These Women are Masters of the World’s Most Advanced Medical Technology Equipment
On the occasion of International Women’s Day (March 8th), a special feature highlights the remarkable achievements of five exemplary female doctors at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. These pioneering women have successfully harnessed cutting-edge medical technologies to save lives, develop long-term treatment strategies, and create new opportunities for vulnerable patients.
Dr. Ta Phuong Dung: A Pillar of Support in Kidney Transplant Care
At the bustling Nephrology and Dialysis Unit early on New Year’s Day, Ms. Nhi, a 46-year-old kidney transplant patient, waits patiently for her examination while chatting with her family. She is one of six kidney transplant recipients who have successfully given birth, thanks to the specialized care led by Meritorious Doctor, Specialist II Ta Phuong Dung. Dr. Dung serves as the Deputy Director of the Urology – Nephrology – Andrology Center and heads the Nephrology and Dialysis Unit.
Dr. Dung, with nearly four decades of experience in kidney transplant management and facility assessment across Vietnam, emphasizes that success begins long before surgery. “A successful kidney transplant doesn’t begin in the operating room; preparations begin years beforehand,” she explains. She has developed a comprehensive, standardized pre- and post-transplant management system that includes rigorous immune assessments, physical conditioning, control of underlying diseases, psychological counseling, and long-term treatment adherence plans.
She highlights that contemporary kidney transplantation is more than just a surgical feat. Immune management and post-transplant care determine long-term graft survival, potentially reaching a 95% success rate after five years for patients who are carefully monitored and closely follow treatment regimens. Dr. Dung has also pioneered an early warning system to minimize rejection risks. Her approach underscores the need for expert surgical skill, advanced technology, and a sustainable care system ensuring not only the survival but also the long-term health of transplanted organs, empowering patients to regain fulfilling lives — including motherhood.
Dr. Nguyen Ba My Nhi: Breaking New Ground with Robotic Gynecological Surgery
In the state-of-the-art 65-square-meter Hybrid operating room at Tam Anh General Hospital, Dr. Nguyen Ba My Nhi, Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, expertly operates the Da Vinci Xi robot, performing a minimally invasive hysterectomy on a 45-year-old patient with cervical cancer. This robotic surgery, first performed successfully at the hospital in November 2025, marks a significant milestone in Dr. Nhi’s over 30-year career.
Having laid the foundation for laparoscopic gynecological surgery in Vietnam, Dr. Nhi embraced the complex training required for robotic surgery certification through Intuitive Surgical. Her rigorous education involved repeated trips between Vietnam and Singapore and required an 80-90% passing threshold across multiple examinations. Thanks to her extensive experience with over 10,000 endoscopic procedures, she adapted rapidly to the magnified three-dimensional surgical environment.
“Robotic surgery has been my dream for nearly 20 years,” Dr. Nhi said. Despite challenges, she remained dedicated, ultimately performing dozens of robot-assisted surgeries. According to her, the patience, perseverance, precision, and meticulousness that women often embody make them well suited for mastering advanced techniques like robotic surgery—a field where she has now become a pioneering leader.
Dr. Cam Ngoc Phuong: Championing the ‘Golden Hour’ to Save Premature Infants
At 12:30 AM in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr. Cam Ngoc Phuong and her team sprang into action after the birth of a critically premature baby boy at 24 weeks and 2 days’ gestation, weighing a mere 670 grams and unable to breathe independently. The baby was born cyanotic with a dire prognosis, but thanks to Dr. Phuong’s meticulously developed "golden hour" protocol, the newborn was stabilized and ultimately thrived.
This protocol, implemented within the first 60 minutes of life, includes advanced techniques such as delayed umbilical cord clamping, prevention of hypothermia, respiratory support using non-invasive ventilation, management of blood glucose, and infection prevention. It represents an interventional strategy to improve the survival chances of babies born as early as 24 weeks gestation.
When a Cambodian woman threatened with premature labor at 23 weeks contacted Tam Anh Hospital, Dr. Phuong orchestrated an "intrauterine transfer" to the hospital’s NICU, ensuring immediate and expert care at delivery. This baby, once no larger than a soda can, was discharged healthy after three months and continues to develop normally.
Dr. Phuong developed this protocol after training in Australia in 2018, adapting international best practices for Vietnamese newborns. Her Golden Hour Protocol was recognized as one of Vietnam’s top twelve medical achievements in 2023, a testament to her expertise, vision, and unwavering commitment to preserving the lives of the most fragile patients.
Dr. Phan Thi Xuan: Commanding Critical Care with Precision and Compassion
In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Tam Anh General Hospital, People’s Physician, Doctor of Medicine, Specialist II Phan Thi Xuan leads a tireless medical team amidst the constant beeping of ventilators, vital sign monitors, and dialysis machines. As Head of the Emergency Department and ICU, Dr. Xuan oversees comprehensive patient data on advanced monitors, expertly coordinating treatment strategies that integrate clinical progress with every fluctuating parameter.
Her decisive commands—adjusting ventilator settings, optimizing vasopressor dosages, and managing ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) systems—are critical to ensuring patients’ recovery in life-threatening conditions. Reflecting on her relentless work, Dr. Xuan said, “Dozens of us worked tirelessly to ensure that the patient’s biomarker lines didn’t run straight," underscoring her dedication to saving lives through meticulous monitoring and intervention.
Conclusion
The exceptional contributions of these women at Tam Anh General Hospital showcase not only technical mastery of advanced medical equipment but also profound empathy, visionary leadership, and pioneering spirit. From kidney transplantation and robotic surgery to neonatal care and critical ICU management, they are setting new standards for healthcare in Vietnam, inspiring future generations of female doctors to innovate and excel in the world’s most demanding medical fields. Their stories affirm the vital role of women in mastering and advancing medical technology for better patient outcomes worldwide.
