The Faculty of Dentistry at present has nearly 50 lecturers, among whom there is only one who is not specialized in dentomaxillofacial but in aesthetics dentistry. More notably, this is a surgical expert, the "smile healer" for thousands of patients born with facial deformities - MSc. Dr. Le Trung Nghia.

Presently, these journeys are tireless

Returning to Ho Chi Minh City after the Smile Surgery program in Dak Lak province (27-31/10/2023), Dr. Nghia shared, "I am the team leader of a group of 30 members from all regions of the country, including surgical specialists, anesthesiologists, internal medicine and pediatric intensive care physicians, anesthesia technicians, etc along with volunteers and coordinators from Operation Smile (a non-profit international organization operating in community health care, focusing on providing free surgeries for children born with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities in developing countries). The team examined more than 230 patients and performed surgery on 103 patients with congenital facial defects in 3 days, such as cleft lip and palate, congenital and recurrent cleft palate, rare facial cleft (Tessier), lip and nose scars, finger and foot deformities, congenital...”

This philanthropic surgical trip is just one of many Dr. Nghia has undertaken over the years, starting from his volunteer days as a student in the 1980s. Traveling to many places, and experiencing diverse landscapes and cultures, Dr. Nghia considers himself fortunate to have learned much from professional colleagues both in and outside of Vietnam. Each journey is an engraved mark, solidifying his dedication to the initial aspiration of "utilizing his non-medical abilities to serve the community."

"The patients in the highlands are numerous; the living and working conditions of locals, especially those in the mountainous regions, are challenging. Moreover, the care for pregnant women is inadequate, compounded by the issue of Agent Orange. Therefore, no matter when the team examined and performed surgeries, not all issues could be resolved." – MSc. Dr. Le Trung Nghia shared. It's not just in the mountainous regions of Vietnam, there are many people worldwide living tired and self-conscious lives due to cleft lip and palate-related conditions.

Thus, Dr. Nghia's footprint, alongside these philanthropic teams, is imprinted on distant roads, reaching the lands of Africa with harsh living conditions. Days of crowding in the car amid old forests, crossing streams at midnight, being covered in red dust from head to toe, the luggage thickly layered, and days of surgeries from morning till night, being able to sleep right on the floor... These hardships are worthwhile when a successful surgery brings joy to the patients' and their families' eyes, smiles, and hopeful expectations, welcoming the team back with jubilant anticipation. Dr. Nghia vividly recalls the images of those young patients who were once operated on, now running and jumping with radiant smiles, brought by their families to visit the team.

For over 20 years, Dr. Nghia has been actively involved with Operation Smile and various other organizations such as LWR (Love Without Reasons, USA), which annually performs surgeries in Africa, Interplast (USA), Face the Challenge (USA), Bridge the Gap (Netherlands), Rottary (Australia), etc., he cannot remember the number of charity surgeries he has performed on cleft lip and palate and facial deformities. The mended smiles serve as a significant motivation for Dr. Nghia to continue his tireless charitable missions.

The past concerns of a surgeon in the treatment of cleft lip and palate

After graduating in 1986, Dr. Nghia was exposed early on to patients with facial deformities and the repercussions in appearance and function post-surgical removal to prevent cancer recurrence. Growing professionally and engaging in charitable missions with foreign surgical teams, his aspiration to utilize his surgical capabilities for the betterment of the community, especially in plastic surgery, intensified.

As the Deputy Head of the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, responsible for the reconstruction segment at the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Nghia observed that in the treatment of cleft lip and palate, the injuries caused by the disease, affecting patients' functional, aesthetic, and psychological aspects, along with the families, were not given adequate attention. Many patients still had facial deformities (nasal distortion, lip anomalies, misaligned bites, crooked teeth, unclear speech, difficulty eating or reflux). Most reconstructive surgeons in charity surgeries concentrate solely on lip and palate repairs, neglecting the subsequent issues the patients face post-surgery. Furthermore, the injuries required more than just surgical treatment; it necessitated interdisciplinary coordination to yield better results for patients, helping them integrate confidently into society. Dr. Nghia's goal of comprehensive treatment for cleft lip and palate patients originated from these observations.

With the establishment of the Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery Department, Dr. Nghia utilized his capacity to mobilize personnel and finances, forming a comprehensive cleft lip and palate treatment unit within the department. Dental and facial surgeons, speech therapists from Taiwan, and nutritionists from the Children's Hospital organized a pediatric emergency science for pediatric experts, prepared posters and brochures on nutrition and post-operative care, etc. Plans for comprehensive treatment for each cleft lip and palate patient were prepared and gradually implemented. Patients received not only surgery but also comprehensive care in other aspects related to nutrition, psychological health, etc.

