Although becoming a doctor was not his childhood ambition, Vu Truong Son, MD, MSc – Medical Director at FV Hospital – was drawn to medicine  by a profound and instinctive calling to heal and save lives. At FV, he has found the ideal environment to pursue his passion for medicine and patient care in a calm and focused setting.

Devoting Himself to One of the “Most Underserved and Overlooked Fields” in Medicine

Dr Vu Truong Son shared that his childhood dream was to become a journalist, a passion inspired by reading and contributing to Hoa Hoc Tro magazine. However, two pivotal events ultimately led him to pursue a career in medicine.

In eighth grade, young Vu Truong Son anxiously waited outside the operating room at Military Hospital 108 as his mother underwent thyroid surgery. Suddenly, a doctor emerged with alarming news: she had gone into cardiac and respiratory arrest immediately after the operation. Son witnessed the medical team perform an emergency tracheotomy and inject a large syringe of medication directly into his mother’s heart – an urgent, life-saving intervention that revived her. The experience left an indelible impression, revealing the profound, life-saving power of medicine.

Later, during his final year of high school, the death of a close friend from a brain tumour deeply affected him. Motivated by both the miraculous potential of medicine and the pain of personal loss, Son shifted focus to the national university entrance exams in the sciences. He was subsequently admitted to Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, marking the beginning of his lifelong journey in healing and saving lives.

As a third- and fourth-year medical student, Son volunteered with a French-sponsored programme focused on the HIV prevention and treatment. At the time, the HIV/AIDS epidemic was devastating communities and claiming countless lives. His early responsibilities involved providing end-of-life care to AIDS patients abandoned by both their families and society – and at times, even assisting in the handling of deceased individuals. Yet, amidst the despair, a breakthrough emerged: the introduction of antiretroviral therapy. Patients who had been close to death began to recover dramatically after receiving the new medication.

“The advent of HIV treatment completely changed how we approached and managed patients with advanced HIV infection,” Dr Son recalled. Families who had lost all hope were astonished to be called back to the hospital to bring their loved one’s home. These experiences profoundly shaped his calling to medicine.

Throughout his studies, Son spent his days attending classes and his nights volunteering in the Infectious Diseases Department at Viet Tiep Hospital in Hai Phong, often working gruelling overnight shifts. Many around him questioned his dedication, suggesting he was “out of his mind” for choosing such dangerous, low-paying work with high risks of infection. Yet Son remained steadfast in his commitment, driven by a deep sense of purpose and responsibility.

It was through this life-saving work that Dr Son discovered his true calling. In 2007, he was awarded a master’s scholarship by the French Institute of Tropical Medicine in Vientiane, Laos – a pivotal moment that marked his official commitment to the field of infectious diseases,  a speciality often regarded as underserved and overlooked.

Laying the Foundations for the Infectious Disease Department at FV Hospital

With extensive expertise as an infectious diseases specialist – rigorously trained by French experts and shaped by years of experiences at hospitals across Vietnam, Dr Vu Truong Son joined FV Hospital in 2013. Recognising his capabilities, Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital entrusted him with leading the hospital’s infection control efforts, at a critical time when FV was working to meet international JCI accreditation standards.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Dr Son became a key pillar on the frontlines. Drawing on his expertise in infectious diseases and epidemiology, he responded with confidence and composure, swiftly implementing comprehensive prevention measures. His leadership helped prepare the medical team to face the fear brought by the pandemic, while equipping doctors and healthcare staff with the knowledge and encouragement needed to continue caring for patients under extraordinary pressure.

He also played a critical role in designing and implementing protective protocols, patient triage systems, and screening procedures – ranging from online health assessments to in-person checks at the hospital entrance. In addition, he helped establish workflows for sample collection, isolation, and testing. These coordinated efforts ensured the safety of thousands of healthcare workers, their families, and other patients.

In 2022, FV’s Infectious Disease Department was officially established, following Dr Son’s proposal to enhance the hospital’s infection control capabilities, protect patients and healthcare staff, and support efforts to prevent future global epidemics.

