Associate Professor Pham Cam Phuong has become the Oncidium Foundation’s first ambassador in Vietnam, taking on a role aimed at expanding access to advanced cancer treatments.

Phuong, a physician with a doctorate in oncology, directs the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology at Bach Mai Hospital. The international foundation works to improve access to advanced cancer therapies.

Speaking about her appointment, she said she was honored to become an ambassador and the foundation’s first representative from Vietnam.

She hopes the role will help connect medical specialists, expand international cooperation and give cancer patients in Vietnam more opportunities to access advanced treatments, including theranostics.

Born in 1978, Phuong graduated with a medical degree from Hanoi Medical University in 2001. She completed residency training in oncology in Vietnam and France, earned her doctorate in oncology in 2013 and was recognized as an associate professor in 2018.

In 2016, she was one of 10 outstanding young doctors to receive the Dang Thuy Tram Award from the Hanoi Youth Union.

Her clinical work focuses on oncology and nuclear medicine, including PET/CT imaging, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, genetic testing and the application of nuclear medicine techniques in cancer treatment.

Theranostics combines diagnosis and treatment using radioactive tracers attached to molecules capable of recognizing specific targets in the body. This enables clinicians to identify lesions and deliver therapeutic agents to diseased cells. The approach is regarded as a developing field within precision medicine and personalized cancer treatment.

Over the years, Phuong has participated in research on brain metastases, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, brain tumors and other cancers. Her studies have examined the effectiveness of radiosurgery and chemoradiotherapy, the role of PET/CT in diagnosing cancer of unknown primary origin, and the effectiveness of certain targeted therapies.

Alongside her clinical work, she has taken part in breast cancer screening programs for women in several disadvantaged areas.

The Oncidium Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Belgium that works to expand access to radiopharmaceutical cancer treatments, including radiotheranostics.

Its work centers on three areas: helping patients access treatment, training healthcare professionals and advocating for policies that improve access to advanced therapies.

One of its programs, RLT-Connect, aims to support patients whose insurance does not fully cover the cost of targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy.

The appointment of a Vietnamese doctor as an Oncidium Foundation ambassador is expected to strengthen connections between domestic medical expertise and international initiatives in nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceutical cancer treatment. It also offers opportunities to expand cooperation, training and patient support.

Phuong Thuy