One-on-one internships at top-tier hospitals – A unique path that creates a distinct advantage for medical students at Dai Nam University.

In medical training, the graduation internship is a crucial stage, helping students perfect their professional competence, clinical skills, and medical ethics – fundamental conditions for being competent to participate in the practice and meet the requirements for obtaining a professional license after graduation. Recognizing this, Dai Nam University (DNU) has chosen a unique approach: organizing graduation internships using a 1:1 model – one student is directly mentored by a doctor at first-tier provincial hospitals, ensuring students receive systematic, standardized, and realistic clinical training.

This is not just a training model, but a commitment to the ultimate goal of Dai Nam University: to train medical students who are competent, work in their chosen profession, and practice with medical ethics.

The graduation internship module – a "turning point" from the classroom to the hospital.

Unlike theoretical or preclinical practical courses, the graduate internship is a crucial component of the medical training program. At this stage, students no longer learn for the sake of knowledge, but for the practical application of the profession; they not only hone their professional skills but also develop clinical thinking, professional attitudes, and responsibility towards patients.

Therefore, Dai Nam University has determined that the quality of graduation internships must be ensured by a sufficiently in-depth practical environment and a sufficiently relevant guidance model.

1:1 Internship - Students are placed at the center of the clinical training process.

With the 1:1 internship model, medical students at Dai Nam University are placed at the center of the clinical training process:

- Each student receives direct guidance and close monitoring from a doctor for each case.

- Not just observing, but directly practicing, receiving regular feedback and evaluation.

- Develop clinical skills alongside professional conduct, discipline, and medical ethics.

This model is particularly effective for specialties requiring high precision and responsibility, such as Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics, where every action is linked to the safety and life of the patient.

A first-class hospital provides a sufficiently in-depth environment for students to gain real-world experience in the profession.

Final-year medical students from Dai Nam University undertake their graduation internships at first-tier provincial hospitals that are strategic partners of the university, including: Vinh Phuc General Hospital; Phu Tho General Hospital; and Phu Tho Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

These are large-scale hospitals with many specialized departments, a high volume of patients, diverse medical conditions, experienced doctors, and modern equipment – fully meeting the standards for clinical practice training for medical students.

Choosing a first-class provincial hospital – a strategic training decision.

Professor Hoang Duc Hanh, Head of the Faculty of Medicine at Dai Nam University, said: “Instead of focusing on internships at large hospitals in Hanoi – where there are many students and opportunities to interact with patients are fragmented – Dai Nam University proactively chooses first-class provincial hospitals to increase direct practical training opportunities for each student, ensuring that students can closely follow supervising doctors, access a wide range of diseases, and hone their professional conduct in a serious and disciplined environment. This is an ideal environment for students to mature both in their skills and their professional attitude.”

The hospital highly appreciates Dai Nam University's 1:1 internship model.

Dr. Bui Trong Quynh, Deputy Director of Phu Tho Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, commented: “The 1:1 internship guidance model for medical students that Dai Nam University is implementing is very meaningful, especially for the Obstetrics and Pediatrics field. The arrangement of clinical instructors to directly mentor students helps them grasp in-depth knowledge, practice well under close supervision, and receive comprehensive guidance on procedures, techniques, and professional ethics.”

Internship as a young doctor - learning skills and developing the character of a medical professional.

Emphasizing the special role of this course, Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Duc Hanh stressed: “During the 3-month graduation internship, students perform tasks like a real doctor at a hospital. This is a stage that helps students improve their diagnostic, treatment, and patient care skills, while also developing medical ethics, a sense of responsibility, and a professional work style.”

Do Tuong Son, a final-year medical student, shared: “The 1:1 internship model helps me bridge the gap between theory and practice. I get to participate directly in the process of examining, diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients. Through this, I not only learn professional skills but also learn how to communicate, work in a team, and behave appropriately as a medical professional.”

At Dai Nam University, the 1:1 graduation internship at a top-tier hospital is not just a formality at the end of the course, but the most important preparatory step before students embark on their medical career.

This unique, systematic, and responsible approach has created a distinct advantage for medical students at Dai Nam University, and also provides a basis for parents to confidently entrust their children to study a noble profession – one that demands strong expertise, high ethical standards, and professional competence.