Shining with medical ethics on the journey of volunteerism.
In the medical community of Nghe An, many still hold Dr. Tran Thi Quynh Lien (Vinh University Medical Center Hospital) and Master's degree holder Le Minh Hoang (Nghia Dan Medical Center) in special esteem, not only for their solid expertise but also for the way they wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to charitable trips, demonstrating medical ethics through concrete and practical actions aimed at helping people in disadvantaged areas.
Female doctor spreads love in the remote highlands.
In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), Xop Coc village (Yen Hoa commune) is more bustling than usual. This is not only because of the arrival of spring in the mountains and forests, but also because of the joy spreading after the free medical examination and treatment program organized by the Department of Health, the Provincial Young Doctors Association, and other partner organizations.
In early-year conversations, people often mention one name with great respect: Dr. Tran Thi Quynh Lien – who promptly diagnosed and advised on treatment for many illnesses, helping families celebrate Tet with peace of mind.
Amidst the joy, Mrs. Vi Thi Hoa (born in 1977) emotionally recounted the story of her 7-year-old granddaughter, La Thi Thanh Truc. According to her, more than a month ago, Truc frequently suffered from headaches and fatigue, disrupting her studies. Her parents work far away, and her elderly grandparents could only watch over her with worry.
Understanding the situation, Dr. Quynh Lien meticulously examined Truc, determining the cause to be chronic sinusitis accompanied by chronic adenoid hyperplasia that had not been completely treated. After the examination, Truc was prescribed appropriate treatment and given specific instructions for monitoring, tailored to her family's living conditions. As a result, Truc's health improved significantly, and her innocent smile returned to her face.
Not only Mrs. Hoa's family, but also Mr. Vi Van Khanh (born in 1993) breathed a sigh of relief after the examination. He recounted that for almost a week he had suffered from continuous nosebleeds, and despite two visits to the doctor, the condition did not improve. It wasn't until Dr. Tran Thi Quynh Lien discovered the "culprit" – a leech lodged deep in his nasal cavity – and treated it promptly that the worry that had plagued Mr. Khanh for many days was finally relieved.
The person most respected and admired by the community is Dr. Tran Thi Quynh Lien, a specialist in Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat). Born in 1983, she graduated from Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2007. She is currently a lecturer and Head of the Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Vinh University of Medicine; and also an ENT doctor at Vinh University Hospital. In 2019, she successfully defended her doctoral dissertation and was, at that time, the youngest female doctor of medicine in Nghe An province.
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Born in the former Anh Son district (now Yen Xuan commune) and raised in the former Dien Chau district (now Dien Chau commune), she understands the hardships and deprivations faced by people in rural and mountainous areas. This is what has motivated her to persistently participate in charitable programs for many years.
Since 2010, when she was still a member of the Young Doctors Club of the province, she began volunteering to provide medical examinations in almost all mountainous districts of Nghe An province such as Ky Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Do Luong, Anh Son, Quy Hop…
When the Nghe An Provincial Young Doctors Association was established in 2016, as a key member of the Standing Committee, she continued to accompany, directly participate in, and coordinate the implementation of more than 40 free health check-ups, consultations, and medicine distributions for people in remote, mountainous, and border areas.
I still vividly remember my business trip to Ky Son during the Tet holiday in 2012 – my first time setting foot in this remote border region. The mountain roads were steep, narrow, with high mountains on one side and a deep ravine on the other, and it took 8-9 hours by car to reach my destination.
At that moment, amidst the arduous journey, I secretly wondered if I would even make it back in time for Tet (Lunar New Year). But it was that trip that opened up a long journey of connection and sharing with disadvantaged areas.
Doctor Tran Thi Quynh Lien
Not only is Dr. Quynh Lien dedicated to her patients, but she also proactively connects with and encourages medical students in Vinh to participate in charitable activities, viewing it as an environment to hone their skills and medical ethics. A prime example is Dr. Nguyen Huu The (born in 1990), a former student of the Vinh Medical University's bridging program, who was connected by Dr. Lien to participate in numerous medical missions to provide care to people in disadvantaged areas.
Although they now work at hospitals in Binh Duong and other provinces, whenever Nghe An organizes a volunteer medical examination and treatment program, Dr. Nguyen Huu The and his wife, along with their colleagues, still make time to return and participate.
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After each trip, what remains is not only the patients treated, but also the trust nurtured between the doctor and the people. In that remote, underprivileged area, the image of the young female doctor with a warm heart has become a beautiful symbol of responsibility, intelligence, and compassion.
Spreading messages of love and compassion.
Over the years, at Nghia Dan Medical Center, the sight of compassionate bowls of porridge or "free" meals delivered directly to patients has become a familiar part of the hospital's daily life. Behind those warm bowls of porridge is the dedicated companionship of Master's degree holder Le Minh Hoang.
Born in 1992, Le Minh Hoang currently works at the Department of Disease Control, Nghia Dan Medical Center. He has also been elected to the Executive Committee of the Young Doctors Association of Nghe An province.
Since 2020, after the District Youth Union handed over the "Compassionate Porridge Pot" model to the Youth Union of the Medical Center, Dr. Hoang has been directly responsible for organizing, coordinating, and maintaining the activities. In 2025 alone, Dr. Hoang and philanthropists organized 28 "Compassionate Porridge Pot" programs and 6 "Free Meal" programs, serving over 6,500 inpatients.
In addition, he became a key figure in connecting and mobilizing resources to organize dozens of medical examination and treatment sessions for the people. In 2025 alone, the activities organized and participated in by Mr. Le Minh Hoang and the Youth Union of Nghia Dan Medical Center left a significant mark, including 7 free medicine distribution sessions for approximately 1,400 people, with a total expenditure of hundreds of millions of VND.
In those programs, many cases have received timely support to overcome danger. For example, Tran Duc Thuan (born in 2013), a student at Nghia Mai Secondary School, suffered from severe cataracts and faced the risk of blindness if not treated early.
Upon learning about the situation, in December 2024, Mr. Le Minh Hoang proactively took the initiative to connect with and mobilize resources, completing the necessary procedures so that the boy could receive free surgery at Saigon Eye Hospital, opening the door for the poor student to continue attending school like his peers.
It is evident that in remote villages, where people still face many difficulties, the presence of doctors in white coats, bringing with them knowledge, responsibility, and compassion, has helped bridge the gap in access to healthcare services for the people. And in this journey, people like doctors Tran Thi Quynh Lien and Le Minh Hoang have instilled in the hearts of the people in these disadvantaged areas a belief in the medical ethics of today's doctors...
