The student from Nghe An province and his journey to conquer his dream of wearing a white coat.
Amidst the thick, pungent smell of disinfectant, the rhythmic hum of ventilators echoed through the intensive care unit of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Here, every day is a battle for life and death, and in that battle, the doctors and medical staff never give up, even when there is only a glimmer of hope.
Dr. Pham Van Phuc (born in 1990) is not a hero straight out of a fairy tale. With his hands, his mind, and his heart, he has saved countless lives from the clutches of death.
People often say that choosing a career in medicine means accepting a life without rest. But for Dr. Phuc, it's not just a choice, it's a mission. A mission he has pursued with his youth and energy for many years.
Pham Van Phuc was born and raised in Nghi Loc district ( Nghe An province). During his childhood, Dr. Phuc witnessed his father's frequent illnesses. Because of this, he harbored a burning desire to become a doctor.
That dream grew stronger over the years. Phuc, a young student, studied day and night, diligently working by the light of an oil lamp, determined to escape poverty through education. With all his efforts, he became the top-scoring student in the entrance exam for Hanoi Medical University, achieving a score of 29.5/30.
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Doctor Pham Van Phuc. |
Six years of general medicine studies, three years of residency in infectious diseases – that journey was filled with days Dr. Phuc buried in books, sleepless nights in the hospital learning from his professors and from challenging cases. He chose to work in the Intensive Care Unit, handling the most severe cases, where doctors need not only solid expertise but also an iron will.
Doctor Phuc shared his feelings: “There have been moments of exhaustion, when I wondered if I had chosen the wrong path. But every time I witness a patient regaining their life, I realize that those revived heartbeats are the answer, the meaning of life, and the reason I am still here, day and night, striving tirelessly.”
Uncompromising battles against death.
The story Dr. Phuc told us wasn't about working 8 hours and then going home to rest; he worked at a much higher intensity. A single shift could last 24 hours, or even longer if the patient was critically ill.
Dr. Phuc believes that if there is one place where doctors must stand on the thin line between life and death every day, it is the Intensive Care Unit. Here, there is no room for error. A delayed decision, a wrong judgment, can cost a life forever.
Endless shifts, fitful naps on makeshift chairs in the corner of the hospital room. And there were moments when he only managed to lie down for a moment before jumping up again when a patient's condition worsened.
Once, a patient with severe pneumonia developed acute respiratory failure. Despite being intubated, their condition remained critical. For 48 hours, Dr. Phuc barely left the patient's bedside. He personally monitored the patient, adjusted the ventilator, and carefully considered each medication dose. Only when the patient's condition gradually stabilized did he allow himself a quick nap on a chair in the hallway. But less than an hour later, another patient needed him. And so he got up again...
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Doctor Pham Van Phuc closely monitors each of the patient's vital signs. |
Recalling a critically ill COVID-19 patient who required ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), Dr. Phuc spent almost three days in the patient's room. Every time the patient's condition worsened, he would rush to the room, adjust the machines, and check each vital sign. Only when the patient was out of danger did everyone realize he hadn't had a proper meal.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuong, Head Nurse of the Intensive Care Unit at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, recounted: “One night, I saw Mr. Phuc slumped asleep right in front of a patient's room, leaning against the cold wall, his eyes sunken from exhaustion. But as soon as he heard about a serious case, he immediately jumped up, as if he had never felt sleepy at all.”
Dr. Phuc is not only a treating physician but also a mentor to many young doctors. During the intense days of the Covid-19 pandemic, he personally guided them through techniques such as intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and complication management. He always reminded them: "In the medical profession, there is no room for complacency. A small mistake can cost a patient's life."
In 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out fiercely. The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases became a hotspot with thousands of critically ill patients. Doctors there not only faced work pressure but also a high risk of infection.
Dr. Phuc recalled: “There were nights when the entire ward echoed with the gasping breaths of patients, some struggling to cling to their last breaths. Doctors worked in airtight protective suits, drenched in sweat, but no one stopped. Everyone had only one mission: to save the patients' lives.”
One particularly unforgettable case for Dr. Phuc was that of a 30-year-old pregnant woman carrying twins who had severe COVID-19. Upon admission, the patient was in critical respiratory distress. On the third day, she suffered cardiac arrest. The entire team rushed to the emergency room. Doctors simultaneously placed her on ECMO and performed rapid resuscitation. After more than an hour, her heartbeat returned. Two months later, upon receiving the news that the mother and her two babies were healthy, Dr. Phuc was speechless. It was one of the rare times he cried tears of happiness. "There were times when we thought we had lost the patient. But as long as there was a glimmer of hope, we would never give up," Dr. Phuc said with unwavering determination.
The doctor wears a blue coat.
In 2020, he was honored as one of the 10 outstanding young people of Hanoi. But when asked about those titles, he just smiled and said, "We don't do it for the awards. We do it because the patients need us."
Dr. Phuc has always believed: “Youth is not just for dreaming, but more importantly, for acting. I always believe that youth is the most beautiful time of our lives, the time when we have enough enthusiasm to contribute, enough health to take risks, and enough ideals to do great things. When you are young, don't be afraid of difficulties, don't be afraid of hardship. Dare to step out of your comfort zone to see how much this life needs us.”
As a grassroots Youth Union Secretary, Dr. Phuc inspires not only through words but also through his actions. From his student days, he participated in volunteer medical examination and treatment programs, and even after becoming a doctor, he continued to bring healthcare to disadvantaged areas, helping the poor who lacked the means to receive treatment.
Dr. Phuc believes that youth is not a time for waiting or procrastinating. If everyone thinks they're not ready, if everyone is afraid of hardship, then who will stand up to make a difference? The country needs young people who dare to think, dare to act, and dare to sacrifice to bring positive values to the community.
For Dr. Phuc, youth is not just a time to live, but also a time to sow the seeds of compassion, responsibility, and noble ideals. It is from young people like him that society gains more faith in a generation of youth who are not afraid of hardship and are always ready to serve the community and the country.
Every day, while many others wake up to begin their work, Dr. Phuc leaves the hospital after an all-night shift. He returns home to the early morning crowing of roosters, his eyes still tired, but his heart always at peace. For him, medicine is not just a job, but a mission. That mission leaves no room for hesitation, no time for delay. It is a relentless battle on the fragile boundary between life and death.
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