This story honors the heroic actions of a father and the USS \;Kirk \;crew whose compassion and courage save d lives. This moving story reflects on hope\, humanity\, and an enduring l egacy.
\nDr. Nguyen-Driver&rsquo\;s professional path is rooted in h er family&rsquo\;s history. She is a Vietnamese refugee whose life began d uring one of the most dramatic air evacuations of the Vietnam War. On Apri l 29\, 1975\, her father\, Lieutenant Colonel Ba Van Nguyen of the South V ietnamese Air Force\, piloted a CH-47 Chinook helicopter packed with his s quadron and family members\, including ten-month-old Mina\, to the USS Kir k in a daring rescue that has since been documented in national media and featured in Rory Kennedy&rsquo\;s Academy Award&ndash\;nominated film The Last Days in Vietnam.
\nAfter arriving in the United States\, her fa mily resettled in Seattle with the support of a Lutheran church. Shortly a fter arrival\, her older brother was diagnosed with hemophilia. The family navigated linguistic and cultural barriers with the guidance of the Seatt le Children&rsquo\;s Hospital hemophilia team. These early experiences\, w atching healthcare providers offer compassion and stability in moments of fear and uncertainty\, shaped Dr. Nguyen-Driver&rsquo\;s lifelong commitme nt to pediatric healthcare. She is the first woman in her family to earn a bachelor&rsquo\;s degree and the first to earn a doctorate. Today\, Dr. N guyen-Driver is recognized for her leadership in clinical training\, her a dvocacy for equitable pediatric care\, and her community-engaged work with families across Arkansas. Her personal and professional journey continues to be guided by themes of hope\, humanity\, and resilience.
\nDr. M ina D. Nguyen-Driver is a pediatric psychologist and Professor at the Univ ersity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Children&rsquo \;s Northwest\, where she provides developmental and behavioral health eva luations and leads training for psychology trainees across levels. Her wor k focuses on autism assessment\, parent management training\, and interdis ciplinary pediatric care.
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