Da Nang Oncology Hospital in Da Nang, Vietnam is the first fellowship site for the IGCS Global Curriculum and Mentorship Program. Dr. Tran Thi Nhu Quynh is Da Nang’s first fellow. She started training in July 2017.
Dr. Tri Dinh, Dr. Linda Van Le, and Dr. Joseph Ng are the International Mentors for the Da Nang site. Mentors travel quarterly to oversee fellow training which includes seeing patients in clinic and performing surgery in Da Nang. Fellows also receive training in chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Monthly tumor board sessions are held and facilitated by the Project ECHO platform with participation from radiation oncologists, pathologists, and gynecologic oncologists from around the world. Under Dr. Dinh’s supervision tumor board cancer cases are reviewed and discussed followed by didactic lectures. Pathologists are available for consultation and review of histologic specimens. The latest clinical studies are reviewed and cases are discussed in English.
Textbooks and resources are provided. Dr. Van Le has donated the following texts to the fellowship:
Te Linde’s Operative Gynecology 12th Ed.
Te Linde’s Atlas of Surgical Gynecology
Textbook of Radiation Oncology
Local Supervisor
Dr. Tran Tu Quy
Director of Da Nang Oncology Hospital
International Mentors
Dr. Tri Dinh is an Assistant Professor of Medical and Surgical Gynecology at the Mayo Clinic Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Dr. Dinh completed his Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Dinh has been coordinating trips to Vietnam through his organization, Project Team of Volunteer Doctors (TVD), since 1999. Project TVD is dedicated to providing educational outreach and direct patient care to Vietnam. More information about TVD can be found at ProjectTVD.org
Dr. Joseph Ng Soon Yau is a Senior Consultant of Gynecologic Oncology at the National University Cancer Institute in Singapore (NCIS). Dr. Ng has special interests in preinvasive diseases of the female genital tract, zero-impact surgical treatment of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer therapeutics. He is a founding member and Chairman of the GRACES gynecologic robotic surgery program at National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore.
Dr. Ng completed his basic medical training at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, in Pennsylvania, and fellowship training at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore.
Dr. Linda Van Le is the Leonard Palumbo Distinguished Professor in the Division of Gyn Oncology at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a member of Lineberger Cancer Center. She served on the Editorial Board for Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, was a Board examiner for the American Board of Ob/Gyn, SGO liaison to American Society of Clinical Oncology, NRG Principal Investigator for clinical trials, and is the new Co-Editor for Te Linde’s Operative Gynecology, 12th Edition.
Dr. Van Le went to Stanford University, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, then University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship. Dr. Van Le’s family is from Sadec, Vietnam.
Fellows
Dr. Nhu Quynh Tran Thi is the 2017-2020 fellow at Da Nang Oncology Hospital. She received her M.D. from Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University in 2015, and trained in general Obstetrics and Gynecology before pursuing fellowship. Dr. Quynh has a special interest in gynecologic oncology and wants to improve the knowledge and skills of gynecologists in Vietnam to help more women with gynecologic cancer.
Dr. Phan Thi Hong Ngoc is our 2020-2022 IGCS Danang Oncology fellow. Dr. Ngoc is from Quang Nam province in Central Viet Nam. She attended Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy for medical school followed by residency in Ob/Gyn. She was Attending Physician and practiced general Ob/gyn at Tu Du Maternal Hospital until she decided to undertake the Gyn Oncology fellowship. “I wish I could become a specialist in gynecologic oncology in order to help the women in Vietnam and develop cancer screening. I joined the IGCS fellowship to broaden my knowledge and enhance the surgical skills to help my dream come true. One of the happiest things when I join the project is that I have opportunities to meet my awesome mentors who are willing to support me and enhance my journey.”
Publications
In the April 2019 edition of International Journal of Gynecological Cancer’s Corners of the World, Central Vietnam Needs You! – Dr. Joseph Ng shares the scores from pre- and post-didactic quizzes to demonstrate the potential impact that basic didactic training can have on provider knowledge and practice.
Photos from 2018 Site Visit
- The Operating Theatres at Da Nang Oncology Hospital
- On-Site Housing for Married Physician Staff of the Da Nang Oncology Hospital. Visible proof of the commitment of the government to cancer care in Da Nang, Vietnam.
- The physician staff just like the population of Vietnam is young, energetic, and hungry for progress. Dr Tran (far left), IGCS Fellow, and Dr Joe Ng (far right), IGCS International Mentor.
- The health leadership and valued colleagues in Da Nang, Vietnam. Dr Ngo (far left), vice-director, Center for Reproductive Health, Dr Tran (in green), IGCS Fellow, Dr Nguyen (2nd from right), then Director of Da Nang Oncology Hospital, and Dr Tran (far right), vice-director of Da Nang Oncology Hospital and Local Supervisor of the IGCS Global Curriculum program in Da Nang.
- Dr Joe Ng, IGCS International Mentor, listening to clinical presentation by Dr Hai (in green), one of the staff physicians at the Da Nang Oncology Hospital, during a teaching clinic with Staff Physicians, Nurses, Medical Students and our Fellow, Dr Tran.
- Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt, visiting professor, IGCS Global Curriculum program, leads the preinvasive and cancer prevention programs at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS). Here instructing participants at the Inaugural Workshop on Cervical Cancer Screening and Preinvasive Disease Management.
- Using the colposcopy simulator developed by Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt, visiting professor, IGCS Global Curriculum program, to help health providers get hands-on training in the surgical management of preinvasive disease.
- Professor Phil Castle (right) and Dr Ngo, vice-director of the Center for Reproductive Health in Da Nang, with whom the IGCS has a collaborative relationship in providing training for cervical cancer screening, and treatment of pre-invasive disease.
- Professor Phil Castle lecturing at an HPV and cervical cancer prevention workshop organized by the Center for Reproductive Health of Da Nang and the IGCS.
- Ms Joyce Er (left in white top) Gyn Oncology Nurse Practitioner, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) speaking with patients about the importance of nutrition in cancer care recovery. Ms Er will help to lead nursing initiatives to level up nursing practice, training, and education at Da Nang Oncology Hospital.
- Dr Pearl Tong (left), IGCS member and IGCS faculty at the Global Curriculum Da Nang site is a gynecologic oncologist at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), seen here doing surgical teaching with IGCS Fellow, Dr Tran.
- Dr Tran, operating with Professor Jeffrey Low, IGCS Member and visiting professor of the IGCS Global Curriculum program, at the Da Nang Oncology Hospital, Da Nang, Vietnam.
- Dr Tran and the Nurse Manager of the Operating Theatre going over basic inventory of the gift of a set of retractors from the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS).
- Ms Joyce Er (far right), Gyn Oncology Nurse Practitioner, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) with nursing leadership of the Da Nang Oncology Hospital. The IGCS can also help level up cancer care through nursing education and training.
- Professor Jeffrey Low with Dr Tran. Professor Low is Chief, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS). NCIS and Mayo Jacksonville are the sponsoring institutions for the IGCS Global Curriculum in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Photos from May 2018 Site Visit
- DOH Workshop
- Dr. Tri Dinh speaking to DOH staff
- Annkathryn Goodman, Joseph Lucci, Linda Van Le and Tri Dinh with DOH staff at tumor board
- Annekathryn Goodman, Joseph Lucci and Quynh Tran Thi in OR
- Joseph Lucci, Linda Van Le, Quynh Tran Thi perform radical hysterectomy
- DOH Surgical Staff
- Da Nang Oncology Ward (photo taken with patient permission)
- Linda Van Le and patient (photo taken with patient permission)
Photos from July 2017 Site Visit
- Dr. Tri Dinh in the Da Nang Oncology Hospital conference room in from of a banner reading “Ceremony to inaugurate the fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Da Nang Oncology Hospital.”
- Dr. Dinh and others review patient images.
- From R to L: Dr. Ellen Baker (MD Anderson), Dr. Long Nguyen (DOH), Dr. Quynh Tran (DOH), Dr. UT Nguyen (DOH), Dr. Tri Dinh (Mayo Clinic), Dr. Quy Tran (DOH)
- Dr. Tri Dinh (mentor) with Global Curriculum Fellow, Dr. Quynh Tran.
- Dr. Tri Dinh and participants from Da Hang Oncology Hospital participate in a case discussion during the first Project ECHO video conference.
- Project ECHO video conference