Pennsylvania Medical Student learning and work experience at VinUniversity

“My time at VinUni has been a precious and once-in-a-lifetime experience that has given me valuable insights into the complexities of running a medical school,”  shared Daniel Hartman.

Daniel Hartman is a second-year MD student at Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, which ranks among the top 8 universities in the US (part of the Ivy League), as well as being ranked in the top 13 globally according to the World University Rankings 2022, and being one of the oldest medical schools in the United States, had an exceptional and indelible experience during a one-month medical education internship at VinUniversity.

“I found that my creativity and critical thinking were greatly challenged while participating in projects at VinUni”. 

Throughout the internship, Daniel had the opportunity to collaborate with Assoc. Dr. Zarrin Siddiqui serves as the Director of the Medical Doctor Program at VinUniversity’s College of Health Sciences. During their collaboration, Dr. Siddiqui provided a comprehensive overview of the curriculum designed for training future Medical Doctors.

Daniel’s motivation for coming to Vietnam stemmed from the distinctive and innovative nature of VinUni. Unlike many other medical schools, VinUni is still in its developmental stages and actively seeks significant components to shape its future. Whether engaging in international collaborations or pursuing endeavors in medical education, this presents a truly unique opportunity to contribute within the framework of a nascent medical school.

“The time at VinUni and Vietnam gave me a broadened perspective of how different healthcare systems can look. And I think that will be really informative when I do healthcare policy work back in the US”. 

Dan is actively engaged in two primary projects at VinUni. In the first project, he is tasked with evaluating the pre-clinical curriculum and aligning it with the standards set by the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 examinations. The objective is to ensure that VinUni students acquire the most pertinent knowledge, which holds particular significance for those aspiring to secure scholarships or internships abroad.

Daniel’s involvement in the second project centers around the initiation of the clinical internship program, where he worked with VinUni instructors in the process of formulating documents, constructing a comprehensive plan, and charting a roadmap for the internship program. Furthermore, he contributes to preparing students with the essential skills needed as they transition into the real-world medical environment.

“I had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time at Vinmec Times City. Additionally, I also had the chance to spend a considerable amount of time at the 108 Military Hospital. This experience allowed me to observe both the private and military, state-owned aspects of healthcare and understand the contrasts between them, as well as the differences between the overall system and the American system. This, I believe, was the most exciting part of my experience.”

“I had a great time. I’m definitely going to tell the first-year students next year that this is a great opportunity. I think especially for anyone who’s interested in it. Working internationally or doing medical education work, this is such a unique opportunity to work in a brand new medical school, so I’ll certainly encourage my classmates to come here if they’re interested,” shared Daniel.