Du Hanh Nguyen, a fourth-year medical student from Germany, completed a one-month clinical elective at OUCRU in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He chose OUCRU to explore tropical medicine and public health—areas not deeply covered in his German curriculum—and to reconnect with his Vietnamese heritage. During his elective, he rotated through the Central Nervous System and Paediatric Intensive Care Units, learning from leading experts about complex infections like meningitis, dengue, tetanus and rabies. These cases highlighted stark differences in disease burden compared to Europe and revealed the close links between clinical care and public health.
Du Hanh Nguyen appreciated OUCRU’s integration of bedside care with active clinical research and community engagement. Weekly academic meetings and interactions with research teams deepened his understanding of how evidence-based medicine can drive global health improvements. He praised the teaching culture, especially the support and encouragement he received from physicians who guided him through challenging cases.
Outside the hospital, Du Hanh Nguyen explored Vietnam’s vibrant culture and cuisine, travelling across the country and celebrating national festivals. He strongly recommends OUCRU to students interested in infectious diseases and global health, highlighting the unit’s meaningful impact and the unique learning opportunities it provides in a culturally rich setting.