Billy Nguyen: Inaugural Gavril Pasternak Volunteerism Award Honoree

At the CityLax Gala on May 6, Billy Nguyen is being honored with the inaugural Gavril Pasternak Volunteerism Award — a recognition that reflects a life shaped by mentorship, service, and a commitment to lifting others.

The award carries special meaning.

Named in honor of Gavril Pasternak, a renowned neuroscientist and co-founder of CityLax coach, it celebrates a legacy that extended far beyond the lab or the lacrosse field. Dr. Pasternak was known not only for his groundbreaking research, but for the time and care he invested in mentoring young people — guiding them with the same rigor, curiosity, and compassion that defined his scientific career.

For Nguyen, that mentorship was personal.

Pasternak was not only his coach on the field, but also a mentor in the lab — helping shape the way Nguyen approaches both science and service. Alongside Mat Levine, Pasternak instilled in him a belief that the most meaningful success is measured not in individual achievement, but in the impact you have on others.

Today, Nguyen embodies those values.

He is currently a Scientist at Kidney Metrix, where he is developing next-generation approaches to improve kidney health and advance precision diagnostics. His work builds on a foundation in translational science, including the development of clinical-stage therapeutics targeting diseases such as Parkinson’s, breast cancer, and lupus nephritis during his time at Rush University Medical Center.

But Nguyen’s impact extends well beyond the lab.

A proud product of New York City lacrosse, he is a CityLax and PSAL alumnus who graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx before continuing his playing career at St. John's University for a season before transferring to The Ohio State University to focus on his career passion.

He has since dedicated himself to coaching and mentorship — serving as a head coach at Frederick Douglass Academy, where he led the program to a PSAL championship in 2017, and currently as an assistant coach with Stanford University men’s lacrosse. He also helped lead the NYC Boys team to gold at the Empire State Cup.

Off the field, Nguyen continues to expand access and opportunity. He serves as an advisory board member for Girls4Science, supporting STEM pathways for public school students, and has worked to help academic innovators launch biotech startups through his role with Nucleate. His involvement with the Tewaaraton Foundation further reflects his deep commitment to the game and its broader community.

“I’m incredibly humbled to receive an award that carries Gavril Pasternak’s name,” said Nguyen. “Coach Pasternak impacted my life in ways that went far beyond lacrosse. He challenged me to think bigger — in the classroom, in the lab, and in how I show up for others. He showed me that mentorship is about investing in people, not just outcomes. Everything I try to do today, whether in science or coaching, is rooted in the example he set.”

Nguyen’s journey — from CityLax participant to scientist, coach, and mentor — is a testament to the values the program instills: grit, perseverance, and a responsibility to give back.

It is also a reflection of the people who helped guide him.

In honoring Billy Nguyen with the inaugural Gavril Pasternak Volunteerism Award, CityLax is not only recognizing his achievements, but celebrating a powerful continuation of Pasternak’s legacy — one rooted in mentorship, service, and the belief that true impact is measured by the lives you help shape along the way.