Efforts to learn Vietnamese to understand patients
Originating from a deep desire to contribute, Dr. Runyan believes that language is the key to understanding and supporting communities in need of help.
"I will try to speak in Vietnamese, just a few difficult and in-depth words that I can't speak yet, I will speak in English" - the doctor started the conversation almost entirely in Vietnamese with us. This is also his approach to Vietnamese pediatric patients closely, before surgeries.
In 2019, he came to Vietnam to organize RICE (Reconstructive International Cooperative Exchange) in a medical cooperation program to improve the quality of treatment and surgical training.
At first, it was just a business trip, but gradually, Vietnam became a place where he devoted a lot of effort and wanted to contribute to improving the health system.
"My wish is to serve the children and sick children of Vietnam. I want children with birth defects in the cleft lip and mouth, and facial deformities to have a bright smile like their peers, so that they can walk confidently in their lives" - Dr. Runyan confided.
In addition to surgery, Dr. Runyan takes on the role of Research Director of Nuoy, where he focuses on improving plastic surgery outcomes by applying a data-based approach. He not only guides young doctors but also helps build a solid foundation of knowledge to make training more effective and practical.
Nuoy was formed from the International Cooperation Project on Plastic Surgery (R.I.C.E) initiated by Professor Joseph M. Rosen in 2000. Over the past 25 years, Nuoy has developed into a non-profit organization based in the United States and has been licensed to operate long-term in Vietnam.
Nuoy has coordinated with leading hospitals such as the National Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital 1, Viet Duc Hospital and Hong Ngoc Hospital to perform thousands of intensive surgeries, improving the quality of life for patients.
In 2024, realizing the need for specialized maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Runyan spent 6 weeks at Hong Ngoc Hospital to support the establishment of the center for maxillofacial surgery. He has directly trained doctors, applied new techniques and built a program that can develop long-term.
Foreign doctors determined to pursue a Medical practice certificate in Vietnam
Currently, a special thing is that Dr. Runyan is determined to become a real doctor in Vietnam, by pursuing a Medical practice certificate in Vietnam.
"This is not only a legal step but also shows my desire to stay in the health system here for a long time, helping me participate more deeply in treatment and teaching" - Dr. Runyan confided.
In the period of 2022 - 2024 alone, Dr. Christopher Runyan and his colleagues at Nuoy have made important strides in expanding access to reconstructive surgery, improving local medical capacity and enhancing domestic and foreign cooperation.
For 3 years, 510 patients have been examined and treated for free, 194 surgeries have been successfully performed. Nuoy also successfully organized 17 seminars and specialized training courses, supported research with 7 scientific articles, and built a cooperation network with 6 medical partners. Dr. Runyan has contributed a significant part to those successes. His surgical practice is admired and studied by many Vietnamese doctors.
At the same time, Nuoy has donated more than 600,000 USD in medical equipment and provided 41,000 USD in scholarships to Vietnamese doctors.
For Dr. Runyan, Vietnam's medical support does not stop at surgeries, it not only helps disabled children have the opportunity to regain the faces of ordinary people. By training young doctors, building professional programs and integrating into the medical environment in Vietnam, efforts contribute to creating changes that can be maintained in the long term.
