Remember the early days

Exactly 30 years ago, I had just passed my surgical residency thesis and was waiting to apply to stay at the school as a lecturer in the Department of Surgery. The major matters concerning the subject or the school and the selection of staff, I had heard the senior teachers and a few senior lecturers discuss, but my scope was too small to dare to dream anything. On the last day of April 1994, after teaching a clinical morning session for students at Gia Dinh People's Hospital, Professor Nguyễn Đình Hưng called me into his office and said: “Come help with the work at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy clinic!”. I replied: “Yes, I will follow your assignment, when should I go?”. “Tomorrow!”, he said.

So on April 29, 1994 I returned to work as an intern doctor at the General Clinic of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City – the predecessor of the current hospital. In the early days after the transfer, my senior colleague Dr. Lê Văn Quang and I were assigned to take care of two beds, while the senior teachers and senior doctors did everything: outpatient examinations, minor surgeries, emergency surgeries, program surgeries, inpatient care, multidisciplinary consultations, and home visits for patients upon request…

The clinic operated efficiently, patients from within and outside the city increasingly came, the number of surgeries grew, specialties developed, and thanks to the great contributions of Professor Nguyễn Đình Hối, the clinic was approved by the Ministry of Health to be upgraded to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, as it is known today.

The two years of permanent work at the clinic in those early days left many memories in me, hard to forget. I learned a lot from the teachers and senior colleagues not only about medical techniques but also about wholeheartedly treating patients, respecting and safeguarding patients' rights, placing medical ethics first, nurturing patients' trust, and always confidently fulfilling the role of a physician in the new era.

Reflecting on thirty years, we see that the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has made great strides in expertise, management, and many other aspects. It is truly gratifying to see that the younger generations have not let down the teachers' teachings and expectations, making the hospital increasingly renowned both domestically and internationally.

Time has flown by so quickly! From a newly graduated resident doctor to now having the honor of following the Teacher's footsteps, and many years leading the Surgery Department. What do I remember most? I recall the difficult surgeries, the tense departmental meetings, the hospital's early days. Hands, mind, and heart were the essential luggage handed down by the teacher. I remember unfinished dreams, the times of reviewing surgeries… every teaching of the Teacher still echoes somewhere.

 PGS TS BS. Nguyễn Văn Hải 

Head of the Surgery Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City