Getting to Know Minh-Tom Van

an interview with Minh-Tom Van

Minh-Tom Van is one of Colorado ASDA’s two DS1 representatives for the 2019-2020 school year. We had Tom answer a few questions in order for our chapter to get to know him better. Read on to hear about what he is looking forward to as a member of the Colorado ASDA executive board.

1. Hometown: Lakewood, Colorado

Colorado ASDA president Jillian Stacey, fellow DS1 rep Jeff Gius, me, and president-elect Aaron Buban

2. Undergraduate institution: I attended the University of Colorado, Denver where I majored in Biology. In my family, I am the second oldest child of six, however I was the first in my family to not only graduate college but also the first to pursue a professional program.

3. Fun fact: I broke my arm in 3rd grade and now I am able to hyper laterally rotate my arm around 360 degrees!

4. Favorite movie/TV show: Breaking bad is my all-time favorite tv show. When life gets you down, you can always rely on what you love the most to get you through.

5. What has been your favorite part of dental school so far?

My favorite part of dental school so far is meeting the people in my class and those on the campus. Having a supportive group of friends who are motivated can truly impact your success in any field.

Enjoying the boat party with friends at ASDA’s National Leadership Conference!

6. What are you most looking forward to about being involved with ASDA?

Being elected as a DS1 Representative for Colorado ASDA, I am looking forward to meeting student leaders across the nation, learning more about the dental profession, as well as increasing my professional development.

I wanted to be involved in ASDA early because being on such a large and integrated campus, it is difficult to voice your concerns. However, being involved with ASDA allows you to effectively contribute ideas to not only your school, but to your profession. I also believe that being involved with ASDA is important because organized dentistry allows you to network and develop relationships that can aid you not only through your education but through your career as well.

About the Author

A first generation Vietnamese-American, Tom was born and raised in Colorado. Now he is overjoyed to be the part of the Anschutz Medical Campus as a first-year dental student! Tom’s desire to go into dentistry was driven by the ability and knowledge to provide a beautiful and healthy smile for individuals as well as preventing disease stemming from the mouth. Through the program at Anschutz, Tom hopes to gain the knowledge to become a competent, confident, and empathetic health care provider.

In his free time, Tom enjoys spending time with friends, family, and being in the water. He also enjoys playing recreational basketball, volleyball and considers himself a menacing chess player! He is also an avid venturer to all-you-can-eat buffets and great bargains at the flea market! Tom is very excited to be part of such a beautiful campus and a great profession.