Frenda Yip, DO: Overlook Medical Center, Family Medicine Residency PGY3

Vietnam: February 2025

 During my three weeks in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I had the privilege of working at an underserved orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital, providing care for patients with strokes, congenital disabilities, and motorbike accident injuries.

  While I was there, I worked in both the clinic and the operating room, seeing patients from all parts of Southern Vietnam, from bustling city streets to the humble countryside. Patient rooms were shared by eight individuals, each accompanied by their mandatory caregivers who stayed with them around the clock to assist with medication administration, ADLs, and IADLs. Though the rooms were cramped, the atmosphere felt like a family gathering, where patients, caregivers, and medical staff came together in a collective effort to heal.

  Alongside a team of physicians, nurses, residents, and medical students, I was involved in treating a range of MVA-related injuries, including lacerations, skin abrasions, joint dislocations, fractures, and muscle strains. I participated in medical decision-making during morning rounds with the medicine team, assisted nurses with wound care, and worked alongside physical therapists, where I was able to perform osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). I also had the chance to scrub in on orthopedic surgeries, which gave me the opportunity to compare medical practices in a second-world country to those in a first-world setting. Additionally, I was exposed to Eastern Medicine practices, including herbal remedies, acupuncture, and cupping.

  Reflecting on my time in Vietnam, I realize how much I learned and how much I gained from the experience. Though poverty levels were high, the resilience and positive morale of the Vietnamese people were even higher. Thank you to The Benjamin H. Josephson, MD Fund for providing me with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and unforgettable memories that I will cherish forever.