In late April 2021, Dr. Vo Ngoc Anh Tho, Deputy Head of the Department of Tropical Diseases at Cho Ray Hospital, was honored by Forbes Vietnam magazine as one of the 20 most inspiring Vietnamese women of 2021. She was selected as a prime example of the dedication of the Vietnamese medical team in the fight against COVID-19.
When asked how she felt about receiving this award, she smiled, her voice clear and bright: "Would you believe me? I didn't know I was on the shortlist and didn't think my work would inspire people until I received so many congratulatory messages . Honestly, I was happy, but it only lasted a day, and then I went back to my normal life. This honor was made possible with the support of many colleagues. And I'm just a lucky person to have been noticed."
The female doctor may be small in stature, but her contributions and sacrifices are anything but small. Photo: Huu Khoa
My first impression of Dr. Vo Ngoc Anh Tho is that she looks much younger than her 39 years, with a radiant smile and a sweet voice. Those who meet her will be captivated by the gentle, friendly manner of this talented and inspiring doctor.
Dr. Vo Ngoc Anh Tho has worked in the Department of Tropical Diseases at Cho Ray Hospital since 2006. In 2015, at the age of 33, she was the youngest Deputy Head of Department at the hospital. She was also the only female doctor in Cho Ray Hospital's rapid response team that went to the provinces to provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Vietnam, she has been present at every reinforcement mission from Cho Ray Hospital to the South.
Two years without celebrating Tet at home.
" "The recognition from Forbes Vietnam magazine was made possible with the support of many colleagues. And I am just one of the lucky ones to have been noticed . "
For two consecutive years (2020 and 2021), Dr. Anh Tho was unable to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with her family. On the 28th day of the 12th lunar month in 2020, the first COVID-19 cases, a Chinese father and son, caused her and her colleagues to work tirelessly treating the patients, forgetting about New Year's Eve and Tet greetings.
Overcoming immense pressure from incomplete information about the epidemic and language barriers among patients, Dr. Anh Tho and her team of doctors and nurses in the Department of Tropical Diseases successfully helped a father and son be discharged from the hospital after 2 and 3 weeks of treatment, respectively. This is an initial success in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam.
When the COVID-19 pandemic became complicated and lower-level hospitals needed support, Dr. Anh Tho was one of the rare female members, along with her colleagues from Cho Ray Hospital, who joined the rapid response teams to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in localities that were then "epicenters" of the outbreak, such as Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and Gia Lai . However, the female doctor did not feel sad about it and considered it completely normal. She believes this is the responsibility of those working in the medical field. "If I can't celebrate Tet this year, I'll make up for it next year," she shared, adding: "The lessons learned from one year of fighting the pandemic are equivalent to five years of working in medicine."
Previously, Dr. Anh Thơ worked in intensive care, toxicology, and infectious diseases, which was very demanding. Since the pandemic, her work has become even more difficult. She has had to make the hospital her home, leaving her 10-year-old daughter with her parents. She even said, "My daughter has completely forgotten about me…"
Giving up her dream of becoming a journalist to become a doctor.
Not only is she known as one of the 20 most inspiring women of 2021, Dr. Anh Thơ is also loved by many for her cheerful personality, her dedication, and especially her ability to spontaneously compose poetry.
"I feel so much sympathy for my colleagues working tirelessly in the heart of the epidemic/ Without time to feel sorry for themselves, without time to think far ahead/ I feel so much sympathy for the drops of sweat under their uniforms/ Anyone who has experienced it knows the suffering together..." These emotionally charged verses were written by Dr. Anh Thơ in the early days of her and her colleagues' "battle" against the COVID-19 epidemic when she first arrived in Vietnam, moving many people. Even today, that fierce "battle" continues without ceasing.
Dr. Anh Thơ said that she is the only one in her family to pursue a career in medicine. Originally a math student at Ben Tre Specialized High School, she excelled in literature. Back then, she dreamed of becoming a journalist so she could travel everywhere. However, in her 11th grade year, her father became seriously ill and was bedridden.
Both of her parents were teachers, and their family's finances were not abundant. Sitting by her father's bedside, caring for him and witnessing his relentless pain, she decided to give up her dream of becoming a journalist to pursue a career in medicine. Graduating from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2006, she has been working at Cho Ray Hospital ever since. While working and studying to improve her professional skills, she has now completed her postgraduate program and holds a Specialist Doctor Level II qualification.
Interacting with Dr. Vo Ngoc Anh Tho reveals a person who embodies a blend of two worlds: medicine and art. With a sensitive and refined soul, her experiences of love and life have helped her flourish in poetry.
Writing poetry has made her life, after long hours of hard work and treating difficult cases, lighter and more poetic. In her daily life, she faces many difficulties and challenges, but always remains cheerful and optimistic, striving to separate work pressure from family life. Her poems are simple yet profound, evoking strong emotions in readers.
During the short breaks between two consecutive shifts, she could also "export" poetry to relieve stress and recharge herself: "Silence!/ I allow myself to rest from love for a while/ My heart aches and needs a little time/ No more blaming each other, adding more bitterness to my heart/ You are tired enough too.../ The burdens of life... just let me carry them/ On days without you/ I teach my heart to be obedient again/ The sad street corner silently calls out someone's name/ I wish you peace on that long journey far away/ I wish you happiness, I wish to see you happy/ On days without you/ The bright golden sun outside doesn't warm my heart/ The indifferent silence is like a broken crystal/ I'm afraid to touch it - afraid to cut myself/ Hiding myself behind that lovely smile/ Deceiving myself that... you will return soon."
