Cultivating the Next Generation of Key Medical Opinion Leaders (KMOLs)

On February 21, 2025, the MẢNH Talkshow: Health Education Communication was held at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, sharing new perspectives and opportunities for medical and pharmacy students in the field of health communication. The program attracted more than 500 students to engage with practical knowledge on health education communication, and nurtured the next generation of KMOLs (Key Medical Opinion Leaders) – future medical experts capable of disseminating knowledge and creating a positive impact in the community.

Health education communication is not only scientific but also requires the art of communication and psychological skills. “The team of doctors and healthcare staff not only heal with their expertise but also with official information, spreading correct knowledge to help the community understand and protect its own health. To be effective, a plan must clearly define communication objectives, target audiences, and appropriate communication methods. Additionally, each student needs to proactively develop their expertise, communication skills, understand the psychology of the target public, be meticulous in format, and be capable of applying modern communication technology,” emphasized MSc. Do Thi Nam Phuong, Head of the Communication Center.

Also in the role of speaker for the discussion session, MSc. Nguyen Hien Minh – Deputy Head of Immunization Unit at UMC reminds future colleagues about clinical professional skills in diagnosis and treatment to analyze and integrate the secrets of disseminating health information. As a medical expert with influence in media, currently collaborating very effectively with the Communication Center, MSc. Nguyen Hien Minh shares: “The development of technology allows people to connect and interact with each other more easily, more instantly, and more continuously. Therefore, using Facebook, Zalo, Youtube... to create a communication channel that is both low-cost and convenient is an inevitable trend. As someone with correct information, we must take responsibility to share, but when the spread speed, scrolling… is too fast, we only have 5 seconds to capture the viewer’s attention. What to choose, how to make them stop to listen, view our information, is not only a challenge but also a skill that needs to be honed.”

The series of workshops “Building and Developing Communication Skills for Healthcare Professionals Influencing Society (KMOLs)” organized by UMC in cooperation with RMIT University Vietnam in 2024 and many follow-up activities in 2025. The KMOLs workshop series has now created a community of healthcare professionals influencing society with over 600 members, regularly sharing how to implement integrated health education programs within communication programs, helping members become more confident in their own medical professional skills. MSc. Đỗ Thị Nam Phương and MSc. Nguyễn Hiền Minh are also members of the judging panel and guest speakers of the Health Education Communication Skill (HECS) competition organized by Open Mic Club - UMC.