'I am Dung - a son of Nghe An'

Despite having lived and worked in the Federal Republic of Germany for many years, Dr. Le Duc Dung (born in 1981) still harbors a burning love for his homeland and country, and always strives to realize that love through activities that connect with and promote international cooperation projects directed towards Nghe An, Vietnam.

Dr. Le Duc Dung. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Building bridges to connect our homeland.

I've known Dr. Le Duc Dung for a long time through many articles published in reputable newspapers, but it wasn't until recently, when I coincidentally "met" him in a post in the Artisans' group, that I decided to strike up a conversation. This was because I recognized the heartfelt dedication of a successful Nghe An native living abroad, who never misses an opportunity to build bridges connecting advanced and useful knowledge and technology with his homeland.

He shared that in late February and early March 2023, he would be joining a delegation of German professors and doctors in Hanoi at the invitation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to discuss cooperation programs between Vietnam and Germany. In this project, Germany will support Vietnam in training and transferring technology for modern treatment methods to cure blood diseases and cancer… This is a non-profit project – the result of his efforts over two years, and Dr. Le Duc Dung hopes that several hospitals in Nghe An will participate in this beneficial project.

This is not the first project in which Dr. Le Duc Dung has played a connecting and promoting role in relation to his homeland. Having lived and worked in Germany for nearly 20 years, pursuing in-depth research in the fields of immunology, oncology, and hematology, Dr. Dung understands that these are difficult specialties and that, in reality, these specialties still have certain limitations in Vietnamese hospitals. Therefore, the projects he focuses on connecting with are primarily in the fields of hematology and oncology for both adults and children.

According to him, through projects like these, Vietnam will have access to, learn from, and apply modern treatment methods; doctors will have the opportunity to be exposed to advanced science; and high-quality international relationships will be expanded, thereby gradually establishing long-term links in research, training, and expertise.

Dr. Le Duc Dung. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

“When exposed to modern science in Europe, I always think about Vietnam. Therefore, I have tried to establish relationships with colleagues back home to understand the development and needs of science and technology in Vietnam. Although progress has been made in these two areas, there is clearly still a huge gap compared to developed countries. This gap certainly cannot be narrowed quickly; it requires a very long-term investment plan. Expanding international cooperation is the fastest and best way for us to improve and update our scientific foundation. Finding good partners is like finding good teachers and good guides,” Dr. Dung shared.

He also expressed his view: To build effective cooperative relationships, there always needs to be intermediaries to facilitate them. Vietnamese people studying and working abroad are the ideal people to connect and facilitate foreign cooperation and support for Vietnam, because they understand both cultures and are well-versed in the development of both countries.

With the belief that one doesn't have to live and work in their homeland to create good things for it, and that contributions don't necessarily have to wait for grand opportunities, for over 10 years, Dr. Dung has generously shared useful knowledge with Vietnam, such as advising and teaching students and researchers; regularly writing articles for major Vietnamese newspapers on scientific and educational topics; and frankly expressing constructive opinions on health and science policies.

Dr. Le Duc Dung. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Proud to be from Nghe An

Dr. Le Duc Dung was born in 1981 in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district; his ancestral home is in Thanh Chuong district. After graduating from high school in Nam Dan, he passed the entrance exam to study Biology at Hue University; subsequently, he went to study in Germany. This young man from Nghe An made his mark abroad when, in Hannover, Germany, he studied and graduated in Biology from three universities: the Medical University, the Veterinary University, and the University of Hue. Afterward, he was honored to receive a full scholarship for the Biomedical Doctoral Program at Hannover Medical University and Saarland University Hospital, pursuing a career in advanced research in immunology. After graduating with a PhD, he moved to Würzburg University Hospital to work and conduct postdoctoral research specializing in immunology, oncology, and hematology.

Having worked for many years at various university hospitals and research institutes, he has received numerous awards from Germany, Europe, and the United States for his contributions and scientific work. In particular, in March 2021, Dr. Dung was honored with the prestigious award for the best scientific work from the European Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Association (EBMT). He stated that this was the result of five years of research by him and his colleagues, and also the culmination of international collaborations with colleagues from Harvard University (USA), the University of Marseille (France), and many other universities in Germany.

Having lived and worked in Germany for nearly 20 years, and despite being an Asian man with a smaller physique compared to the local community, Dr. Le Duc Dung has always been seen by many colleagues and partners as a reliable, mature, and persistent man in all his endeavors. According to Dr. Dung himself, these qualities are purely characteristic of the Nghe An region.

"Of course, there are some Nghe An personality traits that I've noticed need adjustment, for example, being hot-tempered, conservative, and overly rigid: rigidity is good in some things, but in matters related to knowledge and academia, one should be open to embracing new ideas and diverse perspectives," said Dr. Le Duc Dung.

Having celebrated many Lunar New Year holidays far from home, this year, he and his family are spending another Lunar New Year in a distant, snowy land. Even so, their cozy home is fully stocked with traditional dishes and treats. Though far from home, his heart remains close; Dr. Le Duc Dung cherishes the memories and love for the harsh, sun-drenched, yet incredibly hospitable land of Central Vietnam. And no matter where he lives or works in the world, he remains firmly proud to be a son of Nghe An.