Who We Are

What is Nuôy?

Nuôi is a Vietnamese term for feeding, nourishing, sheltering. Additionally, most references to medicine in Vietnamese begins with “y”. As a combination, Nuôy Reconstructive International was formed to best personify these two ideas.

Building upon the legacy of the Reconstructive International Cooperation Exchange (R.I.C.E.) group which has delivered reconstructive care to Vietnam since 2000, Nuoy represents both a natural evolution and a new movement. We continue the aim of training local surgeons in resource poor environments in specialized reconstructive surgery, and expand this scope with further development of sustainable partnerships with in-country institutions, advancement of joint educational and research endeavors, and establishment of a transparent network of collaboration amongst like-minded humanitarian groups.

Nuôy Reconstructive International was founded by Julien Klaudt-Moreau, MPH and Phuong D. Nguyen, MD in order to expound upon these ideals.

Julien A. Klaudt-Moreau, MPH – Co-Founder

Julien Klaudt-Moreau was a Program Coordinator for R.I.C.E., a non-profit which designs and deploys surgical training curriculum for surgeons and international medical institutions. With over four years of experience, he has witnessed firsthand the shortcomings of the surgical training paradigm. He completed his Master of Public Health program at Boston University in 2019, with a focus in program management and epidemiology.

Phuong D. Nguyen, M.D., FACS, FAAP – Co-Founder

Dr. Phuong Nguyen is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, formerly at the nationally recognized Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and now Director of Craniofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, McGovern Medical School, and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.  He has been engaged in international medical outreach and reconstructive surgical missions for over 16 years in 8 countries.  

Dr. Nguyen is also a first-generation Vietnamese American, born in a refugee camp in Indonesia.  He has dedicated his professional career to reconstructive surgery for children and through experiences with many separate organizations, identified gaps in delivery and opportunities for collaboration and improvement.