Inside Vinmec's Approach to Developing Vietnam's Next Generation of Doctors
On his first day assisting in a complex orthopedic surgery, Nguyen The Duy, a young Vinmec resident, paused outside the operating room, the fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead as he steadied his breath. The weight of what awaited him on the other side of the doors felt almost physical.
"I remember my hands were shaking a little," he recalled. "I kept thinking, What if I make a mistake? What if I can't keep up?"
That anxious moment marked the beginning of his transformation - from a trainee unsure of his place to the kind of physician Vinmec strives to cultivate: technically skilled, composed under pressure, and guided by a deep sense of humanity.
This philosophy begins at the top. Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, who has spent more than 25 years in orthopedics - from complex bone tumor surgery to sports medicine - now leads Vinmec's national healthcare system. What drives him today isn't just restoring motion, but mentoring the next generation.
"Watching my students grow - not only in skill but in compassion - reminds me that I am part of something greater than a profession: a journey of nurturing those who will one day heal others" shared Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, CEO of Vinmec Healthcare System.
That belief has become the DNA of Vinmec, where every hospital serves as a living classroom, and every patient case becomes a legacy passed down through generations of healthcare professionals.
Building the Nation's Healthcare Future
Amid mounting regional pressure to strengthen healthcare capacity, new models for healthcare workforce development are emerging across Asia. In Vietnam, Vinmec stands out as a pioneer at both national and regional levels. Founded in 2012, it has since evolved into the country's first private academic healthcare system.
Operating 9 hospitals and 7 clinics nationwide, Vinmec is the first private healthcare network in Vietnam to fully integrate clinical care, advanced research, and medical education. It is also the only healthcare system in Vietnam with two JCI-accredited hospitals and the home of Asia's first Cardiology Center of Excellence.
Prof. Dung explained that Vinmec's talent strategy is built on three pillars: academia, succession, and integration. The goal is to create an ecosystem where doctors not only treat patients, but also teach and conduct research - guided by Vietnam's "golden generation" of medical experts.
"We connect globally to create an international academic environment for continuous learning," he added.
With a vision to make high-quality care accessible to more people, Vinmec also benefits from its landmark partnership with Cleveland Clinic Connected, becoming the first and only healthcare system in Southeast Asia accepted into the US-based global network..
Asia's Doctor and Nurse Shortage: What Can We Do?
This people-first approach comes at a pivotal time. Asia's healthcare systems are facing a critical inflection point. By 2030, the World Health Organization warns of a global shortage of 10–11 million health workers, with Southeast Asia alone projected to lack 4.7 million. The gap is not only in numbers, but in workforce readiness.
As healthcare rapidly evolves with technologies like telemedicine and AI-powered diagnostics, future health professionals must master new skill sets. Yet today, not every clinician is digitally savvy, and experts caution that Asia's healthcare workforce must urgently strengthen its digital competencies.
Where Tomorrow's Vietnamese Healthcare Talent Begins
"At Vinmec, people are not only the engine of the system - they are its purpose," Prof. Dung emphasized. The organization embraces a "patient-first, people-centered" leadership philosophy rooted in three core values: talent, ethics, and empathy. Medical leaders are expected not only to guide clinical excellence but to serve as mentors shaping the next generation.
"When caregivers feel empowered and supported, they naturally deliver better care," he said. Rather than simply recruiting top talent, Vinmec is committed to building a sustainable internal workforce for the long term.
That vision is translated into concrete action. In 2024 alone, Vinmec organized 81 national clinical conferences and delivered 9,341 internal training courses to more than 129,000 healthcare professionals. Programs such as the Graduate Nurse Internship and the Management Trainee Program accelerate the development of young professionals and nurture future healthcare leaders.
What sets Vinmec apart is the seamless integration of clinical research into daily medical practice. Young physicians actively engage in real-world translational projects - from Vietnam's first successful CAR-T cell therapy in cancer treatment to the pioneering application of 3D printing technology in complex surgical procedures across Southeast Asia.
As digital medicine reshapes the future of care, Vinmec is preparing its workforce for what lies ahead. The Vinmec Data Platform provides access to real-world clinical data; AI-powered diagnostic tools enable more precise clinical decision-making; and internal systems such as e-learning platforms, simulation labs, and advanced imaging centers ensure continuous, technology-driven upskilling.
In every young doctor stepping into the operating room, in every nurse supporting patients through recovery, and in every patient who walks again, Vinmec's legacy quietly lives on - through the healing hands it continues to nurture.
