Supporting Global Surgical Collaboration in Vietnam

By Dr. Laurence Hou

Thanks for the generous support of the New York Section of the American Urological Association, I had a wonderful experience in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at Binh Dan Hospital.

In March 2025, I participated in the IVUmed urethroplasty workshop at Binh Dan Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s busiest surgical center. With over 100 million people and 74 million motorcycles, Vietnam sees a high volume of traffic accidents—70% involving motorcycles—many of which lead to pelvic injuries and complex urethral strictures. These often require urethroplasty, but access to specialized care has only become more widespread in the past decade.

I was fortunate to be sponsored by the New York Section of the AUA to attend this workshop. Our team, led by Dr. Joel Gelman from the University of California, Irvine, included his fellow Dr. Jeffrey Lee, Dr. Sikai Song from Loma Linda University, and myself. We worked alongside local urologists and two visiting urologists from Thailand, performing two to three complex urethroplasties each day during the weeklong experience. At the end of the week, we participated in the 21st edition of the Connecting International Surgical Experts Congress (CISE 2025) hosted by Binh Dan Hospital. Much like the annual AUA meeting, it brought together surgeons from across the United States, Asia, and Europe to showcase research, observe live surgeries, and build global partnerships.

Dr. Gelman has returned to Vietnam yearly for nearly a decade, helping establish a sustainable urethroplasty training program in partnership with Dr. Hung Do, recently appointed Chair of Reconstructive Urology at Binh Dan Hospital. Working with Dr. Gelman was one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience. His meticulous attention to detail and ability to teach us how to think as surgeons left a lasting impression. Every decision—whether related to preoperative imaging, instrument selection, or surgical approach—was intentional and aimed at optimizing patient outcomes. One thoughtful tip he shared was for the primary surgeon to periodically shift positions during live surgery to give observers multiple angles—especially valuable in a crowded OR with more than half a dozen people watching.

We were also encouraged to take full advantage of the experience by scrubbing into any cases we found interesting—even those outside of urethroplasty. I observed procedures I had never seen before, such as laparoscopic retroperitoneal pyelolithotomy, laparoscopic prostatectomy, and open ureteral reconstruction. The Vietnamese surgeons impressed me with their skill in open, endoscopic, and robotic techniques, honed through high-volume practice. Despite long hours, the OR maintained a warm, upbeat, and collegial atmosphere. During our time off, the Vietnamese attendings and residents joined Jeffrey, Sikai, and me in exploring the vibrant city. These conversations gave me a deeper appreciation for the people behind the profession.

This experience shaped my perspective in many ways. I saw firsthand how attention to detail, humility, and purpose-driven care can elevate outcomes and inspire change. I witnessed the generosity and ingenuity of the Vietnamese urologic community and the rapid expansion of advanced surgical care across Southeast Asia. Most meaningfully, I formed lasting friendships—relationships I hope will grow into future collaborations, perhaps even back at Binh Dan Hospital!