Creating a profound effect in Vietnam
By Dr. Benjamin Yu
As a chief urology resident, attending the IVUmed trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was an incredibly eye-opening and inspiring experience. Led by Dr. Joel Gelman and his fellow, Dr. Seth Thomas, from UC Irvine, the trip provided a week of focused exposure to urethral reconstruction, primarily for traumatic urethral strictures. It was invaluable to learn from Dr. Gelman and engage in discussions regarding both surgical technique and clinical decision-making—whether larger considerations such as excision and primary anastomosis versus buccal graft versus skin flap reconstruction, or smaller intraoperative decisions such as determining the extent of tissue excision, choosing between a one- versus two-layer ventral spongiosal closure, and mastering the fundamentals of obtaining a high-quality retrograde urethrogram and appropriately evaluating patients to select the optimal operation.
It was equally impressive to witness the impact of a partnership spanning more than a decade between IVUmed and the host institution. Beyond developing regional expertise in an area that previously lacked reconstructive urologic resources, the collaboration has helped drive additional investment, both locally and internationally, and has even contributed to the creation of a fellowship program designed to further expand access to specialized urologic care throughout the region.
The cross-cultural exchange also provided valuable insights into ways healthcare delivery can be improved in our own system. While the United States offers some of the most advanced technology, techniques, and subspecialty expertise in the world, Vietnam—and specifically Binh Dan Hospital, a high-volume center focused on general surgery and urology—demonstrates what highly efficient, cost-conscious healthcare can achieve. During a single week, we performed more pelvic fracture urethral injury repairs than I had encountered during my entire residency, despite spending a significant portion of my training at a Level I trauma center. It was also fascinating to observe how Vietnamese residents train and develop as surgeons. Although their educational pathways differ substantially from those in the United States, they ultimately produce outstanding clinicians and surgeons in their own right.
Overall, this was a phenomenal experience that combined cultural exchange, surgical education, and the sharing of ideas that can only be achieved through international collaboration. The trip reinforced the value of global surgical partnerships and left me inspired and hopeful to lead similar efforts in the future.