Vietnamese-American doctor once saved the life of United Airlines CEO

Oscar Munoz - CEO of United Airlines is at the center of a wave of protests for his behavior related to the scandal of the airline's staff violently dragging Vietnamese-American doctor David Dao. More than a year ago, another Vietnamese-American doctor saved Monoz's life.

More than a month after taking over as CEO of United Airlines, Mr. Munoz suffered a heart attack and had to undergo emergency surgery. On January 5, 2016, he received a heart transplant.

The transplant lasted 11 hours, and miraculously, just nine days later, the CEO of United Airlines was discharged from the hospital.

Dr. Allen Anderson, CEO of United Airlines and Vietnamese-American doctor Duc Thinh Pham. Photo: United Airlines

He surprised the entire airline when, just over a week after surgery, he participated in United Airlines' quarterly report conference call and returned to work in March.

The team of doctors directly in charge of Mr. Oscar Munoz's case includes Dr. Allen Anderson and Vietnamese-American doctor Duc Thinh Pham - Director of Northwestern University Hospital.

Dr. Duc Thinh Pham is a cardiothoracic surgeon who graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in 1997.

After graduation, he went on to complete his residency at the University of North Carolina Medical Center in 2001 and pursued further training in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Pham came to the United States with his family after the Vietnam War. He said his family has always been concerned about health.

Dr. Duc Thinh Pham. Photo: heart-valve-surgery

“I realized that beyond survival, one of the most basic human needs is health and staying healthy. Pursuing medicine and helping people achieve health is the way I feel I am helping others the most,” he explained.

"I saw a case where a woman was dying of heart disease, we operated on her in the evening and the next day she was able to sit up and talk to her family.

“This case impressed upon me the direct impact we – cardiac surgeons – can have in saving patients' lives and improving their quality of life,” Dr. Pham recalled.

According to Vietnamnet.vn