18/07/2026
🌸 A Decade of Blossoming: Reunited in Saigon 🌸
"Ten years ago, we planted a seed. Today, we returned to find a flourishing garden."
After a decade, the heart team from Cheng Hsin General Hospital returned to the University Medical Center (UMC) Ho Chi Minh City—one of Vietnam’s most prestigious medical institutions. This visit was far more than a clinical exchange; it was a celebration of a ten-year friendship, legacy, and shared dedication to patient care.
📍 The Journey: Then and Now
The Beginning (2016): Ten years ago, our Vice President, Dr. Wei-Hsian Yin, was invited to UMC to assist in performing the hospital’s very first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), marking a historic milestone for structural heart therapies in Vietnam. Over the past decade, we have watched with immense pride as TAVR technology has flourished locally, saving countless lives.
The Return (2026): Ten years later, Dr. Yin returned to UMC, joined by Dr. Huan-Chiu Lin, to face a highly complex clinical challenge: a failed TAVR combined with severe Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) disease.
Thanks to meticulous pre-procedural planning and seamless cross-border teamwork, the highly challenging intervention was a resounding success, achieving an excellent outcome for the patient.
🤝 Lifelong Camaraderie
Beyond the technical success, the most moving part of this journey was reuniting with our dear friends and colleagues from a decade ago—Dr. Dinh and Dr. Vu.
The clinical chemistry and mutual trust we shared ten years ago were instantly rekindled. Seeing Dr. Vu’s heartwarming Facebook post expressing his gratitude immediately after the successful procedure was the ultimate reminder of why we do what we do.
"Medical technology will always advance, and devices will continue to evolve. But what remains absolutely constant is the healer's original intent to protect life, and the cross-border friendships that sustain us."
To return to the place where we sowed the seeds of structural heart therapy a decade ago, to see those seeds fully in bloom, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with old friends to conquer new clinical frontiers—this is the greatest privilege and joy of being a cardiologist.
Thank you to the outstanding team at UMC Ho Chi Minh City for the trust, hospitality, and enduring partnership. Here's to the next decade of saving lives together! 🥂
