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Final Program


Official Program
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On Demand
On Demand
In-Person
In-Person
Livestream
Livestream
Invite Only
Invite Only
Ticketed
Ticketed
Coffee Break
Coffee Break
Meal
Meal
Reception
Reception

Son Nguyen, BA

Medical Student
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine

Son (Sean) Nguyen is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), pursuing his Doctor of Medicine in the university’s accelerated six-year B.A./M.D. program. A high school state tennis champion, he received multiple college offers but chose to pursue medicine early.

Born to Vietnamese immigrants, Sean’s roots trace back to the Bay Area, where most of his extended family still resides. His early exposure to health inequities, including his father’s experience as a political prisoner and later, homelessness, shaped his commitment to service. As a sophomore in high school in 2017, he founded Forty Love, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to combating the homelessness crisis through community fundraising events. He has since built it into a national, youth-driven movement and was recently recognized with the Daily Point of Light Award, a national honor founded by President George H.W. Bush to recognize those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service.

Building on this commitment to equity and advocacy, Sean is a leading contributor to the Columbia PM&R Series, where he helps lead national efforts to expand early exposure and mentorship in PM&R, increasing accessibility for underrepresented students. He also serves on the International Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (ISPRM) Gender Medicine Task Force, developing research-driven, gender-sensitive rehabilitation practices to address disparities in patient care. Beyond research and mentorship, Sean is a voting delegate for the American Medical Association (AMA), where he works on policies supporting disability inclusion, diversity in medical education, and health equity. Sean’s PM&R journey has culminated in founding the Vietnamese American Rehabilitation Medicine Association (VARMA) this summer to inspire mentorship and belonging across generations of Vietnamese-American physiatrists worldwide.

At #AAPMR25, Sean will present research on cortical plasticity, chronic low back pain, pediatric and interventional physiatry case reports, and a General Surgery × PM&R workshop.

Poster(s):