'Rare treasure' at Hanoi Medical University

Vu Ngoc Duy's passion for medicine stemmed from his admiration for his mother, always striving to restore sight to her patients. Duy's mother is an ophthalmologist in Vinh Phuc province . Gifted in mathematics, Duy passed the entrance exam for the specialized mathematics class at Vinh Phuc High School for the Gifted in the former Vinh Phuc province (now Phu Tho province). Throughout his three years of high school, Duy consistently won first prize in the provincial mathematics competition for gifted students. In 11th grade, he won third prize in the national competition, and in 12th grade, he won second prize in the national competition, qualifying for the selection round to represent Vietnam at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

With his excellent performance in Mathematics, many other candidates would choose to study information technology or related fields at other universities, but Duy wanted to pursue medicine, like his peers who excelled in Biology and Chemistry (two traditional subjects in medical schools). Duy was one of the students admitted directly to the Medical Doctor program at Hanoi Medical University in 2019.

Duy recounted that in his first year, fresh out of university, he experienced a "shock" when studying Biology and Chemistry, struggling with the subject and only getting 6-7 points in his final grades. The results of his first year were "not as he dreamed" for a young man who had just reached the pinnacle of national excellence in Mathematics. But very quickly, from his second year onwards, Duy regained his form. As a result, Duy graduated with honors (this year, the Medical Faculty of Hanoi Medical University did not have any outstanding graduates; the percentage of students graduating with honors was over 7%).

Six years of studying, filled with theoretical lectures in the classroom and clinical practice at the hospital, Duy cherishes his choice and feels it was the right one. "If I had chosen to study information technology or another field before, who knows, I might not have achieved the success I have today," Duy said.

Vu Ngoc Duy (third from the right) receives his graduation certificate from the Board of Directors of Hanoi Medical University. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

It was also from those classes, especially the nights spent alongside Dr. Tran Danh Cuong, former Director of the Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, that Duy was motivated to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology. “Up to 90% of people think that pregnant women are safe when they enter the delivery room. But the truth is not like that. Childbirth is a sacred journey, but also full of hardship, pain, and danger. Only by witnessing and directly participating in births can you understand how much danger the mother faces,” Duy said.

Gradually influenced by such moments throughout his medical school years, when Duy learned he had achieved the top score in the residency exam, he decided to choose obstetrics, even though he had previously considered oncology (obstetrics residency is always the most sought-after field in medicine - ed.).

Duy feels proud to be able to accompany his mother and older brother (a nurse) on their journey as medical professionals saving lives.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/cua-hiem-o-truong-dh-y-ha-noi-post1776791.tpo