaction, pharmacogenomics, and artificial intelligence, or AI.
“My primary goal with this research is to leverage health informatics to develop and implement user-centered technological solutions for cancer prevention in developing countries,” Nguyen explained. “This fellowship provides invaluable opportunities through its series of workshops and international trips, allowing me to gain exposure to global health challenges and learn how to effectively pursue and secure international grants. By collaborating with experts worldwide, I aim to create innovative approaches that can significantly impact cancer prevention efforts in resource-limited settings.”
The Global Fellows program aims to provide faculty members in the first decade of their careers with essential skills to conduct global research, including a $5,000 seed grant, mentorship, targeted workshops organized by the International Center’s Office for Global Research Engagement, international fieldwork, and a closing symposium.
The program also fulfills a lifelong passion for Nguyen, whose interest in international collaboration was sparked after completing a summer externship in Meru, Kenya, during his pharmacy training at the University of Michigan. When he returned to Kenya in the summer of 2024 to present research at a cancer symposium held in Nairobi, Nguyen became certain of the potential impact of applying health informatics to global oncology issues, a realization that ultimately inspired him to pursue the Global Fellowship program.
“This experience opened my eyes to the global health challenges and the immense potential for cross-cultural solutions,” Nguyen said. “International collaboration brings diverse perspectives, expertise, and resources to the table, leading to more comprehensive and innovative approaches to global health issues.”