For over 30 years, the OMI has been shaping the future of medical education throughout the globe. We are thrilled to return to Vietnam with our renowned faculty from Weill Cornell Medicine and CHOP this week, expanding our impact in Southeast Asia.
“This first OMI Cardiology seminar in Hanoi was truly an incredible experience! The organization, staff, and facilities are absolutely top-notch, and the participating fellows did an outstanding job. Just as we had hoped, the fellows quickly became comfortable engaging with the faculty and with one another, discussing the nuances, similarities, and differences in the management of a broad variety of cardiac conditions. The fellows’ case presentations were also truly impressive, showcasing some outstanding care for some very complex and rare conditions as well as superb, evidence-based management of patients with more common cardiac disorders. It was a fantastic group and a perfect start to what we hope will be a long and enduring tradition!”
It is with the inspiring words of Dr. Robert J. Kim, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of Consultative Cardiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, that we successfully conclude our OMI Vietnam program at VinUniversity in Hanoi this Wednesday.
We were delighted to host a total of 57 fellows from seven countries across Southeast Asia – Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, and Vietnam – for two OMI seminars dealing with Cardiology (Weill Cornell Medicine) and General Pediatrics (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia).
The Cardiology course focused on the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic coronary artery disease states, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure and cardiomyopathies, as well as advanced therapies for cardiogenic shock and patients in the cardiac intensive care unit.
The General Pediatrics seminar provided comprehensive guidance on the care of children in both outpatient and inpatient settings. The faculty covered a broad spectrum of clinical topics, from common pediatric respiratory, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and infectious conditions to specialized subjects, such as natural airway sedation and care standardization through clinical pathways.
Interactive case presentations and round tables with local experts enabled faculty and fellows of both cohorts to fully immerse themselves in a unique learning experience. Participants were actively involved in the program, sharing experiences and challenges faced in their hospitals, and were able to take away several key learnings applicable to their work environments.
This event marked Dr. Kim’s 17th participation in an OMI seminar. Since 2007, he has trained more than 500 OMI fellows from all over the world in Salzburg, Mexico City, and now even Hanoi. As a course director, he was joined by faculty members Dr. Luke Kim, interventional cardiologist, and Dr. Shudhanshu Alishetti, advanced heart failure, mechanical cardiac support, and heart transplantation expert, from Weill Cornell Medicine.
From the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we welcomed a true power quartet: Dr. Elena Huang, Dr. Katie McPeak, Dr. Stacey Rose, and Dr. Morgan Greenfield.
Reflecting on the General Pediatrics seminar, course director Dr. Elena Huang, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Quality for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Primary Care Network, shared her thoughts:
“Our team of pediatric faculty from Philadelphia was humbled and awed by the wisdom and expertise of our OMI fellows. We met amazing pediatric colleagues from countries across Southeast Asia who came to OMI each day ready to engage in interactive, honest, and open knowledge-sharing. In just three days, our General Pediatrics OMI cohort of 4 faculty and 31 fellows developed deep mutual respect and appreciation for each other, and we will be returning home with many new colleagues and friends from across the globe!”
Our course directors’ words are a testament to our progressive global impact, one seminar at a time. After each event, our faculty notices the fellows’ educational development – and that drives us forward! Beyond the limits of nationality, we create an environment that fosters intensive learning, worldwide networking opportunities, and, most importantly, impactful universal medical knowledge – all the characteristics of a truly global program!
As we conclude the two seminars in Hanoi, we extend our deepest gratitude to our faculty from CHOP and Weill Cornell Medicine for their unwavering support and invaluable contributions. Their enthusiasm and dedication to advancing healthcare globally have left an indelible mark on all our fellows.
A special thank you goes to our hosts at VinUniversity – Dr. David Bangsberg (Provost and Dean of the College of Health Sciences), Dr. Le Cu Linh (Executive Vice Dean), Dr. Le Van Phuoc (Vice Dean for Medical Education), as well as Ms. Van (External Engagement Lead) and their staff – for providing top logistical support and superb facilities for teaching, learning, and networking.
We look forward to continuing our journey of collaboration in Hanoi, building on the solid foundation laid by these exceptional seminars.
Thu Anh Duong, MD
OMI fellow from Vietnam
“Today is Vietnamese Teachers’ Day, a special day of gratitude and appreciation! I am still impressed with the engaging teaching style of Dr. Robert Kim and his two colleagues. Their depth of knowledge and enthusiasm inspired me and I truly believe that every doctor who puts effort into learning and research can become an expert. Just like the mentors of this course!”
Doucel Oliver, MD
OMI fellow from the Philippines
“Dr. Shudhanshu Alishetti’s lectures showed that cardiology is indeed a dynamic field with so many advances in the treatment of cardiogenic shock and cardiomyopathies, while not neglecting the basics of early recognition and diagnosis. He also thoroughly explained the complexities of the treatment of heart failure, a major challenge in our setting back home.”
Yay Bandidh, MD
OMI fellow from Cambodia
“This face-to-face learning opportunity was invaluable! The US doctors presented topics pertinent to our daily practice and explained them very well with evidence-based information. All participants were interactively sharing experiences throughout the entire seminar and discussed interesting case presentations.”
Nguyen Ngoc Khoi Truong, MD
OMI fellow from Vietnam
“I found answers to countless questions. The topics chosen were highly relevant to my daily work. I was particularly fascinated by the lectures on cardiomyopathies, advanced heart failure, and the practical clinical examples that the faculty used to illustrate these conditions. I truly felt that they put their utmost effort into patient care and conveyed that passion to inspire us to strive harder every day.”
Vannida Douangboupha, MD
OMI fellow from Lao PDR
“The knowledge, skills, and experience I gained will definitely be shared with my colleagues and students, with the aim of improving current practices and contributing to the reduction of morbidity and mortality among children in Laos.”
Phuong Ngo, MD
OMI fellow from Vietnam
“The faculty members were very knowledgeable and demonstrated exceptional teaching skills, making their lectures both engaging and practical. Their ability to connect theory to real-world applications was particularly impressive, and their enthusiasm created an inspiring learning environment.”
Dio Rakhmat Biade, MD
OMI fellow from Indonesia
“Dr. Huang discussed the recent management of asthma in children according to the GINA 2024 guidelines. We learned how to choose medications and adjust treatment plans, stepping them up or down based on the patient’s condition.”
Ei Mon Swe, MD
OMI fellow from Myanmar
“One of the most memorable activities was the assignment to pair up with a colleague we had not met before. It reminded me of the importance of collaboration and learning from each other’s diverse experiences.”
Khoi Tran, MD
OMI fellow from Vietnam
“The lecturers have extensive experience, knowledge, and motivational encouragement. Their talks were up to date with the latest information and highly practical. It was also an amazing opportunity for me to form new connections with many fantastic colleagues.”
Atipotsawee Tungsupreechameth, MD
OMI fellow from Thailand
“I was impressed by Dr. Greenfield’s clear explanation of how to differentiate between each type of deep neck space and orbital infection. She highlighted crucial points and emphasized the key information everyone should know.”
