For Justin Nguyen ’26, being named VCOM-Louisiana’s Student Researcher of the Year is both an honor and a reflection of years spent asking thoughtful questions, embracing persistence, and pursuing research that can advance patient care. His journey into medicine and research is deeply personal, shaped by family, curiosity, and a commitment to improving others' quality of life.
Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Nguyen says his younger sister, Joelle, who has Down syndrome, has been one of the most influential forces in his life. Growing up alongside her shaped his view of patience, empathy, and individualized care. Watching his family work to optimize her health and life experiences sparked his early interest in medicine and planted the seeds for his research mindset.
Nguyen’s interest in research began well before medical school. As an undergraduate, he conducted research at LSU’s Veterinary School, focusing on diabetes and sperm cell motility. He later worked in engineering and research roles for biotech and biopharmaceutical companies, with a focus on gene therapies. While that work highlighted the large-scale impact science can have, Nguyen found himself wanting a more direct human connection.
That desire ultimately reinforced his decision to pursue medicine, where research could inform care at both the individual and population levels. During medical school, his research interests continued to evolve. He gained experience in laboratory settings, worked with unique databases, and developed a strong interest in statistics and data analysis. Throughout his clinical years, Nguyen actively contributed to case reports, sharpening his clinical reasoning and his ability to discern patterns that guide evidence-based care.
When he arrived at VCOM, Nguyen already knew that research would be central to his medical education. Encouraged by mentors and driven by curiosity, he sought out faculty connections and research opportunities early on. He credits VCOM’s faculty for being approachable and supportive, whether helping students get started in a lab or guiding them toward topics aligned with their interests.
Nguyen points to several faculty mentors who played key roles in his development, including Randy Aldret, EdD; Michael Rommen, DO; and Matthew Overturf, PhD. Each provided guidance while allowing him the autonomy to lead projects and learn through experience. That balance helped him grow not only as a researcher but also as a future physician.
Nguyen’s research focuses on analyzing health and injury patterns using publicly available databases and clinical case studies. By identifying trends, his work aims to improve patient care, safety, recovery, and overall quality of life. Drawn to research with practical impact, he is expanding his focus towards physical medicine, seeking to advance outcomes for patients suffering injuries or functional impairments.
Among his most memorable research experiences at VCOM was an early project examining whether intima-media thickness in peripheral arteries, a measure of blood vessel wall thickness, was associated with coronary artery plaque burden, or the amount of fatty buildup present in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The project required long hours in the lab tediously working with cadaver blood vessels, which had to be preserved and embedded in paraffin wax for careful slicing and examination under a microscope. Nguyen recalls the process with humor. It produced plenty of wax shavings and messes along the way, creating what he called a “Louisiana snowstorm.” More meaningful to him, however, was leading and publishing a study on monkey bar injuries in the Journal of Osteopathic Pediatrics. The project was both challenging and rewarding, requiring adaptability, teamwork, and persistence in the face of unexpected obstacles.
Pursuing the DO with Research Distinction at VCOM
Nguyen is pursuing the DO degree with Research Distinction, a pathway designed for students who want to integrate research into their medical education. The program allows students to develop skills in evidence-based medicine, critical thinking, and scholarly writing while working closely with VCOM’s clinical or biomedical faculty mentors. Through sustained research involvement, students gain comprehensive experience that prepares them for future roles in academic medicine, clinical practice, or research-focused careers.
For Nguyen, the program aligns perfectly with his goals. It provides a structured framework for pursuing meaningful research while reinforcing the principles of osteopathic medicine and patient-centered care.
Nguyen does not take lightly the honor of being named Student Researcher of the Year. He sees it as recognition not only of outcomes but also of persistence through the setbacks, revisions, and rejections that are part of the research process. The honor has strengthened his motivation to continue asking better questions and producing work that can make a difference.
Looking ahead, Nguyen hopes to incorporate research into a career in physical medicine and rehabilitation, focusing on clinical and outcomes-based projects that blend
osteopathic principles, movement, and individualized care. His advice to fellow students interested in research is straightforward: stay academically grounded, start early, collaborate, seek mentorship, and share your work through presentations and conferences.
Through curiosity, dedication, and a commitment to meaningful impact, Justin Nguyen exemplifies the spirit of research at VCOM-Louisiana and the promise of physician-scientists in osteopathic medicine.
