At Children’s, we take every opportunity to highlight the unique stories and contributions of our team members. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we recognize Agnes Trinh Mackintosh and Juls Phanthavong, just two faces among many who make Children’s a diverse and welcoming workplace.

Meet: Agnes Trinh Mackintosh, Career Center Coach

Agnes Mackintosh was just 18 months old when her parents, refugees of the Vietnam war, made their way to the U.S.

Following the tragic and untimely death of her mother when she was just 7 years old, Agnes attended a boarding school for lower income families where there weren’t many who looked like her.

“Part of my story is about assimilation,” Agnes explained. "Going to school was about fitting in. Nowadays, people are more accepting, and we can really embrace the duality of our identity. But it wasn't always like that.”

In high school, Agnes excelled academically; she earned a financial scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, which changed the trajectory of her life. She met her husband in college, and went on to earn a master's in public health from Emory Rollins School of Public Health. After five rewarding years in the public health sector, she took some time to stay home with her two young sons, Will and Andrew.

When it was time to reenter the workforce, Agnes says career coaching truly felt like a calling—and she’s thrilled to continue that purpose-driven work at Children’s.

“When I joined Children's in January 2022, I was really struck by that 'invisible thread of care' that unites us.”

“It’s how I’ve always viewed my role as a career coach—weaving a thread of talent across our System by connecting people, ideas and resources,” Agnes explained.

Agnes was part of the team that started the Career Center at Children’s, and since its launch in April 2022, she has personally hosted more than 400 career coaching sessions. Agnes says she feels privileged to be part of these conversations—helping employees explore their interests and find their best fit within our System. Nearly 70% of the employees she coaches are clinical staff—predominately nurses.

“Sometimes they just need a sounding board,” Agnes said. “I’m here to be a thought partner and help brainstorm ideas—whether that’s how to map out a career path down the road, how to gain more confidence or visibility in their current roles, or how to better position themselves for leadership roles. It’s all confidential. I am truly there to help them navigate the process.”

Agnes says her work is always rewarding—but perhaps even more so during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

“My job as a career coach is about instilling a greater sense of belonging here at Children’s by helping employees better connect to their careers,” Agnes explained. “During our conversations, people express a desire to be seen, heard and appreciated—not just for their contributions to their roles, but also for who they are.”

Agnes says she’s encouraged by the work being done at Children’s to help further cultivate a culture of welcoming and belonging. “This allows each of us to bring our true selves to work,” she said.

Meet: Juls Phanthavong, Nursing Practice and Magnet Director, Egleston Hospital

As a young girl, Juls Phanthavong felt deeply connected to her Laotian background. “My mom was a refugee of the post-Vietnam War,” Juls explained. “She left her home in Laos for America when she was barely in her 20s. Thinking about how much she has overcome and the strength she showed during those first few years alone makes me even more grateful for her.”

Juls grew up in Rochester, New York, which has a large Laotian American population. “It was easy to be immersed in the culture, food and customs since I spent nearly every weekend at the Buddhist temple with all my cousins and family.”

But while she was in high school, Juls’ family relocated to Georgia for better opportunities, and she lost touch with her heritage. That is, until she became a member of Asian American and Pacific Islander Connect, a Children’s Inclusion Network Employee Resource Group (ERG). This is one of five volunteer, employee-led ERGs created to help build a sense of belonging and inclusivity.

“Joining the AAPI ERG at Children’s was an opportunity to reconnect with my culture,” Juls said. “I saw all the work the ERGs were doing to create the connections we otherwise wouldn’t make in the workplace. I wanted to be part of learning more—not just about Laos, but the wide diaspora of cultures within the Asian continent.”

As a nurse, Juls understands the importance of inclusion. “If a patient or parent doesn’t feel a sense of connection, the quality of care suffers,” Juls explained. “If you don’t feel accepted or heard, you won’t speak up and advocate for yourself or your child.”

And Juls says that sentiment holds true for staff as well. “Our commitment as a System to fostering belonging for all is so critically important,” Juls said. “Everyone wants to feel welcomed, validated, worthy and supported.”

Perhaps a deep desire to foster a culture of inclusivity and support inspired her professional endeavor to become nursing practice and Magnet director.

“In simplest terms, I’m working to support the structures and processes we have in place for nurses, and advocate for new programs to keep our nurses engaged and working to the top of their license,” Juls explained.

“Our commitment as a System to fostering belonging for all is so important. Everyone wants to feel welcomed, validated and supported.”

Her primary focus is to maintain our Magnet recognition—the highest nursing designation a healthcare system can receive. Egleston Hospital first received the initial Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in November 2018.

“The Magnet redesignation process is an opportunity for nurses to share their stories of excellence and teamwork, like a great project or initiative they launched. It is an incredible time,” she said.

One initiative Juls is particularly excited about is Children’s effort to advance diversity and inclusion and helping to cultivate a culture of inclusivity across the System.

“We’re having really meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion as an organization, and I think that is so important,” Juls said. “For example, the Diversity and Inclusion Council has always stressed the importance of allyship. You don’t have to identify with a community to be a part of the community. Simply bring a genuine curiosity and understand there’s always a respectful way to ask questions and learn.”

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