Dr. Ha Quoc Hung, from the hospital's Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, received the top award at the 2026 International Inter-Hospital Scientific Conference, held in Da Nang on Aug. 1–2.

Research driven by patients' needs

Hung's award-winning study, which also served as his residency graduation research, compares two regional anesthesia techniques used during lung lobectomy to identify the safest and most effective approach for postoperative pain relief.

He said the project was inspired by the challenges faced by patients recovering from thoracic surgery.

"Pain after chest surgery is often moderate to severe," Hung said. "If it is not well controlled, patients face a higher risk of respiratory complications, longer hospital stays and even chronic pain."

According to Hung, selecting the most appropriate pain management technique can help patients recover faster, reduce complications and shorten treatment time.

The findings are expected to support the hospital's Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program, where regional anesthesia plays a key role in improving surgical outcomes.

Choosing one of medicine's most demanding specialties

When applying for his medical residency, Hung chose anesthesiology and intensive care from among 23 medical specialties.

He said the field appealed to him because it combines the broad clinical knowledge required of an internal medicine physician with the rapid decision-making demanded in surgery.

"Anesthesiologists do much more than help patients safely undergo surgery," he said. "We must also respond immediately to life-threatening situations whenever they arise."

Research with real-world impact

Hung said his goal at the conference was not simply to compete for an award but to exchange knowledge with fellow physicians and learn from leading specialists.

Presenting before a panel of senior experts was challenging, but he said the recognition validated months of careful preparation.

Associate Professor Tran Bao Long praised the young doctor's command of his research and presentation skills following the session.

Hung believes scientific research should ultimately improve patient care rather than exist solely for academic recognition.

"A study is meaningful only when it solves real clinical problems and can be applied in practice," he said. "Researchers also need to communicate their findings clearly so colleagues can adopt them."

He described hearing his name announced by Associate Professor Nguyen Lan Hieu during the awards ceremony as one of the most memorable moments of his career.

Hung said the first people he wanted to share the achievement with were the mentors who guided him throughout his medical training and research journey.

He also expressed hope that hospitals, universities and professional medical associations would create more opportunities for young doctors to participate in scientific research, helping strengthen evidence-based medicine and improve patient care.

Despite being only 28, Hung has already published 13 papers in international journals and six articles in Vietnamese medical journals. Earlier this year, he also won first prize for Outstanding Young Presenter at the International Inter-Hospital Scientific Conference organized by Hanoi Medical University, as well as first prize at the Young Scientific and Technological Conference of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City.

Phuong Thuy