Scholarships to Australia

AusAID ALA/Học Mãi Foundation Fellowship (2008)

The Học Mãi Foundation was awarded an Australian Leadership Award (ALA) grant from AusAID in order to support 30 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians from various hospitals and universities in Viêt Nam to study in Australia.

AusAID ALA/Học Mãi Foundation Fellows

Vietnamese Medical Students scholarship recipients for 2008

In 2008, 3 Hanoi Medical University Students were successful in obtaining scholarships from the Học Mãi Foundation

Le Nguyet Minh
Pham Minh Giang
Phạm Hoàng Ngọc Hoa

Reflections from Le Nguyet Minh

4 weeks in urology surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital

Le Nguyet Minh (Vietnamese medical student – Hanoi Medical University)

I was involved in urology surgery Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, from 7th July to 1st of August 2008 as an elective medical student. The main objectives of this elective were to observe and find out the most effective methods to learn medicine, and how to work within a hospital as well.The very first thing I had to do was to get acquainted with my team work, included two supervisors – Dr. Ken Vaux, Dr. Rasiah, a registrar - Dr. Said Jaboubs, and an intern – Amanda Tan. At the first time, it was quite difficult for me to meet them, but it turned to be easy when I discovered how to take their schedules. Everyone has the own timetable for each day, each hour, and they were all available on the intranet of the RNS hospital. I myself had the schedule for my 4-week-election. I spent three days per week in theatre, besides Wednesday at urodynamics department and Thursday at out-patient department (OPD).
Secondly, I could see how effectively the hospital system works. They follow patients from birth till the death. Whenever they have complaints, they present their local doctor or general practitioner (GP), and then they will have an appointment with a specialist if it’s necessary. All information needed was sent to the specialist with a letter from GP that shortens the interview between doctors and patients, to save time so much. I had seen those appointments in OPD with my registrar. He showed me the way to present to patients, he always smiled, answered all their questions, and explained their problems carefully, he treated as if he was their brother or their son (such a surprising thing that almost patients are over 60). I could see their pleasure faces when they left OPD. That is an essential skill I could learn from him and all staff there. He emphasized that being a good surgeon is very hard, because a good surgeon must have a lion’s heart, precise as an eagle but soft hands and gentle as mothers, those are always kept in my mind. He encouraged my love with surgery so much.
Thirdly, I also joined all the examinations and tests were used in Urology such as bladder scan, urodynamic, cystoscopy for urinary tract investigation and treatment as well… I could follow a patient to do pre-operation, included examination and taking note, I was extremely happy about that. Furthermore, I was welcome in most tutorials for student and intern there, especially presentations every Wednesday of researching club.

I would like to thank the Học Mãi Foundation for giving me a good chance to study in Royal North Shore hospital, a very essential opportunity to change my view about behavior in medicine.

So I do hope that the Học Mãi Foundation could bring more and more opportunities for Vietnamese students and young doctors as well.

Thank you for everything!

AusAID ALA/Học Mãi Foundation Fellowship (2007)

In 2007, the Foundation was awarded a grant through the AusAID Australian Leadership Award Program which has had a significant impact on the development and expansion of the Vietnamese Health Professionals Fellowship Program. As a result, the Foundation were able to sponsor twenty four (24) health professionals from Vietnam to come to Australia for three months from June to October, 2007.

AusAID/Học Mãi Fellows

Due to the strong relationship of the Học Mãi Foundation with many health professionals and organisations, the Fellows enjoyed clinical placements in many parts of Sydney and Australia.

2007 AusAID/Học Mãi Fellows

Comment from Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan (AusAID ALA/Học Mãi Fellow, 2007)

My name is Nguyen Anh Tuan, doctor working at Department of Emergency Medicine, Bach Mai National Hospital and I am concurrent lecturer of Hanoi Medical University. I received an Australian Fellowship with the Hoc Mai Foundation to stay in Sydney for 3 months in the year of 2007.

My desire was to learn in different health care system, particularly in a developed country as Australia. In three months, I have stayed almost in Emergency Department at Royal North Shore Hospital where I met a lot of patients with variety of diseases. I thought of each situation and compare with what we deal with those patients in our country. I also tried to think of what make the difference.

The most impression thing to me is the professional skill and the excellent collaboration of the medical staffs (team work). I also had the chance to attend some medical lectures which will be helpful for me in the future in the role of a medical teacher. Now I am back to my work as an emergency physician and utilize what I have seen in Australia to my practicing. I would like to express my great thank to AusAID and The Hoc Mai Foundation who brought me to Australia and provided me a chance to upgrade my knowledge and experience.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan
Physician/Lecturer
Department of Emergency medicine/Hanoi Medical University

Reflections of Phung Thi Bich Thuy ( AusAID/Học Mãi Fellow)

In 2007, I attended Sydney with a AusAID/Hoc Mai scholarship. I spent time studying in The University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under the supervision of Prof. Peter McMinn (Bosch Chair of Infectious Diseases).

I have improved my knowledge of infection diseases and learned how is set up and data-processing for experiments, using some methods for diagnosis of viruses such as: immuno-fluorescence (IF), virus cell culture, real time PCR and sequencing. I have observed in other hospitals such as: Westmead Children Hospital, Westmead Hospital and SUPAMAC.

After I returned from the Fellowship, I successfully applied for ‘Real time PCR method’ for the diagnosis of Adenovirus in my lab which I have worked with at RPA Hospital. At present, I am using this method for routine testing in my hospital.

I have submitted an application to undergo PhD in Sydney University. I hope that I will have PhD scholarship to come back to study in 2008.

At last, I would like to thank Prof. Bruce Robinson – The Hoc Mai Foundation Chair, who created opportunity for me to go to Sydney to learn useful knowledge for my job but also to improve my English language. I would like to thank Ms. Rhondda Glasson, Dr. Dilhani Bandaranayake and all my Australia friends who help me during time my stay in Sydney.

Phung Thi Bich Thuy
Molecular Biology- Virologist,
National Hospital Paediatrics, Hanoi

Other scholarship recipients for 2007

Vietnamese Medical Students- Trinh Ngoc Anh and Tran Thu Huong were the successful medical students from the Hanoi Medical University in 2007 to obtain a Học Mãi scholarship to undertake a clinical placement at the Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney.

Trinh Ngoc Anh reflections

Dr Do Tan was awarded the University of Tasmania - Rural Clinical School scholarship to study Opthalmology under the supervision of Dr Mike Haybittel

The University of Sydney - Hoc Mai Foundation