Ngan Lam

When Ngan Lam was 7, it was the sight of graphic HIV public health billboards during a trip to visit family in Vietnam that helped spark a passion for infectious diseases, guiding her to pursue a career in medicine. Now, at age 28, Ngan is about to become a physician assistant. She is one of 45 graduates in the inaugural class of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s Master in Physician Assistant Studies. Ngan also has a master’s in public health from the University of South Florida, and a bachelor’s in biology from Florida Atlantic University.

While studying in Tampa, Ngan worked as an epidemiologist for the Florida Department of Health with a focus on hepatitis C. And she worked in an HIV clinic as a medical assistant. This work solidified her interest in infectious diseases.

As a PA student at HWCOM, Ngan has been heavily involved with the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) which selected her to represent all PA students nationally as a student delegate at the AAPA annual conference, where she voted on policies and regulations that govern best practices of the PA profession.

Although Ngan and her classmates will graduate in December, they won’t take their licensing board exams until a month later, but she’s already interviewed at two top hospital systems in Florida and is excited about entering the profession for which she’s been preparing for 10 years.

By John Marin
Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine