When awarding the FV Shining Star of June 2023, Ms Pauline (Nursing Director) expressed her sincere thanks to Mr Phan Ngoc Tri’s for his exceptional dedication and contributions to his work. Besides, Mr Tri also has a role as a keeper of the mortuary at FV. As a porter at the A&E, he believes it’s the right thing to do and wholeheartedly volunteer for this responsibility.

Mr Ngoc Tri joined FV more than 11 years ago as a porter in the Internal Medicine Department. Destiny led him to his current job; he recalled “when Ms Pauline needed somebody to undertake the task which involved taking care of the deceased, I volunteered for the task”. For 7 years, he has been working at the Mortuary of FV Hospital.

Mr Tri’s job is a special one that no one would ask for if you do not have respect for the undertaking. Despite initial fear, Mr Tri gradually became familiar with it and found it to be meaningful than just a job. He shares that there are no specific guidelines for successors in this role, but it requires a compassion and adherence to the hospital’s procedures, but maintaining flexibility according to each situation.

The mortuary at FV is small, yet it meets strict standards for cadaver storage. As part of his responsibility, Mr Tri’s phone number is provided to the police in the surrounding area to assist in necessary cases. While the workload may not be as substantial as in larger hospitals, doing this job alone for so many years is not an easy undertaking.

In this role, it may be difficult to imagine where joy can be found. Mr Tri is unsure when he will stop doing this work. Nonetheless, he receives support when needed and manages to maintain a work-life balance. He deeply believes that there are many things in life that one does not expect to be rewarded for, and helping to care for a person after their life has ended may be the most profound joy he finds in this job.

Mr Phan Ngoc Tri is not only the FV Shining Star of June 2023. His family also understands, sympathises, and greatly admires his special work. Vietnamese culture values the ultimate care given for the dead, and this concept has driven Mr Tri to approach his work with sincerity. We wish him good health, braveness, and continued success in this noble and valuable role.