Wholeheartedly examining and caring for patients as if they were her own family members is the principle that Warrant Officer Duong Thu Hien, a student of Class DH52D, System 4, Vietnam Military Medical University, always keeps in mind and practices every time she visits the patient ward. The thoughtful gestures and caring words of the female student help patients feel at ease during their treatment.

From her high school years, Duong Thu Hien had dreamed of becoming a military doctor. With relentless effort and dedication to her studies, she was admitted to the Vietnam Military Medical University in 2018. This ideal learning environment has helped the young student gradually turn her dream into reality. Recalling her early days in the military, Warrant Officer Duong Thu Hien shared: “To successfully complete my academic and professional tasks, I realized that setting clear goals and making detailed plans is essential. For each subject, I always set a target, then create a plan with a specific schedule, and stay determined to follow through with what I’ve outlined.”

Warrant Officer Duong Thu Hien examines patients receiving treatment at Military Hospital 103.

Medical training, in particular, requires learning through practice. Therefore, during her clinical internship at Military Hospital 103, Duong Thu Hien has always been proactive in visiting patient wards and examining patients. Each patient, with different medical conditions, provides her with valuable practical experience, helping her reinforce and expand her professional knowledge, improve her communication and interpersonal skills, and develop a sense of empathy and compassion for her patients.

One unforgettable memory during Hien’s studies and work was in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak. Duong Thu Hien volunteered to join the pandemic prevention and control efforts in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern provinces. She worked at a mobile medical station, providing emergency care for COVID-19 patients in the community, collecting test samples, and administering vaccines. Upon completing her mission, Duong Thu Hien was honored with a certificate of merit from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for her outstanding contributions to the pandemic response efforts.

Alongside her studies, Duong Thu Hien actively participates in scientific research. She and her teammates formed a research group, presented their research ideas to their instructors, and carried out their tasks. In 2022, Duong Thu Hien took part in a research project titled “A Study on the Correlation Between Surface Electromyography (SEMG) and Oxygen Uptake Capacity in Students at the Vietnam Military Medical University” and presented it at the 2022 Student Scientific Research Conference, where the project won second prize.

Thanks to her relentless efforts, Warrant Officer Duong Thu Hien has been honored with the title of Emulation Soldier at the Grassroots Level for six consecutive years (2019–2024). She has also received two Certificates of Merit from the Minister of National Defense for her outstanding performance in 2021 and 2023, along with numerous awards and recognitions from the Vietnam Military Medical University. Despite her many achievements in her studies and work, and the trust and affection of her peers, Warrant Officer Duong Thu Hien always reminds herself never to be complacent with past accomplishments. She strives to continue improving her qualities and capabilities to become a military doctor who is both ethically grounded and professionally proficient.

Reported and photographed by TUAN DUNG Translated by DANG NGA