As a prominent Youth Union leader during his school years, Son continued to try his best after enlisting, becoming a Party member at the age of 18 in Tay Truong Son (West Anamite Range). After the Liberation of the South, he was discharged due to injuries sustained in battles. Despite his declining health, his determination drove him to continue his education, starting again from the 9th grade.
After finishing high school, Nguyen Minh Son passed the university entrance exams and became a student at Hanoi Medical University (HMU). During his studies, he consistently excelled and later became a faculty member. Through the years, he advanced to the positions of Associate Professor and Doctor, earning the title of “Meritorious Teacher” while making substantial contribution to the Vietnamese medical sector.
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Veteran Nguyen Minh Son (second from left) with a team from Hanoi Medical University conducting a voluntary healthcare program in Dien Bien province |
Nguyen Minh Son served as a senior lecturer, Deputy Head of the Department of Epidemiology, and Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS Training and Research Center at HMU for many years. He has dedicated himself to enhancing public health and well-being through teaching and research efforts.
At the onset of his tenure as Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS Training and Research Center, the center had only 5-6 researchers and a few research projects. Through his dedication and intellect, Son expanded the center, which now boasts 20 researchers and has broadened its scope of research and training in HIV/AIDS treatment. The center has also enhanced its cooperation with numerous domestic and international organizations.
Notably, Nguyen Minh Son has 30 years of experience teaching at the university level and over 20 years teaching postgraduate courses on the epidemiology of infectious and non-communicable diseases. He has directly trained health officials in the HIV/AIDS system of 63 provinces and cities nationwide on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for HIV/AIDS patients, as mandated by the Ministry of Health. Additionally, he has trained many generations of doctors at HMU in scientific research methods in the medical sector.
Son has also guided numerous theses for specialists, masters, and doctoral students in various medical fields at HMU. He has taught not only domestic students but also international students from countries, such as Laos, Cambodia, India, Mongolia, and Russia.
Nguyen Minh Son has participated in many scientific research projects on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, numerous national-level scientific projects, and has co-led several ministerial-level projects. He has led eight research projects on HIV/AIDS prevention and control and non-communicable diseases in Vietnam. He is also the author or co-author of over 70 scientific articles published in reputable medical journals both domestically and internationally from 1994 to 2017. He has been the principal author of five books and co-author of numerous medical textbooks for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Throughout his career, educator, physician, and war veteran Nguyen Minh Son has earned the trust of his colleagues and the recognition of his peers for his dedication, solidarity, and selfless contributions to education and scientific research. For his contribution, he has received numerous prestigious awards. He has also received certificates of merit from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health.
From 2009 to 2022, Nguyen Minh Son served as the Chairman of the Veterans Association of Hanoi Medical University. With support from the university's leadership, veteran Nguyen Minh Son upheld his responsibilities, worked with the Veterans Association to promote the noble virtues of Uncle Ho's soldiers, actively joined the emulation movements, fulfilled the university's political tasks, and further developed the association.
Translated by Trung Thanh