Associate Professor
Dr. My Hanh (Theresa) Nguyen is an Associate Professor in the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science at the University of San Diego, where she brings together her passions for teaching, clinical practice, and health equity research. A psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner since 2007, she has dedicated her career to supporting the mental health and well-being of women and families across the reproductive lifespan. Her clinical work spans academic medical centers, community mental health organizations, and private practice, giving her a deep understanding of the systems and inequities that shape patient care.
Dr. Nguyen’s academic journey began at UCLA, where she earned her B.S. in Physiological Science. She went on to complete her B.S. and M.S. in Nursing at Columbia University before earning her Ph.D. in Nursing Science at the University of San Diego. She later returned to UCLA as a postdoctoral fellow in the National Clinician Scholars Program, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, where she refined her skills in policy-relevant research and community-engaged scholarship.
Her research focuses on advancing perinatal mental health equity for Asian American communities, with a particular emphasis on data disaggregation and addressing structural barriers to care. Dr. Nguyen’s work has been recognized internationally, including her selection as a featured Junior Investigator at the 2025 Marcé of North America Biennial Conference in Toronto, Canada. She is also committed to strengthening the nursing workforce through health policy research and to fostering inclusive excellence in health professions education.
Across her teaching, scholarship, and clinical work, Dr. Nguyen is driven by a belief that equitable, compassionate mental health care is essential to thriving communities—and that nurses have a critical role in achieving that vision.