Established in 2018, the Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center at the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology in Ho Chi Minh City marked a significant milestone, acknowledging the relentless efforts of Dr. Nghia and like-minded individuals. Over the past five years, this center has become a prestigious facility for comprehensive cleft lip and palate treatment, receiving material support from the University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital (Canada), and comprehensive treatment sponsorship from Operation Smile and Smile Train. This center represents the pioneering model in Vietnam for comprehensive cleft lip and palate treatment.

"The most important thing is that we can use our scientific capabilities to contribute positively to the treatment of cleft lip and palate patients, helping them gain more confidence, better integrate into the community, and provide them with more opportunities in their growth, education, and work," shared Dr. Nghia.

Buon Ma Thuot University Medical Center has invited Dr. Nghia to serve as an advisor in establishing a Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center for the Highlands region, directly assisting in training surgical personnel. If this becomes a reality in the future, more patients in the region are likely to have the opportunity for a quicker return to normal life. Currently, Dr. Nghia is serving as an advisor in establishing Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Centers for the Vietnam Cuba Hospital in Hanoi and the University Medical Center in Can Tho.

With these initial steps, Dr. Nghia's long-held aspirations are now turning into reality. Continuously engaging in charitable surgical missions, ensuring an increased focus on Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatments, remains Dr. Nghia's enduring concern. This journey has been one of the elements that brought Dr. Nghia to the Faculty of Dentistry at Van Lang University.

Plans with the Faculty of Dentistry at Van Lang University

Dr. Tran Ngoc Quang Phi, Ph.D., the Head of the Faculty of Dentistry at Van Lang University, invited Dr. Nghia to be a lecturer at Van Lang University. Having worked together at the National Odonto-Stomatology Hospital for a period, Dr. Phi deeply understands Dr. Nghia's expertise and dedication in the field of Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment. Their first encounter at a conference in Changung (Taiwan) in 2014 sowed the seeds of the idea of implementing Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment in Vietnam—a practice adopted by many countries in the region. However, it was only in 2018 that the Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center at the National Odonto-Stomatology Hospital was established, with Dr. Nghia as a key figure.

" When I came to Van Lang to open the doctor of dental surgery program, I always thought about the community projects that the dentistry profession needs to implement, including the cleft lip and palate comprehensive treatment project. This project requires someone with practical experience like Dr. Nghia," Dr. Phi shared regarding inviting Dr. Nghia to the Faculty of Dentistry at Van Lang University to jointly realize the aspiration of bringing smiles to children with cleft lip and palate deformities.

Concerning the implementation of a Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment unit at Van Lang, Dr. Nghia believes this is the mission of specialized doctors for their special patients. Dr. Nghia also highly regards the infrastructure and the personnel of the Faculty of Dentistry at Van Lang University: "All the lecturers are reputable experts with experience in treatment steps. A standardized team for treatment is already in place; what needs to be strengthened now is how to harmonize and synchronize the treatment process. With this, the results will be more comprehensive for patients with cleft lips and palates. Young doctors of the faculty need early clinical training to become future experts capable of carrying out effective treatment steps. The more effective treatment centers, the more they can help patients. I sincerely hope that our Faculty can cooperate to carry out comprehensive treatment of this condition, contributing to the practical significance of the Faculty's training program and Van Lang University as a whole."

In addition to his work on the community project to treat cleft lip and palate, Dr. Nghia, since the mid-1990s, was the first Vietnamese professional sent to study the development of a medical skills training center in the Netherlands. As the head of the first medical skills training unit at Can Tho University, he has consistently aimed to apply the knowledge gained in the Netherlands to Vietnam, enhancing the medical student training quality.

Dr. Phi proposed that the University invite Dr. Nghia to lead and implement the Medical Skills Training Center for the newly enrolled Medicine Faculty's first course for 2022 - 2023. In May 2023, Dr. Nghia chaired a workshop on medical skills training with the participation of experts such as Prof. Pie Bartholomeus from the Netherlands and MSc. Dr. Pham Thi My Ngoc, Director of the Medical Education and Training Center at Can Tho University. Undeterred by challenges, Dr. Nghia embarked on constructing the Medical Skills Training and Clinical Simulation Center for the Health Sciences, pledging to fulfill this responsibility.

The collaboration of individuals sharing a common goal has taken place. With extensive experience in reconstructive surgery, a heart dedicated to patients with cleft lips and palates, and a desire to contribute to student training, Dr. Nghia will undoubtedly work with the Faculty of Dentistry at Van Lang University to establish and develop an excellent Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Unit – where patients are well-cared for comprehensively, enabling them to integrate into society and personal confidently. Simultaneously, plans are underway to successfully implement the Medical Skills Training Center at Van Lang University.

With experts like Dr. Nghia and a vast team of dedicated doctors, the Faculty of Dentistry will swiftly commence community-focused activities. It is anticipated that by early 2024, with the support of the University and philanthropists, the Faculty will introduce a mobile dental unit and a Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Unit. This endeavor aims to bring meaningful contributions to society, foster a spirit of unity, love, care, and community engagement for future generations of students.

News: Faculty of Dentistry 
Photos: Dr.Le Trung Nghia