2023 Commencement Ceremony: The first generation of Van Lang University's Faculties of Health Science has grown

On the morning of August 18, 2023, Van Lang University held a commencement ceremony for new Pharmacists, new Bachelors in Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Commerce. This is also the new generation of pharmacists, Faculties of Health Science at Van Lang University, who have completed the training process after 5 years.

With the permission of the Ministry of Education and Training, in 2018, Van Lang University enrolled the first generation of Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science majors. Despite facing many difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pioneering generation of the Faculties of Health Science of Van Lang University has made great efforts to complete their learning and training journey.

During the COVID-19 period, many staff, lecturers and students of Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science and Medicine majors actively joined the volunteer team, supporting medical work and COVID-19 prevention with doctors and nurses. During the process of participating in internships and practices at the hospital, they have successfully completed the task with a positive and proactive attitude, thereby leaving a good impression on the management, doctors, nurses and staff working at prestigious hospitals.

Course 24 in Pharmacy at Van Lang University is the course with the lowest dropout rate and the highest percentage of students graduating on-time in the whole University (84%). 

For the Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science majors, they have quickly adapted to the new situation during the pandemic season, completing the clinical practice plan in the best way and being highly appreciated of their abilities and effort in scientific research by practicing hospitals such as Gia Dinh Hospital, Thong Nhat Hospital, Military Hospital 175, District 11 Hospital 10 thesis topics that the Nursing students are researching in hospitals. Under the guidance and connection of teachers, the new Bachelor Tran Thi Hang Nga has been implementing a research project at the order of the People's Committee of Ward 9, District 6. With the graduation thesis topic "Dual outbreak of COVID-19 and Dengue fever", students of Medical Laboratory Science will participate in reporting at the 55th Japan International Conference in October 2019 in Yokohama, Japan this year.

In the joy of graduation, the first generation of the Faculties of Health Science at Van Lang University performed the Hippocrates oath ceremony, marking the maturity, service spirit and responsibility of each individual for the career of protecting public health.

Representative of the first generation of Health students of Van Lang University, valedictorian of the Medicine major - the new pharmacist Mai Hong Hai Yen shared about the 5-year experience journey with teachers and friends at Van Lang University. Hai Yen graduated with an Excellent rating with a cumulative GPA of 3.35. Throughout the learning process, Hai Yen has always been a progressive student, participating in teaching assistantships for teachers, and participating in mass movement activities. She is also a volunteer for the campaign to support anti-epidemic work and coordinate vaccination at Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. in 2021.

Below is the sharing of the valedictorian Mai Hong Hai Yen:

“Actually, I am very touched when in the system of Honored Graduate Diplomas of Van Lang University, from today, there is an additional degree of MEDICINE. We are proud to be the first new Pharmacists of Van Lang University.

Along with the first generation of Bachelors in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science sitting below, we hope that today's Commencement will become a beautiful milestone in the development history of the Faculties of Health Science at Van Lang University.

When choosing to study Health majors, each of us is already inspired by the mission of caring and protecting the health of the community.

"A life always lived for others is a life worth living" - The famous quote of genius Albert Einstein really suits the mind of those who are working and studying in the field of Healthcare. The journey of understanding the profession, loving the profession with each of us Gen Z students is  accumulating more knowledge every day and learning while working, inspired by respectable people in the industry.

5 years studying at the Faculty of Medicine at Van Lang University has been a serious and hard journey for me. There are many memorable memories with teachers and friends. Among them, I would like to speak about the period of social isolation due to the Covid-19 outbreak in 2021 – a difficult time for students of all majors, and especially for students in Faculties of Health Science.

During this time, the roads were blocked, and I was stuck in Saigon, unable to return to my hometown. Since I'm doing an experiment on culturing bacteria and fungi, but the culture medium can't be preserved for long, I try to stay in the City to complete my scientific research.

This period of social isolation has been very difficult and stressful for me and my family. The sound of airplanes and vehicles is often replaced by the sound of ambulances, bringing fear and insecurity. Not only is it a challenge when I study online, but I also face many difficulties in life. Not being able to travel freely and shops being closed, for the first time, I experienced the feeling of holding money in my hand but not being able to buy what I needed, lacking food, products and necessities.

At such a difficult time, I received a lot of help from teachers at Van Lang University, friends and relatives. Everyone taught me how to buy and receive food from charity organizations, and gave me encouragement to overcome the pressure and stress I created myself.

Also during this time, the positive news from Van Lang University was like sunshine warming up a series of gloomy days. We are proud to constantly read about community activities from Van Lang University. We are deeply moved by the attention the University gives to each student who faces difficulties: tuition reduction, financial support, food distribution to students stuck in the city...

Van Lang University's student life during the epidemic season also became more exciting when there were many online contests that brought positive vitamins to cheer up our spirits.

Faculties of Health Science students feel that we need to act with professional responsibility in the common difficulties of society. I participated in an activity to support vaccination against Covid-19 with my friends from the Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science. I join my friends in volunteering with the enthusiasm of youth and the responsibility and mission of those who choose to serve the health sector, ready to devote themselves to the people's health.

This difficult period of social distancing is a common story of many people present at the hall. I know each of you has had to experience your personal stories. There are students who have problems in online learning, unable to intern during the distancing, delaying the learning process. There are people who are even more disadvantaged where they forever lose their loved ones during this pandemic.

