There are people who don't need to be in the spotlight to shine. They choose to walk slowly, speak softly, and work persistently with their own unique light—the light of responsibility and compassion. At the Ha Tinh Mental Health Hospital, Dr. Tran Hau Anh is one such person. After retirement, when many choose to rest, he chose to stay.
Staying with these special patients, these lives teetering on the brink of lucidity and delusion, reality and hallucination. This stay is quiet, unannounced, but enough to become a silent commitment to the profession.
Born in 1962, and formally trained at the Military Medical Academy, seven years of military training instilled in Dr. Tran Hau Anh – former Head of the Female Acute Care Unit at the Ha Tinh Mental Health Hospital – a disciplined demeanor, unwavering resolve, and the composure of a soldier. However, if it were only discipline and expertise, he probably wouldn't have chosen to specialize in psychiatry, a field with high pressure, little glamour, and considerable risks.
That choice began in childhood.
Born into a family with a long tradition in medicine, his father was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, dedicating his life to treating the poor and needy. The experiences of accompanying his father to prepare herbal remedies, examine pulses, and listen to the patients' lamentations sowed in him the seeds of compassion and patience. “My father often said, ‘Healing is not just about medicine, but also about compassion. If you don’t have enough patience to listen, even the best prescription will be difficult to perfect,’” Dr. Tran Hau Anh recalls.
Perhaps that's why, when choosing a specialization, he didn't seek out more dynamic fields but instead chose psychiatry, where patients not only suffer physically but also experience mental instability.
After graduating, he worked at Ha Tinh Provincial General Hospital as a doctor specializing in treating mental health issues. In 2014, when the Ha Tinh Mental Health Hospital was established, he was one of the first people to work there.
The early days of the hospital were a challenging time. Facilities were inadequate, staffing was limited, while the number of patients increased steadily, most of whom were seriously ill. Many patients were admitted in a state of agitation, paranoia, and even posed a risk to themselves and others.
The dangers of the psychiatric profession don't come from surgery or physical accidents, but from sudden, unannounced outbursts of agitation. Having worked in the Women's Acute Care Unit for over 10 years, Dr. Tran Hau Anh has often been the target of unconscious blows and pushes from patients.
Once, during a night shift, a female patient had a violent outburst, smashing things and screaming incessantly. While the nursing team was still trying to approach her safely, the patient suddenly lunged at him, grabbing his shirt and hitting him on the head. After controlling the situation, his first action wasn't to check his own injury, but to continue calming the patient and working with his colleagues to handle the situation.
“Working in this kind of environment, you always have to be prepared for situations where patients become agitated, have seizures, or exhibit aggressive behavior. If you panic, the patient will panic even more. As for patients spitting, defecating, urinating, or scratching… that’s perfectly normal. And more than anything, you have to understand the patient because at that moment they don’t know who you are, and they’re not aware of their actions. If you’re afraid and abandon the patient, who will stay with them?” – Dr. Hau Anh shared.
For him, physical injuries are only a small part of the mental anguish that patients and their families endure. Patients with general medical conditions may experience physical pain but remain self-aware; whereas those with mental illness sometimes lose awareness of their actions—that is the pain of both soul and mind.
Dr. Tran Hau Anh chose the field of psychiatry, where patients not only suffer physically but also experience mental instability.
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Tran Hau Anh has accumulated invaluable expertise. He understands that treating mental illness relies not only on treatment protocols and medication, but also on empathy and trust. He recognizes that some outbursts can be calmed by a familiar voice or a reassuring glance. Therefore, despite his busy schedule, he always pays attention to the smallest details of his patients, such as an unusual frown, a wandering gaze, or a silence that lasts longer than usual…
Ms. NTH, a parent of a patient with schizophrenia (from Huong Khe commune) who received long-term treatment at the Female Acute Ward, shared: “When my daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia, there were times when my family felt hopeless. It was Dr. Tran Hau Anh who directly cared for her, closely monitored her treatment, and constantly encouraged the family to stay strong. For my family, the doctor is not only a physician but also a benefactor.”
Throughout his career, he and his colleagues have helped hundreds of patients with mental health conditions rediscover themselves and continue their unfinished lives. Sometimes, faith is the most important "medicine." And that faith doesn't come naturally; it's built through perseverance, through repeated conversations, encouragement, and comforting every day.
At the end of 2023, Dr. Tran Hau Anh retired. With his extensive expertise and experience, he received many job offers from medical facilities in the province with higher salaries and more favorable conditions.
He refused. Instead, he signed an employment contract, continuing to work at the Ha Tinh Mental Health Hospital, where he has spent almost his entire professional life. “After all these years of work, I could completely retire because my children are all grown up. But realizing that I could still do something for the hospital, for the special patients here, I decided to continue,” he shared.
Dr. Nguyen Hong Phuc, Director of the Ha Tinh Mental Health Hospital, affirmed: “Dr. Tran Hau Anh is a prime example of medical ethics and dedication. His continued presence not only helps the hospital alleviate its staffing difficulties but also provides moral support for the younger medical team. His experience, composure, and responsibility are a solid foundation for the entire hospital staff.”
In the quiet corridors of the psychiatric hospital, where joy arrives slowly and sadness often lingers, the doctor, well past retirement age, remains devoted to his profession day after day. Without fanfare or ostentation, he quietly stays with the critically ill patients, the stressful night shifts, and the bewildered eyes yearning for support.
The story of Dr. Tran Hau Anh is not just a glimpse into one individual's life, but also a reminder of many doctors who are silently dedicating themselves to their work every day. Staying in the profession is sometimes not an easy choice for them. But it is this perseverance that has preserved the true value of the word "doctor"—not only curing diseases with expertise but also uplifting people with faith.
On the occasion of Vietnamese Doctors' Day, February 27th, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who are working tirelessly on the front lines to care for the health of the people. We wish all medical professionals to always uphold their medical ethics, remain steadfast in the face of professional pressures, and possess the health and strength to continue their healing journey—a journey that not only saves lives but also rekindles faith, preserves life, and brings hope to countless families.
CONTENTS: PHUC QUANG - DOAN LOAN - DINH NHAT
DESIGN: NGUYEN LIEU
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/o-lai-voi-nhung-manh-doi-mong-manh-post306397.html
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