I. Teaching / Learning Highlights

1. Year 4 MD Students Successfully Undertake First-Ever NBME Exams at College of Health Sciences (CHS), VinUniversity on December 8^th

Established in 1915, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) is renowned for its pivotal role in developing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in collaboration with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). This examination, utilized by medical licensing authorities in the U.S., plays a critical role in determining the qualifications necessary for the granting and recognition of medical licenses.

VinUniversity demonstrates its commitment to nurturing competitive and highly skilled medical professionals by introducing NBME exams for Year 4 MD students after each 10-week rotation block. On December 8^th, students experienced this assessment for the first time in our Superlab testing center. By integrating NBME exams into the curriculum, VinUniversity not only equips students for the demanding licensing process but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. 

2. Faculty Development Workshop for Assessment 

Faculty development at VinUniversity is defined as any activity planned to continuously improve the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes of faculty in areas considered essential to the practice. their academic (teaching and research/academic) activities and/or clinical activities. Faculty development activities address the many roles and needs of faculty as instructors, teachers, advisors, clinicians, and researchers.

Faculty Development Workshops for Assessment is a workshop within Faculty Development, aiming to provide lecturers with the latest medical training models from developed countries around the world and how to evaluate the learning outcomes of medical students and resident doctors. Thereby, lecturers can apply these educational assessment methods to evaluate the results of students at VinUniversity and other medical training schools.

Faculty Development Workshop for Assessment was held on 7 and 14 December 2023. The 2 four-hour sessions brought in 25 learners, including faculties, teaching assistants etc. with engaging lectures and dynamic group discussions, covered topics from MD program, curriculum overview and framework to Blueprinting strategies and vetting, MCQ writings and Test item analysis, led by Dr. Christina Liew.

II. Research Highlights

1. Medical Education at VinUniversity emphasizes the importance of research in clinical care and population health. We not only offer that in typical classroom settings, but also in real-life research projects of our esteemed faculty. Here are some snapshots from a multiple-mini-interviews sessions led by Dr Tung Pham seeking excellent research assistants for the STEPs project - the first secondary data analysis pulling data from the World Health Organization to detect chronic disease prevalence and risk factors differences in many Asian countries.

2. Year 2 BN student presented at ICHST - 2023 on December 28, 2023

On December 28, 2023, Chinenye Susan Ekwebelem, our sophomore nursing student, delivered an oral presentation titled “Solution for affordable plastination – First attempts on chicken hearts” at the 1^st International Conference in Health Science and Technology (ICHST-2023), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST). The presentation was part of the “Biomaterials and Drug Delivery” scientific session of the conference. With the presence of Prof. Mark Prausnitz (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA), Prof. Xu Chenjie (City University of Hong Kong, China), Prof. Liu Yang (Peking University School of Stomatology, China) and other professors from HUST in the audience, Ms. Ekwebelem had the opportunity to present and discuss her research interests with the top experts in the field. 

III. External Highlights

Professor Jeanette Erickson and Professor Alasdair Conn’s Visit Recap: Reflections on a Transformative Week 

It was an honor to share the highlights of the impactful visit by Distinguished Professors Jeanette Ives Erickson and Alasdair Conn to Hanoi, Vietnam, from December 11-15. Engaging conversations: Jeanette Erickson immersed herself in meaningful discussions with the Bachelor of Nursing Program’s faculty and staff. The exchange of ideas and experiences has left a lasting impression on our nursing community. Jeanette has left a legacy of wisdom and insight that will live on in our students. We are grateful for her contributions to the nursing profession and for the positive impact she has had on our students, faculty, and staff. It was a rewarding experience for Alasdair Conn to engage in meaningful discussions with faculty and staff from the Medical Doctor (MD)/Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. His visit was a reminder of the importance of mentorship and the power of collaboration. He also provided valuable insight on how to best support our students and their future careers. His words will be cherished for years to come. Leadership Insights: In their meetings with VinUniversity leaders as well as CHS program leaders, Jeanette Erickson and Alasdair Conn provided insightful insights into the field.

Additionally, Jeannette’s presentation on "Transformational Leadership and Professional Governance: The Path Forward" gave valuable insights into healthcare leadership. Following Alasdair Conn’s session on "The development of trauma emergency services in the United States: lessons learned", there was a highly stimulating fireside chat featuring examples of leadership and love. Global Learning Experience: The visit has enriched our academic environment, fostered a global perspective, and strengthened our commitment to excellence in healthcare education. It was a pleasure learning from Professors Erickson and Conn, and we were inspired to reach new heights in health care because of your expertise. Stay tuned for more enriching experiences on our academic excellence journey!!!