Once again, let's all give a big round of applause to congratulate us for having enough will to overcome many challenges to achieve today's results. We thank Van Lang University and teachers for always accompanying, standing by and taking care of students in all circumstances.

Dear Teachers,

MEDICAL ETHICS is the leading principle of the Faculties of Health Science, which we have been memorizing since the first year of university with the Medical Psychology - Occupational Ethics subject.

Moral quality does not stop at the theory of a basic subject, but also a life lesson that we gradually accumulate through each lecture of other subjects, through the teachings of teachers, and through what we observe from the lifestyle and daily behavior of teachers in the industry.

I myself was very impressed when I noticed in the familiar motto of Van Lang University: MORALITY - WILL - CREATIVITY, the MORALITY value is placed top.

This value I feel in the humanistic policies of the University, the spirit of taking great care of students in every smallest issue, like the story of the recent Covid epidemic. Ethical qualities and lifestyle, working conscientiously in any organization will be the most precious baggage that each of us brings with us to set up a career after Graduation today.

Dear new Bachelors of  Commerce,

Medicine, Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science students study at Campus 2, but we still live in the dynamic atmosphere of the Van Lang student community. It is the inspiration and support from strong Faculties such as Commerce that have helped students from young Faculties gain experience and confidently create their own mark.

Thank you very much. We are very happy to meet and study with you at Van Lang University. 

After all, we have all gone through a journey of effort to be present at the Commencement Ceremony today. On the way ahead, if you encounter difficult problems, remember the difficulties you have “coolly” overcome, so that you can have more motivation and optimism to find the right solution to the problem.

We hope that new Pharmacists, new Bachelors will always keep their enthusiasm, dedication, love and be ready to help people. So that when mentioning Van Lang, people not only think of passionate creative ability, strong will, but also appreciate our moral qualities, uprightness, straightforwardness and compassion. Let us always be proud to introduce:

“I am an alumnus of Van Lang”. 

Mai Hong Hai Yen
The Medicine major valedictorian graduated  in 2023

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MORALITY - WILL - CREATIVITY are the three core values that accompany Van Lang University on the educational journey. In which, MORALITY is the first and foremost value that the University tries to forge in each student through the training program and the experience at Van Lang University. For the Faculties of Health Science, medical ethics is even more a concept that students need to remember and remind themselves throughout. Ethics in work, ethics in lifestyle, ethics in spirit, way of thinking, gratitude to people, gratitude to life,... We believe that no matter where you go, whatever you do, ethical values will be what anchors your soul, helping you to live without regrets, live meaningfully and be ready to contribute to society.

Valedictorian To Kim Hong  – Course 24 in Nursing major

• Cumulative GPA: 3.34
• Classification Degree: Very Good
• Achieved scholarships for many consecutive semesters
• Outstanding Student at the School level for year 2019 - 2020, year 2020 - 2021
• Won the title of Excellent Student many consecutive semesters

“The first graduation course in Nursing was invested and cared for very carefully by the teachers of Van Lang University. This makes me even more confident when deciding to apply for the major. As a new graduate in Nursing and also a practicing nurse at Thong Nhat Hospital, I would like to thank my family, teachers, friends, who are always an inspiration and source of motivation that support me all the time. I give special gratitude to MSc. Ly Thi Phuong Hoa - Vice Dean of the Faculty of Nursing. Thank you for the valuable knowledge lessons, thank you for always being a solid spiritual support for us to strive for every day.”

Valedictorian Huynh Anh Thu – Course 25 in Medical Laboratory Science major

• Cumulative GPA: 3.32
• Classification Degree: Very Good
• Achieved scholarships for many consecutive semesters

“Graduating from Medical Laboratory Science at Van Lang University helps me fulfill my dream of working in the field of Medicine. Becoming the valedictorian in Medical Laboratory Science, I would like to send a message to those of you who are insecure because of your somewhat introverted personality similar to me that if you try, if you persist and constantly make efforts, you can completely find a path that suits your interests, passions and abilities.”

Valedictorian Nguyen Huyen Ngoc Tran – Course 24 in Medical Laboratory Science major

• Cumulative GPA: 3.5
• Classification Degree: Very Good
• Achieved scholarships for many consecutive semesters
• Outstanding Student at Faculty level for year 2019 - 2020, year 2020 - 2021
• Teaching Assistant for Clinical Biochemistry 2
• Have 2 student-level scientific research projects and 1 scientific paper published in the Proceedings of the International Conference on Natural and Environmental Sciences 2020 in Dong Thap, 1 article published in the Vietnam Journal of Chemistry
• Good Soldier in Green Summer 2021
• Participate in the Spring Volunteer campaign in 2022

“Being the first generation of the Faculties of Health Science of Van Lang University is a special gift for me. Although we do not have seniors, we are fortunate to be nurtured by many dedicated teachers. Teachers are both knowledge sharers and companions to share knowledge and life experiences for us.

I always remember the times when the teachers asked, afraid that we did not grasp the difficult knowledge, so they always tried to find many different teaching methods, suitable for each group to create more excitement and motivation for us when learning. With teachers, with friends, the chemical formulas and the knowledge on the paper are suddenly more vivid, full of vitality and inspiration."