Inspiring Conversations with Dr. Jonathan Bao Huynh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jonathan Bao Huynh.

Hi Dr. Jonathan Bao, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My family is up north in Sacramento-Stockton-San Jose area, and that’s where I grew up. I have always been very active and involved, even when I was a little kid. In 3rd grade, I remember I ran for Vice President and my slogan was “Don’t be a cow, vote for Bao.” My name is Jonathan Bao Gia Huynh but because “Gia Bao” means the treasure of the Huynh’s family, I’ve been proud and have been using it. Since I’ve always been active and held many important positions: such as President of the National Honor Society, Physics Club, Speech and Debate, Co-editor of Yearbook, and so much more during high school. I originally moved down to southern CA for school. I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and earned the Chancellor’s Award. My majors were Biochemistry and Business Economics. I was elected as the first Vietnamese Student Union (VSU) President after the merger of Vietnamese Reaching Out to Aid the Community (VRAC) and the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). I went to medical school immediately but dropped out after a year since I felt miserable and was very lost. I took off for about two years to do telecommunication but then realized that I wanted to further pursue my career in Chiropractic with an emphasis in sports medicine.

Besides working as a Doctor of Chiropractor, I am a real estate broker and the owner of Pholicious Restaurant & Pizza D’Z in Fountain Valley. I am also the owner of Central Broadcasting Network, Channel 14.5, a local Asian TV station that runs 24/7 with news, youth programs, entertainment, and various shows on medical, laws, health and beauty. I serve as the brand ambassador for V-Elements and Prodocbus. 

I have been known for my philanthropy work throughout the years. I have partnered up with Saigon Medicare, a PPE manufacture company from Vietnam to donate emergency PPE inventory to hospitals and organizations in need. Due to the high demand, we are launching Saigon Medicare USA with all PPE products made in the USA. 

Currently, I am serving on many different boards in the community, including Golden West College Foundation and Citizen’s Oversight Measure M Committee.

I have received numerous awards and recognitions for my charitable work. I received the prestigious Golden Wave Award, a people’s choice award established by Little Saigon Radio, Viet Tide newspaper, and HonViet TV to honor active individuals for community activism. I have been the founder for the Asian Pacific Cultural Foundation and have been organizing the Asian Pacific Festival in Newport Dunes for many years to unite, empower and showcase the Asian cultures through food, music, dance, arts and ethnic performances. My goal is to work with other international leaders and consulates around the world to learn and embrace each other’s cultures as well as developing an interactive platform to achieve unity for future generations.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life has its challenging moments, but I try not to dwell on the past and keep on moving forward. Growing up in a generation where our refugee parents were constantly working to support the families and many of the kids were joining gangs, life was tough due to our self-identity to belong. I remember growing up with these best friends in elementary school, and suddenly in middle school, many were joining gangs or doing gang-related activities. A friend of mine was kidnapped from his home, shot in the head, and his body was tossed into a random backyard at the park nearby. The crazy thing was that he had told me days before that he wants to get out of that gangster lifestyle, and we were only eighth graders at the time. I have other friends that were shot and crippled for life at an early age. My parents were very strict at the time, but now looking back I’m very thankful. I have always been hustling to get the best grades and there was lots of pressure from my family for all of us to perform well in studies.

My biggest struggle was not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, as I wanted the world. Most Asian parents wish for their kids to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers, which I started at an early age in life. In high school, I was already volunteering with private doctors and in hospital environments. I got the best grades and went to UCLA on a full Regents scholarship. I wanted to be popular, smart, and successful. I had a beautiful life: the best girlfriend, friends, social life, and grades. I graduated with the Chancellor’s Award and went on to medical school, but I was not completely happy with my life. An older friend I met in LA was doing telecommunication and promised that we would be millionaires once we partnered up. I used all the money I saved up to open my first business with him, but life isn’t as beautiful as you imagine. That was an expensive lesson learned, and I quickly learned that making money wasn’t as easy as I imagined. I still needed to pursue my higher education and while going to chiropractic school, I became a real estate agent and was selling or showing homes in between. Fast forward to my present day now. I have experienced many struggles: with friends, partners, and everything else, but I’m still keeping my head up high. At least I’m able to do what I want. I’m living my American Dream.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I have always been expressive and love to have a voice in the community. I ran for politics before but would love to do more and be the voice for the people. Hence in 2015, I opened up Central Broadcasting Network (CBN), Channel 14.5, a local Asian TV station that runs 24/7 with news, youth programs, entertainment, documentaries and various shows on medical, laws, health and beauty. Our TV content can be viewed around the world through UNO IPTV app. I serve as the brand ambassador for various health and beauty products. I have been traveling to many countries including Japan, Taiwan, and Korea and work with other researchers to formulate health and beauty supplements for our tv network.

During Covid, CBN has donated over 100K masks, 150K hot meals, 600 pizzas and turkeys to seniors, frontline healthcare workers, and families in need.

For the first time ever, there was a “Vietnam Night” within the Asian World Film Festival, a special event with over 1 billion media impressions all over the world. Central Broadcasting Network Channel 14.5, Prodocbus and Sir Daniel Winn are the proud sponsors of this event held on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills in early November.

CBN wishes to be the TV network to connect and highlight other Asian communities as well as bridging the generation gaps. We will also be introducing many spectacular health and beauty products from around the world.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love to collaborate with others in all different ways. I can be contacted through IG: dr_uclajon or FB: Jonathan Bao Huynh; email: uclajon@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Instagram: dr_uclajon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huynhjonathan/