FRIENDS OF VIETNAM (PART 1)

26/08/2026

I am a fortunate person. From the time I started as a medical student until now in clinical practice, I have had the privilege of meeting numerous foreign physicians and surgeons who came to help, perform surgeries on Vietnamese patients, and educate Vietnamese doctors. They are our dedicated mentors and deeply respected friends.

This trip is part of the Green Cross program, following the invitation of Dr. Skarvan and Dr. Brinkmann—two long-standing friends of the Department of Trauma I, now the Department of Upper Extremity Surgery and Sports Medicine, Viet Duc University Hospital. They have visited Vietnam many times. Every year, around the end of the year, both doctors spend about two weeks in Vietnam, collaborating on examinations and charitable surgeries for disadvantaged patients or complex cases across three locations: Da Nang, Hanoi, and Thai Nguyen.

Photos 1-2: Dr. Hueskes with the appreciation letter from the Sala Club in 2012

This is my first time visiting their hospital in Basel, Switzerland. Hirslanden Hospital is a private orthopedic hospital located at the foot of a hill on the outskirts of the city. The hospital is beautifully and spaciously arranged, featuring numerous paintings that create a calming atmosphere upon entering. Perhaps this is something we will only be able to achieve a long time from now: eliminating patients' psychological burdens when entering a hospital. Here, I participated in clinical examinations and surgeries alongside them.

Unlike in Vietnam, a morning clinic session starts at 8:00 AM by appointment. Each patient is allocated about 20 to 30 minutes for examination and consultation with the physician. The primary language used here is German, so Dr. Skarvan examined the patients while explaining things to us in English. The doctor and the patient have time to listen to each other. In fact, after 13 years in practice, I have realized that patients have a profound need for doctors to listen to their stories. Of course, to a seasoned surgeon like me, these stories might have been repeated dozens or hundreds of times, but for the patient, it is the first time. They fear that if they do not tell the whole story, the doctor might miss something about their condition. Listening, and sometimes offering encouragement from the physician, plays a crucial role in reassuring patients and motivating them in their treatment.

The operating theater here is state-of-the-art, equipped with every imaginable piece of machinery a surgeon like me could wish for. At times, I feel that Vietnamese doctors work remarkably hard, lacking all sorts of equipment, yet they still manage to deliver care. Our Swiss friends themselves must admit they cannot understand how we manage to perform complex surgeries with so few instruments. This is not to boast of our skill; we simply have no other choice—we certainly cannot surrender and stop treating patients. Compared to previous generations, our generation is much more fortunate.

Photo 3: Dr. Vu Anh in surgery with Dr. Skarvan and Dr. Brinkmann

We exchanged professional insights and participated in surgeries together. Everyone at the hospital was enthusiastic and friendly. Every time I travel abroad and participate in surgeries, I try to reflect: \u201cOh, why do they do it this way? In what aspects is their approach better than ours? If I do not have these instruments, how can I substitute them?\u201d Hundreds of questions help me delve deeper, read more literature, and synthesize insights for my own practice.

During this trip, I had the pleasure of meeting another great friend - Dr. Daniel Hueskes and his son, Dr. Benjamin Hueskes. They are orthopedic surgeons who own a workshop specializing in prosthetics and orthotics, particularly for pediatric patients with congenital musculoskeletal disorders. For nearly 30 years, these doctors have been visiting and helping Vietnamese children.

Photo 4: Dr. Vu Anh and Dr. Daniel Hueskes

Dr. Hueskes waited to welcome me at his workshop. He is over 80 years old, still very energetic, with bright and sharp eyes. He gave me a tour of the facility. That day, a patient left a deep impression on me: a 22-year-old young man with bilateral lower limb amelia and digital anomalies in both hands. Perhaps one might picture a disabled individual in need of constant care, but the reality is entirely different. This young man is a professional table tennis athlete and will begin competing internationally next year. And I am certain that in a 100-meter dash, he could probably give me a 20-meter head start or more. When the doctor met the patient, they embraced warmly like a grandfather and a grandson. The patient was brought to Dr. Hueskes by his mother when he was 6 months old with the aforementioned congenital defects. All these moments have been documented: from the early days of a tiny child learning to walk on prosthetic legs, growing up, practicing with a table tennis racket aided by specialized adaptive equipment, to now being 22 years old and preparing for professional sports competition. Such an incredible effort! And that effort has been accompanied by a mother's love and a doctor's dedication for over 20 years.

Photo 5: Computer-generated 3D model

That afternoon, we enjoyed a pleasant meal by the Rhine River with Dr. and Mrs. Hueskes, listening to him recount his trips to Vietnam. Much like Dr. Skarvan, Dr. Brinkmann, and many other friends..., the elderly gentleman holds a special affection for the Vietnamese people, the depth of which I cannot quite fathom.

And I feel so fortunate. Thank you for everything!

Dr. Do Vu Anh