“An expert in the respiratory system who also manages the most critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit.”
“An expert in the respiratory system who also manages the most critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit.”
Dr. Nhi Vu-Ticar is a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for patients with complex lung diseases and respiratory conditions. She completed her Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she served as Chief Fellow, after finishing her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Kentucky where she graduated in the top 10% of her class. She earned her medical degree from St. George’s University and graduated magna cum laude.
Dr. Vu-Ticar has special interests in lung nodule evaluation, lung cancer screening, interstitial lung disease, and critical care medicine. She has been actively involved in research, quality improvement initiatives, and medical education, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities.
Originally from Gwinnett County, she is proud to return home to care for the community that helped shape her. She is passionate about improving access to high-quality pulmonary care and values building lasting relationships with her patients and their families. Outside of medicine, she enjoys knitting and crocheting, tackling jigsaw puzzles, playing video games, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.
She is also fluent in Vietnamese and is honored to serve the area’s diverse population and provide culturally responsive care.
Gwinnett Pulmonary Group
Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician
July 2025 – Present
Affiliated with Northside Hospital Gwinnett, Northside Hospital Duluth, and Piedmont Eastside Medical Center.
Implementing a Nurse-Led Rounding Checklist to Enhance Multidisciplinary Rounds in the Medical ICU
2024 – 2025
Quality improvement project aimed at improving compliance with multidisciplinary rounds and enhancing care team communication in UAB’s Medical ICU.
Birmingham VAMC Lung Mass Quality Improvement Project
2023 – 2025
Collaborating with Dr. Joseph Thachuthara-George, Dr. Michael Wells, and Dr. Mark Dransfield to assess lung nodule management at the Birmingham VAMC. Implementing systemic changes to improve timely follow-up of lung nodules by increasing clinic availability and operating room utilization. Addressing rural health disparities through implementation of telemedicine.
Resource Development for Patient Financial Assistance
2023 – 2025
Organized references for providers regarding patient financial assistance resources at the UAB Outpatient Pulmonary Clinic.
UAB MICU Report
2023 – 2025
Provided and evaluated monthly data on the Medical ICU’s bed utilization, ventilator management, and disposition outcomes.
Optimizing Lung Nodule Follow-Up at Cooper Green Mercy Health: Quality Improvement Project
2023 – 2025
Collaborating with Dr. Anand Iyer and Dr. Steven Fox to improve subspecialty follow-up at Cooper Green Mercy Health and ensure timely management of lung nodules. Cooper Green Mercy Health provides care to disadvantaged populations in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Management of ARDS in a Tertiary Care Center
2021 – 2022
Collaborated with Dr. Parijat Sen, Dr. Eric Bensadoun, Dr. Anil Gopinath, Dr. Said Chaaban, and Dr. Anna Kalema in the University of Kentucky’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Department. Conducted a retrospective observational study of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to UK Chandler Hospital’s Medical ICU before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate the effects on ARDS management.
Outcome Analysis of Delayed Admissions to the ICU in Internal Medicine Patients
2021 – 2022
Conducted a retrospective observational study evaluating 48-hour outcomes of Hospital Medicine patients whose admission to the Medical ICU was delayed.
University of Georgia, Department of Microbiology — Bioinformatics Research Assistant
2012 – 2014
Performed research in Dr. Jan Mrazek’s Bioinformatics Laboratory. Researched the degree of gene conservation in periodic regions among different prokaryotic species, with an emphasis on Helicobacter and Methanococcus. Developed computer programming skills in Python with applications to the field of microbiology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Research Intern
2013
Performed research under the supervision of Dr. Michael Arrowood in the Water Disease and Prevention Branch. Focused on laboratory techniques used to extract Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora to culture the microorganisms and analyze their life cycles in host cells. Researched effective and safe disinfectants for use against Cryptosporidium in children’s daycares.
2024
Vu-Ticar, N., & Larson-Casey, J. Bleomycin and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Comprehensive Toxicology, 4th Edition. Elsevier. 2024. Pending publication.
Vu-Ticar, N., & Larson-Casey, J. Particulate Matter and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Comprehensive Toxicology, 4th Edition. Elsevier. 2024. Pending publication.
2023
Tatem, L., Richardson, C., Vu-Ticar, N., & Chiles, J. Pulmonary mucormycosis in a patient with sickle cell crisis and acute chest syndrome. CHEST, 164(4), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.07.734
2021
Vu, N., & Weaver, D. When a clot should not be a second thought. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19. May 3, 2021.
Vu, N., & Gray, A. Key clinical question: What makes a urinary tract infection complicated? The Hospitalist, 25(11). November 11, 2021.
2020
Vu, N., & Gray, A. Key clinical question: The role of beta-D-glucan in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. The Hospitalist. August 1, 2022.
2019
Vu, N. Escherichia coli. First Aid Board Review: Curriculum Block. 2019. https://usmle-rx.com/authors/rx-bricks/
Alpha Omega Alpha
2024 – Present
National medical honor society.
Program Director’s Award
2022
Top 10% of Graduating Class, Internal Medicine Residency
2022
Resident Scholarly Activity Award
2021
Iota Epsilon Alpha
2016 – Present
International medical honor society.
2025
Vu-Ticar, N., Anderson, L., & Fox, S. “Unequal Breaths: Addressing Health Disparities in Lung Nodule and Lung Cancer Management.” American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 19, 2025; San Francisco, California.
Pulmonary Grand Rounds: Senior Talk. University of Alabama at Birmingham. Pending.
Morbidity and Mortality Conference. University of Alabama at Birmingham. Pending.
Journal Club. University of Alabama at Birmingham. Pending.
2024
Vu-Ticar, N., & Kulkarni, T. “Bleeding Between the Lines: A Case of Thoracic Endometriosis.” American College of Chest Physicians; October 6–9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts.
Vu-Ticar, N., & Mridul, G. “Chryseobacterium: A Critical Conundrum.” American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 20, 2024; San Diego, California.
Vu-Ticar, N., & Kulkarni, T. “The Silent Intruder: Recognizing Pituitary Metastasis in Small Cell Lung Cancer.” American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 20, 2024; San Diego, California.
2023
Health Care Disparities in Pulmonary Medicine. University of Alabama at Birmingham; December 15, 2023.
Clinical, Radiology, Pathology Conference. University of Alabama at Birmingham; April 3, 2023.
Ambulatory Case Conference. University of Alabama at Birmingham; January 13, 2023.
2022
Critical Care Case Conference. University of Alabama at Birmingham; November 1, 2022.
Chest Imaging Conference. University of Alabama at Birmingham; September 23, 2022.
Morbidity and Mortality Conference. University of Kentucky; May 12, 2022.
2021
Vu, N., & Weaver, D. “When a Clot Should Not Be a Second Thought.” Poster presented at: American Thoracic Society International Conference; May 15–19, 2021; Virtual.
Vu, N., & Weaver, D. “When a Clot Should Not Be a Second Thought.” Poster presented at: American College of Physicians Annual Conference; April 29–May 1, 2021; Virtual.
Vu, N., & Gray, A. “A Fair Assumption in Hyperferritinemia.” Poster presented at: Society of Hospital Medicine National Conference; May 3–7, 2021; Virtual.
Vu, N., & Weaver, D. “When a Clot Should Not Be a Second Thought.” Poster presented at: Society of Hospital Medicine National Conference; May 3–7, 2021; Virtual.
2020
Vu, N., & Gray, A. “A Fair Assumption in Hyperferritinemia.” Poster presented at: Society of Hospital Medicine Regional Heartland Conference; August 21, 2020; Virtual.