In the international biomedical science community, Professor Nguyen Van Tuan is one of the most famous Vietnamese-origin faces. Professor Nguyen Van Tuan is a leading expert in the field of medicine and biomedical science. He is currently a professor at the University of New South Wales (Australia) and the director of the Garvan Osteoporosis Research Institute - one of the leading biomedical research institutes in Sydney.
More than 40 years since leaving his homeland, he has written a journey full of determination, from a refugee who started with manual labor, to becoming a leading expert on osteoporosis and epidemiology, and was elected as an academician of many prestigious academies. His life is not only a scientific story but also a great source of inspiration for the will to rise up.
The first Vietnamese person elected as a member of the Australian Academy of Medicine
With more than 300 research works published in international scientific journals, Professor Nguyen Van Tuan is considered one of the world's leading experts on osteoporosis. He has made important contributions in building models to predict the risk of bone fractures, helping to improve diagnosis and disease prevention methods for millions of patients.
Professor Tuan proved that bone loss in the elderly does not stop as previously recognized by medical knowledge, but increases over time. This discovery forced experts to adjust many contents in textbooks on osteoporosis and endocrinology.
In particular, the contribution that Professor Nguyen Van Tuan considers most admirable is the development of a fracture prediction model. This model quickly became a source of inspiration for many international research groups, and was even affectionately called “Nguyen's Model” by his colleagues, a lifelong mark associated with his name.
Not only stopping at medicine, he is also an excellent biostatistician, a pioneer in applying big data analysis to solve public health problems. Many of his studies are considered the foundation for building health policies in Australia and many other countries.
He was the first to establish a strong link between bone density and fracture risk, an important discovery that became the basis for the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis that are applicable globally.
Professor Tuan's achievements have made him the first Vietnamese person to be elected as a member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. In addition, he is also a member of the International Academy of Health Sciences and a member of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
In 2022, he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal by Queen Elizabeth II for his significant contributions to medical research, osteoporosis prevention and higher education.
The extraordinary journey of overcoming failures
Few people imagine that, before becoming an internationally famous scientist, Professor Nguyen Van Tuan had a difficult youth.
Professor Nguyen Van Tuan was born and raised in Kien Giang. In the early days of arriving in Australia, he faced countless difficulties, especially the language barrier. With limited English, he accepted many jobs to make a living: from kitchen assistant, factory worker to assistant in a biology lab.
He worked hard during the day and attended part-time classes at night. For five years, he returned home exhausted at 10 or even 11 pm every night.
However, he always had a burning desire: to study to change his life, to escape from the life of manual labor. Learning English, studying culture, and working to survive was a difficult journey.
He understood that to be able to be equal to, or even surpass, the natives, he had to work twice as hard. That was why he always reminded himself to persevere and try his best, because only knowledge could open up a different future.
Despite the obstacles and difficulties, he did not get discouraged or give up. His first scientific paper, which he wrote for 8 weeks, was thrown into the trash by his supervisor. After nearly a year of editing, the work was published. The following papers were also continuously edited to the point where he could not recognize the original, but he still persevered. By the 10th paper, after four years, he was truly confident.
According to him, everyone has a “record of failures”, and it is these failures that help us understand the meaning of success better. Success is not just a destination, but also a journey of progress and persistent effort.
“So “failure is often the driving force for us to change. Change ourselves and change our perception,” he said.
"Contributing to Vietnam is a sacred duty"
Although he has received many international awards and honors, for Professor Nguyen Van Tuan, what makes him most proud is the recognition in his homeland. He shared that abroad, the selection of awards is often based on procedures, but in Vietnam, it is a respect for real efforts and dedication.
The first award he received in his homeland was “Glory to Vietnam”, given to overseas Vietnamese who have made important contributions to the country. He was then recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. However, the most meaningful award for him was the Lifetime Achievement Medal awarded by the Ho Chi Minh City Medical Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Osteoporosis Association, marking his great contributions to the building and development of the osteoporosis industry in Vietnam.
“Contributing to Australia is the duty of a citizen, a commitment that I cherish with all my pride and devotion. But contributing to Vietnam is the sacred duty of a son to his homeland. It is not only a responsibility but also a gratitude, a bond connecting me to the past and the future. I believe that when a son returns to contribute to his birthplace, it is also a way to honor history and foster hope for future generations,” Professor Nguyen Van Tuan shared.
Professor John Eisman, an international colleague, highly appreciated Professor Nguyen Van Tuan's dedication: "Many medical research projects he established have contributed to improving the capacity of colleagues in Vietnam and very few people show such dedication to learning and training as he does."
Recently, Professor Nguyen Van Tuan has released the memoir "Kangaroo Dream". Beyond the titles, "Kangaroo Dream" is a story about a heart doing science with social responsibility, to spread knowledge and bring practical value to the community. The book becomes a source of inspiration for young people to nurture their desire for knowledge, especially in the medical field.
Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/gs-nguyen-van-tuan-tu-gian-kho-den-dinh-cao-khoa-hoc-quoc-te-post2149056927.html
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