Even during the peak of the pandemic, amidst sleepless nights treating patients, she still managed to hastily write these lines of poetry as a gift to herself, her colleagues, and her parents: "Parents, are you at ease knowing your child is a doctor? / Their youth is buried in medical school lecture halls / Every week a test - oh, what a strange school! / Returning home after night shifts - what beauty remains? / Parents, are you at ease knowing your child is a doctor? / Hardships upon every journey / Twenty-four hours a day without rest / One moment of carelessness, a life lost / Parents, are you at ease knowing your child is a doctor? / Dark circles under their eyes every morning / The call to arms stirs the heart of a soldier / In the deserted alleyways, lamps are lit, watching for your child's journey / Parents, are you at ease knowing your child is a doctor? / Life is full of turmoil and moral principles / People's words are sometimes loving, sometimes hateful, sometimes contemptuous / Having chosen the medical profession, one must persevere / A pure heart and clear mind, dedicating oneself to others."
Dr. Anh Thơ happily shared that she had "trained" her parents to get used to her work as a doctor. At first, her parents were very worried and felt sorry for her, but gradually they got used to her work and being able to pack her bags and go whenever she wanted. Currently, her father's health has improved; instead of being bedridden, he can move around independently. Anh Thơ's parents provide a lot of support in caring for and raising their daughter so that she can focus on her work.
"Whenever I have a business trip, I just call my parents to let them know I'm going, and then I ask them and relatives to take my daughter to and from school. My daughter is very well-behaved and independent; she can help cook and take care of me when I'm tired. I guess God has blessed her, because from a young age she hasn't been sick, she studies diligently, and she's a very understanding girl who always listens to her mother."
Speaking about her daughter, the female doctor's voice was full of pride, but then her tone softened. She explained that, being a doctor, her work was constantly busy, leaving her little time for her daughter, who was in the fourth grade. Throughout her daughter's kindergarten years, she had never once been able to attend or watch her perform in school shows. Even picking her up from school was a rare occurrence. She recounted, "One day when I went to pick her up, the teacher didn't recognize me as her mother. When I told her, she said, 'Oh, you're Nhat Tam's mother? This is the first time I've seen you.'"
Since April 30th, she hasn't been able to see her daughter. After assisting Kien Giang with the Cho Ray Hospital Rapid Response Team, she continued treating infectious patients. "I really miss and love my daughter, but my job requires me to avoid the risk of infecting her and my parents," the female doctor confided.
Empathy towards colleagues and patients
As a leading and experienced physician specializing in Tropical Diseases in Vietnam, currently in charge of a department with 70 members, Dr. Anh Thơ remains very humble. Her colleagues describe her as amiable, empathetic towards her profession and life. Her simple, sincere lifestyle and consideration for others have bridged the gap between her and her colleagues and patients.
Dr. Anh Thơ shared that, besides the teachers who taught and imparted knowledge to her, she is especially grateful to her nursing colleagues. They were the ones who shared their first experiences in the profession and "mentored" her during her first night shifts. According to Dr. Anh Thơ, nurses spend the most time with patients, are the first to recognize and report abnormal signs to doctors, and work like a mother tirelessly caring for her child all day. However, nurses are also the first to be criticized, the first to be subjected to medical misconduct, both verbal and physical, and are not as respected as doctors.
"The children of nurses also have to grow up early. Some children, even at a very young age, have to cook for themselves and sleep alone at home while their mothers are on night duty. Nurses' backs, shoulders, and joints ache after a few years in the profession, and their health declines rapidly after strenuous days. That's one of the hidden aspects of the medical profession that not everyone sees," Dr. Anh Thơ empathized.
For her patients, Dr. Tho always shows utmost care and concern. She does whatever is good and beneficial for them, even if it means staying up all night. Despite the heavy workload and high pressure, and the fact that she sometimes sleeps soundly through the night after work, this female doctor still finds time to pause and be moved by the most ordinary moments of life.
"It was around 2-3 am when I went down to the Emergency Department of the hospital for a consultation. On the way to the department, I met an elderly couple; the wife was taking care of her husband who was being treated for acute pulmonary edema. Seeing the image of the two elderly people caring for each other, without their children accompanying them, I felt sympathy and concern. I asked and learned that the patient's son is a doctor in the province and was participating in the fight against the epidemic. Because of the epidemic, the doctor couldn't go home to care for his father who was seriously ill and in need of emergency treatment. At that moment, I missed my own parents terribly and thought more about my family. Fortunately, the patient's treatment was successful. The husband has recovered a lot," Dr. Anh Thơ recounted.
For 15 years in the medical profession, Dr. Vo Ngoc Anh Tho, a pioneering "rose" on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response at Cho Ray Hospital and the Southern healthcare sector, has contributed to bringing happiness to thousands of patients and providing health advice and pandemic prevention information to millions of television viewers. This female doctor has lived a beautiful life, driven by passion, enthusiasm, and dedication to her profession. Her happiness lies in the well-being of her loved ones. Every day at the hospital, she examines patients and sees them improve. She hopes that with her contributions, as well as those of her colleagues nationwide, the efforts of the government, and the entire population, the pandemic will soon end so that everyone can return to a normal life.
"20 Inspiring Vietnamese Women of 2021" is a list compiled for the first time by Forbes Vietnam. The goal is to honor women who, despite differences in field, age, position, and level of influence, share a common trait: "possessing abundant energy and the strength to break down the visible and invisible barriers that have long hindered women's development."
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/nu-bac-si-duoc-forbes-viet-nam-vinh-danh-doa-blouse-trang-san-sang-ra-tran-172210622122704331.htm
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