The story of a female doctor who 'heals' 'hidden pains'

White blouse dream

Nguyen Thi Minh Chau’s dream of becoming a doctor began when she followed her mother to the hospital as a child. The image of her mother in a white blouse, along with the respect and love of her patients, was deeply engraved in her mind.

"My mother, who was a doctor, did not want her daughter to follow in her footsteps. She was worried that I would have to endure great work pressure, endless night shifts and limited time for my family. Despite my parents' wishes for me to become a teacher, I was determined to pursue block B, steadfast in my dream of becoming a doctor," Dr. Minh Chau recalled.

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I dreamed of becoming a doctor since I was a child, seeing my mother in a white coat, seeing her examine patients.

Meritorious Doctor Nguyen Thi Minh Chau

After graduating from high school, when she was ready to take the entrance exam to Hanoi Medical University, a family incident forced Chau's university dream to be put on hold. Not giving up her desire to become a doctor, she accepted to study at Vinh Medical College, waiting for a new opportunity. After working at Nghe An Mental Hospital, as soon as her financial situation was more stable, she decided to take the entrance exam to Thai Binh Medical University.

She recalls: “Although I had better conditions, that period was still very difficult. My house was far away, I had a small child, and my health was not good. At that time, the exams were very strict, the competition rate was high, there were few opportunities, and no one believed I could pass. That motivated me to be more determined, to study harder, and finally, I did what many people thought was impossible.”

Until now, Ms. Chau still remembers clearly the journey to conquer her dream of becoming a doctor. At that time, transportation was not as convenient as it is now, so she could only go home once every two weeks. Each time, the student weighing only 39-40kg had to spend the whole day catching the ferry and boarding the train. Before she could stop missing her child, she was busy on the road again.

Despite the hardship, because of her passion for the profession, she never felt tired or discouraged. Not only was she an exemplary student, solid in her profession, she also actively participated in union and faculty activities and was honored to be admitted to the Party right in the lecture hall.

"Looking for" the pain no one sees

With nearly 30 years of working at Nghe An Mental Hospital, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Chau is known as a good, versatile doctor, taking on many roles and tasks in many departments and rooms. It is these rich experiences that have contributed to creating a dedicated doctor who can easily sympathize deeply with patients.

“With its own characteristics, Nghe An Mental Hospital is associated with many sad and happy stories. As a part of the collective, attached to the difficult days, I also experienced many memorable things. From the time a patient grabbed my collar and threatened me during the treatment process, to the days of cycling all the way to Nam Dan to find runaway patients; then rushing in to stop fights between patients, to even being harassed by male patients... But those hardships are nothing compared to many of my colleagues, some doctors and nurses have had their teeth broken by patients, even suffered traumatic brain injuries. I have also been assigned less risky jobs, but in the end, what I want to do most is still to examine, treat, and directly help patients,” Dr. Minh Chau confided.

In addition to his solid expertise, his warm voice and kindness are probably some of the reasons why Dr. Chau easily gains the trust and love of his patients. From that trust, Dr. Chau has touched the deep pains of his patients. Sometimes it is the loneliness of a teenager in his own home, wanting to commit suicide many times but no one knows, sometimes it is the fear of a child when being bullied at school, sometimes it is the heavy pressure on a mother's mind... Only by "peeling" away each layer of defense, can the doctor find the "hidden pain" - the root cause of all the patient's problems.

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At our hospital, Specialist 1 Doctor Nguyen Thi Minh Chau is an example of dedication and devotion to medical examination and treatment, always sociable, open and enthusiastic in supporting colleagues. A special thing about Doctor Minh Chau is her versatility. Having held many positions, in charge of many departments, whether in the treatment departments or the General Planning Department, she has always completed the assigned tasks very well.
Currently, as Head of the Examination Department - considered the face of the hospital, she has played her role very well with her care and dedication to patients.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tinh
- Head of Personnel Department, Vice President of Trade Union
Nghe An Mental Hospital

"Unlike physical illnesses, our patients require a harmonious combination of drug treatment and psychological therapy. Therefore, empathy and deep understanding are prerequisites. Moreover, here, most of the patients have difficult and extremely difficult circumstances. Many families fall into a deadlock, lose clarity and sobriety, and cannot escape the spiral of persistent suffering. In addition, in the hustle and bustle of modern society, when people are surrounded by electronic devices, psychological problems are becoming more and more serious" - Dr. Chau held back a sigh and shared more.

With a mother's heart, she could not help but feel pain when witnessing the lifeless eyes on the bewildered faces, the crisscrossing knife wounds on the arms, the trembling, convulsing shoulders... of the little sick children.

Determined to fulfill and live fully her childhood dream of becoming a doctor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Chau still finds meaningful joy in her work every day. With thesededicationWith his dedication and passion, Dr. Minh Chau is one of the Nghe An doctors awarded the title "Excellent Physician" this time. Doctors like Dr. Minh Chau will always be a source of inspiration for the younger generation in their meaningful medical work.