Biography

Nguyen Hoai Binh Khuu was born on December 23, 1975, to Binh Van Khuu and Chau Thi Luu. Though he had not yet been born when his father and uncle, Nguyen Khuu, left Vietnam for America after the war, his name was chosen to honor both men-whom the family feared lost during the conflict after receiving no word from them for years.

In December 1980, at the age of five, Nguyen immigrated to Los Angeles, California, with his mother and sister, Mong-Tham Khuzadi, after his father sponsored their relocation. The family reunited and settled in East Los Angeles, where his father and uncle had purchased a home to welcome not only their immediate family but also their extended relatives.

Nguyen's early education began at Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School, where he graduated in June 1987 and served as sixth-grade class president. He continued his academic journey at El Sereno Junior High School, graduating in June 1990, and then at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School, where he graduated in June 1993.

Nguyen pursued higher education at Occidental College, earning his bachelor's degree on May 11, 1997. He then went on to attend UCLA, where he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree on May 31, 2002. Following medical school, he completed an internship in Emergency Medicine at Martin Luther King, Jr./Drew Medical Center from July 1, 2002, to June 2003, and continued there for his residency training from July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2005.

On February 25, 2004, Nguyen was granted his medical license by the Medical Board of California, officially becoming a licensed Physician and Surgeon in the state. From December 6, 2007, through December 31, 2017, he fulfilled the rigorous requirements to become a Diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

During his time living in Orange County, Nguyen met the love of his life, Kate Hang Tran, in 2018. Together, they built a beautiful family and had two lovely daughters-Alia, now three years old, and Zara, just five months old. He adored his family and was a devoted father and partner.

Until his passing, Dr. Nguyen Khuu dedicated his career to serving the community as an Emergency Medicine physician at Orange County Global Medical Center, remembered for his commitment, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the care of others.

Memories

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A Fun Day for the Khuu Family at a Water Park

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From Kate Hang Tran

Family

There are no words deep enough to hold the pain in my heart. Since my life partner Nguyen passed away, life has felt shattered. My soul aches in ways I can't describe.

Nguyen wasn't only my partner - he was the father of our two beautiful daughters, Alia and Zara. He was the best daddy I could ever imagine for them. The kind who did silly dances with Alia, never raised his voice at his kids, and always made them laugh the most. His love for them was pure, gentle, and full of joy. There's no one who could ever take his place in their hearts - or mine.

Alia misses him every single day. She asks for him with a tenderness that breaks me all over again. And Zara, though too young to remember his voice, will always carry his love in her heart - because I will make sure she knows just how incredible her daddy was.

To everyone who has reached out - with your kind words, prayers, warm memories, and generous donations - thank you. Truly. Every message, story, or photo you shared reminded me how deeply Nguyen touched so many lives. I don't have the strength to respond to each one, but please know that I read every word, and they've carried me through the hardest nights. Your stories about Nguyen remind me just how loved he was, not just by us, but by so many.

The grief is too heavy, the loss is too deep. There are moments when I can't breathe under the weight of it. I want to say so much, yet nothing feels enough. Please know that even in my silence, I feel every bit of your care and support.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for honoring Nguyen. Thank you for holding us through this time. Thank you for loving him with me.🖤

From Trungsten Van Odyssey

Friend

Dear Nguyen,

Thank you.

Thank you for being my best pal since junior high - from the days we were just two scrawny Asian kids trying to survive school with our 25-cent cookies constantly stolen, to every moment of growing up together.

Thank you for the after-school Street Fighter battles, the bike rides across town, and those weekend trips on public buses just to hit the comic shop in San Gabriel. We'd read for free, save up our money, and debate which comics would be worth something one day. You made all of it fun. You made all of it unforgettable.

Even as life took us in different directions - different colleges, careers, and families - you never let go. You were the glue that kept all of us together. You were the one who always called, always organized the hangouts, and made sure our high school crew stayed connected, even when life got busy and we all scattered. That's who you were - someone who brought people together and made us feel like we were still those kids from back in the day.

Nguyen, thank you for being there through my troubles, for lifting me up, and for sharing a lifetime of memories I will never forget. I wish I could tell you this in person, but I hope you know how much you mean to me.

Rest easy, my brother, my best pal. You'll always be with me.

From Jennie & Tan

Friends

We are heartbroken over the sudden loss of our friend, who passed away just three days ago at the young age of 49. He leaves behind a loving wife, a sweet 3yr daughter and a precious 5m baby girl.

We've known him since the Shark Club days and our very first Vietnam trip in 2006-2007. He was always the one who wanted to plan my husband's birthday parties every October, always tying them into Halloween festivities, making sure everyone felt special and seen. He brought people together for themed holiday parties, milestone celebrations, and every close friend's birthday - never missing a moment to make life more joyful for others.

His kindness, creativity, and generous spirit will be deeply missed. The impact of his loss has shaken all of us who were lucky enough to know him. He made a lasting impression on everyone - so much so that even my husband's boss, who had never met him, felt compelled to donate a very large amount to help support his family through this unimaginable time.

Rest in peace, dear friend. Your light and love will always be remembered.

Jennie & Tan

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Nguyen Khuu, who passed away peacefully in his sleep while at home the morning of July 12th 2025.

In every interaction, Dr. Khuu was a shining example of kindness and generosity. He had an incredible ability to make everyone feel valued, whether it was through a simple smile, a word of encouragement, or the unwavering support he offered in times of need. His friendship created a space where each of us felt welcomed, respected, and appreciated.

Dr. Khuu's journey was one of dedication and excellence. After earning his undergraduate degree at Occidental College and medical degree at UCLA, he went on to complete his Emergency Medicine Residency at Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Center. He has been a member of the medical staff at WMSA/OCGMC since 2006. He genuinely cared for each of his patients. They trusted him not just for his medical knowledge, but for the warmth and empathy he consistently displayed.

He brought a sense of camaraderie to our ED team, and he will be deeply missed by all of us. His memory will continue to inspire and remind us of the importance of friendship, kindness, and loyalty in both our work and our daily lives.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Dr. Khuu's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,

OCGMC Emergency Department Physicians and PAs

From M D

Family

When we cousins were children, most of us still single digit ages, we'd play set up "traps" in the house during family gatherings. Then we would try to persuade an "adult" to follow us where we'd all be waiting hiding, usually around the banister of stairs to pummel the poor soul who came up with pillows and stuffed animals. Anh Khanh, as we knew him, obviously knew what we were doing, but he would still humor us and allow us to ambush him, letting us jump him, throwing and whacking pillows everywhere, and eventually pretending to be overwhelmed by us kids, all laughing.

The memory stays with me even now, over 2 decades later. It stands as a symbol of the patience and the love he had for his family, young as he was then. He was always someone we looked up to, that our parents, aunts, and uncles would point to and be so proud of. As a first generation in the US, he blazed the way for the younger of our generation to follow behind him. He stood for so much to everyone around him; he IS so much to those around him.

And every Christmas, Anh Khanh would make an effort to come to the family gathering, even as the evening drew late and he had worked that day. I hope that somewhere out there, he will continue to drop by each Christmas, and even if we light different candles than those that would be on his cake, that we continue to celebrate his birthday and who he was in our hearts.

In Loving Memory of Nguyen Hoai Binh Khuu

Honoring A Life

Biography

Memories

In Loving Memory of Nguyen Hoai Binh Khuu