Once known for chewing raw tea leaves to stay awake and study through the night, Dr. Duong Thanh Tai, a 38-year-old from Dong Nai, has surprised many by turning down a dream opportunity to conduct research at one of the world's most prestigious universities.

Overcoming hardships

On a cold winter morning, Dr. Duong Thanh Tai began his workday at the Abben Cancer Center, Spencer Hospital, USA.

Dr. Tai did not come from an academic family. His father worked at a steel company in Thai Nguyen, while his mother was a farmer. In 2002, his family moved to Dong Nai, where his parents took on heavy labor jobs to make ends meet and support his education.

During his early years in Dong Nai, Tai attended a private school due to the lack of household registration, adding financial pressure on his family. He felt inferior because private schools were often perceived as less prestigious.

Despite his modest beginnings, Tai persevered through challenges and graduated in Physics from a university in Ho Chi Minh City. After graduation, he worked as a medical physicist at a hospital in Dong Nai — a field that bridges physics and medicine, playing a crucial role in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

While working at the hospital, Tai also pursued his doctoral studies. He recalled, “Every month, I had to meet my professors to report on my research progress. Those moments were filled with anxiety and fear because I often had nothing to show."

"I worked during the day and studied through the night, relying on coffee to stay awake. When coffee lost its effect, I switched to strong tea. Eventually, I chewed raw tea leaves to keep my mind alert.

Despite my efforts, I made no progress after two years of research. I felt like a failure, sometimes walking and crying, contemplating giving up. But I didn’t want to disappoint my family or my hospital. I didn’t want my unfinished research to go to waste, so I pushed myself to continue. Eventually, my research yielded good results and was published in specialized journals, allowing me to defend my doctoral thesis successfully.”

A surprising choice

After earning his doctorate, Dr. Tai continued working at the hospital for 12 years, gaining extensive experience and making significant contributions to medical physics in Vietnam through research, teaching, and international collaboration.

In 2022, he was awarded a postdoctoral research scholarship at Western Ontario University in Canada. Upon completing the program, he had three options:

Continue postdoctoral research.

Become an assistant professor.

Return to Vietnam or work internationally as a medical physicist.

Among his offers was a prestigious invitation from Harvard University to join a research program in the United States. Surprisingly, Dr. Tai chose to work as a medical physicist at Spencer Hospital instead.

"Receiving an invitation from one of the world’s most renowned universities made me incredibly happy," Dr. Tai said. "But I chose to become a medical physicist because I wanted to apply my expertise directly to cancer treatment. Working at Spencer Hospital allows me to dedicate myself to helping patients while connecting with top experts to improve cancer care and advance medical physics in Vietnam and globally."

Spreading knowledge back home

Before starting his new position in the U.S., Dr. Tai returned to Vietnam to promote medical physics. He founded the Vietnam Medical Physics Group: Scientific and Practical Community to connect medical physicists across the country.

The group serves as a platform to share knowledge, experiences, and professional information on topics such as radiotherapy, imaging diagnostics, nuclear medicine, radiation safety, and the development of new medical technologies.

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Tai said, "I am content with my path because I have lived with passion and dedication. I feel fulfilled knowing that my work and my passion contribute positively to the community, especially cancer patients who need advancements in medical science."

Ha Nguyen