A young PhD holder with work that benefits the community.

Dr. Nguyen Viet Hai, MD, PhD, speaks at the conference to gather feedback on the draft documents for the 14th National Congress of the Party.

Growing up in a family with a tradition of practicing medicine, Nguyen Viet Hai's childhood was filled with the faint scent of traditional Chinese medicine in his grandfather's study, his father's long business trips, and the image of his mother, a chemistry teacher, diligently preparing lesson plans.

It was an atmosphere of knowledge, responsibility, and compassion that early on instilled in him the belief that becoming a doctor was the best career choice.

In 2011, this young man, born in 1993, passed the entrance exam to Hanoi Medical University, beginning his journey to turn his love of medicine into a life mission.

Graduating with honors in 2017, Dr. Hai began working at the National Lung Hospital.

After two years, he won a PhD scholarship from the Royal Netherlands Anti-Tuberculosis Council (KNCV) and went to the University of Amsterdam for research.

Three years later, he completed his doctoral program a year ahead of schedule, a rare achievement, especially given that Europe was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

This remarkable achievement is not only the result of his academic ability but also reflects his serious and persistent work ethic.

However, instead of choosing to stay in an international research environment, Hai made a surprising decision to return to Vietnam.

Dr. Nguyen Viet Hai, a physician, participates in patient consultations and research support.

In Dong Nai, he and the medical team participated in a trial of the antiviral drug Molnupiravir, conducting research to lay the groundwork for the nationwide program "Evaluation of Controlled Use of Molnupiravir in the Community".

This large-scale project was implemented in 35 provinces and cities, mobilizing more than 3,000 healthcare workers and volunteers. 56,129 patients were closely monitored.

The results were encouraging for both medical professionals and the community: 72.5% of patients were discharged or completed their isolation period after only 5 days of treatment; the rate of severe complications was less than 0.2%; and side effects were low and mostly mild.

Nearly 60,000 people have had early access to antiviral drugs, helping to reduce the burden on hospitals and save thousands of lives.

"It's not just about scientific research, but also a battle of faith and humanity. Every patient's recovery is a victory for Vietnamese medicine," Dr. Hai shared.

In addition to his significant contributions to the fight against Covid-19, Dr. Nguyen Viet Hai is also the author and co-author of 14 international publications on tuberculosis, published in leading journals such as The Lancet and Clinical Infectious Diseases. These works not only provide academic value but also contribute to shaping tuberculosis prevention and control strategies in Vietnam.

Among these, the study on the epidemiological trends of tuberculosis from 2007-2017 is a significant milestone. This work provided scientific evidence to replace staining techniques with the GeneXpert test, a breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, enabling rapid and accurate detection and reducing the rate of transmission in the community.

This research also contributed to the group of topics that were honored with the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Science and Technology in 2022.

Behind those successes were numerous failures. Some of his research was rejected three or four times, but he didn't give up.

"Failure is not as frightening as giving up," he always reminded himself, so that he could persevere in revising, supplementing, and defending his scientific arguments to the very end.

His tireless efforts for public health earned him the 2025 Award for Young People Living Beautifully, presented by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union.

For Hai, "living beautifully" isn't about grand gestures, but simply about living responsibly, living for the community, and using one's knowledge to protect the lives of others.

At a very young age, Dr. Nguyen Viet Hai has overcome difficult journeys to prove that, with enough faith and a big heart, young people can absolutely contribute to changing the world, starting with a research project, a decision to take risks, or an action for the community.

With a spirit of dedication, creativity, and community service, Dr. Nguyen Viet Hai is one of the young intellectuals of Hanoi, honored to receive the "Youth Living Beautifully" Award in 2025 presented by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union.

PEACE OF MIND

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tien-si-tre-voi-nhung-cong-trinh-vi-su-song-cua-cong-dong-post928309.html