On June 29, 145 students of VinUni's first class graduated. 25% of the new graduates will continue their postgraduate studies at prestigious universities around the world such as Harvard, Cornell, Pennsylvania, etc. 32% were offered jobs by global corporations even before graduation with attractive salaries and benefits, up to 7,500 USD/month. Among them, there are many excellent students from the Institute of Health Sciences. This achievement is greatly contributed by Associate Professor Julie Sochalski.

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Associate Professor Julie Sochalski (4th from right to left), Director of the Bachelor of Nursing training program, Vingroup - Upenn Alliance

Where every student can create a "fairy tale"

- During your interactions with VinUni students, how did you inspire them about your field of study?

When I met them, I asked many students about the reasons for choosing to study nursing at VinUni, about their aspirations. I was very touched after listening. After that, I also told them about the nursing profession, about my own career journey.

I believe nursing is a great profession. Nursing cares for people who are sick, whose souls are vulnerable because of health difficulties. We are the companions who support patients to overcome their illness.

One student exclaimed that my life story was like a real-life fairy tale. I said, I was just like you, and with the wonderful school you are studying at, that fairy tale can absolutely happen to any of us. Your job is to try to seize the opportunities to create fairy tales.

- VinUni is a very young university, why do you give it such high praise?

After 4 years, VinUni has just graduated its first nursing bachelor's degree. But I have seen in this school the perseverance, always looking forward, not knowing how to back down in the face of difficulties and challenges. I realize that students pursue their study program here with all their heart and altruistic soul, that is what will make the difference in nursing training in Vietnam at VinUni.

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Many new graduates who have just been recognized by VinUni for graduation have been accepted for postgraduate training by the University of Pennsylvania.

I also noticed that everyone at VinUni, not only the lecturers, but also many staff members in the school, and also at Vinmec, try to bring great opportunities for students to develop themselves in new and most creative ways.

Especially the faculty, I see a strong determination to achieve excellence. They are very skilled clinicians. They see opportunities to make a difference. They face challenges every day with renewed energy and vitality. They know how to turn the impossible into the possible.

Among them, I was very impressed with Associate Professor Nguyen Hoang Long - Director of Nursing Program, VinUni Institute of Health Sciences. This young lecturer amazed me with his excellent professional background. Every day, Associate Professor Long brought his energy and determination to inspire the lecturers, and they continued to inspire the students.

VinUni is our inspiration

- UPenn is known as the leading nursing school in the US as well as in the world. After 5 years, do you think VinUni's nursing program meets all the requirements set forth by the UPenn project?

More than that, VinUni is truly our inspiration every time we come back here. VinUni has done a great job in fulfilling its commitment to create an excellent nursing training and practice program.

Half a year ago, at the end of November 2023, we went to VinUni to attend the second round of accreditation by ACEN for the nursing program. ACEN's external assessors invited VinUni students to a private meeting. Through that meeting, they had a very deep impression of them.

These are young people full of confidence in themselves, in the path they are taking, and in the future ahead. It seems that they are ready to continue on the path of career advancement after graduation.

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Representatives of Vingroup Corporation signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the University of Pennsylvania to recruit and develop lecturers and provide career training for students in the Health Sciences sector.

- What is the upcoming plan of Vingroup - UPenn Alliance for the nursing program at VinUni, madam?

We are looking at opportunities to develop a Master of Nursing program. We are looking for research exchange opportunities, so that VinUni students can come to the US, and vice versa, our students can come to VinUni. Building a research group of nursing students at UPenn in the US and at VinUni would also be a very promising plan. These activities help both sides exchange research, helping to develop nursing science.

We want each student to continue their education and improve their qualifications, and become professional clinical nurses who can support the high-quality medical centers that Vinmec is developing. We look forward to continuing to see academic and clinical excellence from nursing students at VinUni.

Associate Professor Julie Sochalski is the former Chief Nursing Officer of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) School of Nursing website describes her as a nurse who “has only one patient to care for: the U.S. health care system.”

After UPenn signed an agreement with Vingroup to help VinUni build a Nursing program with the goal of achieving the highest world standards in this field, Associate Professor Julie Sochalski was appointed as Director of the Bachelor of Nursing program, Vingroup - UPenn Alliance.

Phuong Cuc (Performed)