The department plays a vital role in treating infectious diseases, implementing hospital-wide infection control, and managing antibiotic use to combat  antimicrobial resistance. Thanks to these efforts, FV Hospital maintains an exceptionally low surgical site infection rate of just 0.2%, with virtually no patient deaths from septic shock.

In 2023, Dr Vu Truong Son was appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer at FV Hospital. Recognised for his strong leadership and sharp strategic insight, he was entrusted by FV’s Board of Directors with the position of Chief Medical Officer in early 2025.

Upholding the Core Values of FV Doctors

Dr Son shared that while the role of Medical Director presents significant challenges, it has also allowed him the opportunity to realise a long-held aspiration: to connect generations of doctors and, together with the management team, help preserve the “DNA of FV.”

Originally founded as a French hospital, with most key positions held by French physicians, FV has, over more than 20 years, nurtured a new generation of Vietnamese doctors who have inherited both the expertise and values of their French predecessors. Today, an increasing number of young doctors are joining FV’s medical team.

“I want to be the bridge between generations, between cultures, and between global medical excellence so that we can continue to uphold and enrich the core values of FV physicians,” Dr Son shared.

According to Dr Vu Truong Son, an FV physician must not only possess strong clinical expertise but also uphold the highest standards of medical ethics – treating each patient with the same care and compassion as if they were a family member. This level of dedication sometimes brings personal or legal risks. Making the decision to perform surgery on a critically ill patient without family consent or financial means is not just an act of “medical courage”; it also exposes the doctor to significant legal liabilities. Similarly, taking on near-hopeless cases often demands extraordinary time and effort. As Medical Director, Dr Son is committed to supporting his doctors, enabling them to uphold their ethical duty and life-saving mission without hesitation.

Dr Son is also proactive in building networks and mobilising every available resource to support his medical team, strengthening collaboration between departments to ensure the highest standards of patient care. His commitment extends beyond leadership; on one occasion, he leapt out of bed at 2 am to locate a large-sized Foley catheter urgently needed during a late-night emergency. He is equally resolute when advocating for critical interventions – sometimes facing difficult conversations with patients’ families. Most recently, he spent a tense midnight hour persuading and even arguing with the husband of a foreign patient to consent to an emergency hysterectomy, a life-saving procedure for a mother experiencing severe postpartum haemorrhage.

Thanks to the unwavering dedication of its medical team, FV has become recognised for its expertise in managing complex and high-risk cases. Even patients who have been transferred multiple times and given little chance of survival have made remarkable recoveries after receiving care at FV.

At FV, We Practice Medicine with Peace of Mind

Dr Son shared that he has many ideas for expanding treatment services and introducing new initiatives at FV. One example inspired by his experience caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the creation of the “Home Care” Health Centre – an idea developed in collaboration with his colleagues.

“At FV, treatment techniques are updated daily with contributions from multiple specialties, thereby minimising inpatient stays while continually improving treatment outcomes.” Dr Son explained. “This not only reduces treatment costs for patients, but also maximizes the hospital’s resources, allowing us to accommodate more patients. In this effort, the role of Home Care becomes even more crucial.”

Many nights, security staff still notice the light on in Dr Son’s office as he works late, driven by his passion for developing new initiatives for FV. Now part of the Thomson Medical Group in Singapore, FV Hospital is equipped with greater resources to pursue its vision of becoming a leading healthcare provider in Asia. Dr Son’s aspiration is to see FV Hospital recognised as a key medical hub on the regional healthcare map.

Dr Son revealed that in the near future, FV will launch a Diabetes Centre and a Breast Disease Centre, aimed at delivering comprehensive, specialised care for patients.

Despite his busy schedule with new responsibilities, Dr Son remains deeply passionate about his work – something he attributes to being able to do what he truly loves. “FV is the only place where my colleagues and I can practice medicine with peace of mind, encompassing many values, including saving lives,” Dr Son shared.