Announcement of Presidential and Vice-Presidential Appointments at the University of Health Sciences – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

2025-07-17 22:17:00

On 17th July 2025, University of Health Sciences – VNUHCM held a ceremony to announce and confer the appointments of the institution’s key leadership positions. At the ceremony, Prof. PhD. Phan Bach Thang was appointed to serve as President, whilst Assoc. Prof. PhD. DDS. Pham Anh Vu Thuy and MBA. Nguyen Hoang Dung were appointed to serve as Vice-Presidents.

At the ceremony, Ms. Tran Thi To Uyen (M.A), Deputy Head of the Organisation and Personnel Department of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), announced the significant personnel decisions concerning the University of Health Sciences. Accordingly, Prof. PhD. Phan Bach Thang, Director of the Centre for Nano-Structured and Molecular Materials Research, was transferred and appointed to serve as President. Concurrently, VNU-HCM appointed Assoc. Prof. PhD. DDS. Pham Anh Vu Thuy, Dean of the Faculty of Odonto Stomatology, to serve as Vice-President, and MBA. Nguyen Hoang Dung, Vice-President (Interim), to serve as Vice-President.

Ms. Tran Thi To Uyen (MA), Deputy Head of the Organisation and Personnel Department of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), announced the significant personnel decisions concerning the University of Health Sciences.

Implementation of Four Strategic Development Pillars for the Institution

In delivering the mandate at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Vu Hai Quan, Chancellor of VNU-HCM, extended congratulations to the personnel who had been appointed to key positions at the University of Health Sciences – VNUHCM. The Chancellor of VNU-HCM expressed his emotion at witnessing the transition between two generations of institutional leadership, whilst acknowledging the significant contributions of the inaugural Board of Management when the Faculty of Medicine officially became a member university within the VNU-HCM system.

Drawing from his personal experience of serving as President of the institution for one year, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Vu Hai Quan shared that he had learnt considerably, particularly regarding respect between generations and the profound professional devotion of the medical faculty staff. According to Assoc. Prof. PhD. Vu Hai Quan, leading a medical university is a challenging undertaking, with the greatest difficulty being the recruitment of leading physicians and professors to participate in teaching. This requires sincerity, respect, and a spirit of intergenerational connection. He emphasised the importance of maintaining enthusiasm within the collective, creating space for each individual to contribute, whilst continuing the legacy of previous generations in training, infrastructure development, and ensuring educational quality.

Assoc. Prof. PhD. Vũ Hải Quân expects the University of Health Sciences to strengthen postgraduate education in conjunction with scientific research.

“I expect the University of Health Sciences – VNUHCM to become a pioneering unit, a flagship in postgraduate education linked with scientific research in the health sector,” emphasised Associate Professor Vu Hai Quan.

Speaking at the appointment ceremony, Prof. PhD. Phan Bach Thang expressed his honour at joining the Board of Management and assuming the role of President of the University of Health Sciences. Prof. PhD. Phan Bach Thang emphasised that this represents a noble responsibility, continuing the efforts and dedication of previous generations of leadership in the journey of building and developing the institution. The newly appointed President affirmed that he and the institutional leadership collective recognise their role in contributing to the overall development of VNU-HCM.

Prof. PhD. Phan Bách Thắng emphasised four pillars to promote the University’s development and affirm the institution’s position within the national higher education system.

Towards sustainable development and enhancing academic reputation, Professor Phan Bach Thang indicated that the institution’s Board of Management would focus on implementing four strategic pillars. Firstly, fostering internal unity and cohesion, combining the professional capabilities of each individual to create consensual and transparent decisions. Secondly, promoting professional working practices that are timely, responsible, and effective. Simultaneously, the institution will vigorously exploit systemic strength in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training and scientific research. Finally, strengthening cooperation with enterprises, localities, and research institutions will be an important direction for disseminating knowledge value and making practical contributions to society.

Key Leadership Figures at the University of Health Sciences

Prof. PhD. Phan Bach Thang, born in 1979 in Thai Binh province, is a distinguished scientist in the fields of materials and health sciences. He received his doctoral degree in Advanced Materials Science and Technology from Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea) in 2009 and was conferred the title of Professor in Physics in 2022. With over 200 papers published in SCIE-indexed journals, including 10 articles listed in the Nature Index, two international patents, and an H-index of 29, Professor Thang has held various management positions within the higher education system, from departmental and faculty levels to research centres, contributing to the promotion of scientific cooperation and high-quality human resource development.

Prof. PhD. Phan Bách Thắng has been appointed to the position of President; Assoc. Prof. PhD. DDS. Phạm Anh Vũ Thuỵ has been appointed as Vice President; and MBA. Nguyễn Hoàng Dũng holds the position of Vice President.

Assoc. Prof. PhD. DDS. Pham Anh Vu Thuy, born in 1974 in Lam Dong province, is a leading specialist in the field of Odonto Stomatology. He graduated as a physician from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy (2000), successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Dentistry at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (Japan) in 2011, and was conferred the title of Associate Professor in 2018. Additionally, he completed numerous international training programmes in France, Thailand, and South Korea, and currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Association of Odonto Stomatology Surgery. Prior to his appointment as Vice-President of the University of Health Sciences, Associate Professor Thuy held management positions including Dean of the Faculty of Odonto Stomatology, and Head of the Training and Postgraduate Department. Associate Professor Thuy has published over 100 scientific works, more than half of which have appeared in peer-reviewed international journals, and has received numerous ministerial-level awards recognising his professional contributions.

MBA. Nguyen Hoang Dung, born in 1979 in Dong Thap province, is an experienced manager in the fields of finance, administration, and educational institution management. Master Nguyen Hoang Dung graduated in Corporate Finance and received a Master’s degree specialising in Accounting and Auditing from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. During his career, Master Dung has held important positions including Head of the Planning and Finance Department, Deputy Chief of Staff at VNU-HCM, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine, and Acting Vice-President of the University of Health Sciences. Alongside his management duties, he has also directed and participated in numerous research projects at institutional and VNU-HCM levels.

The ceremony was held at Tran Chi Dao Hall, where the University of Health Sciences organised the announcement and conferment of key leadership appointments for the institution.

Source: KHAC HIEU – VNU-HCM Newsletter

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University of Health Sciences – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City