Center for
Global Health

International Scholar

Languages: Vietnamese (Native), English (advanced)

Bio statement

Passionate about global health, Dr. Quynh Truong, MPH, MSW, PhD is an esteemed educator and co-lead of MD program's research theme at VinUni, specializing in Health Policy, Palliative Care, and Clinical Social Work. With a PhD and a clinical-health-focused second Master's degree, Quynh is a pioneering figure in medical social work in Vietnam. She employs evidence-based public health interventions to develop impactful health strategies. An advocate for palliative care and mental health, particularly for vulnerable populations, Quynh is deeply committed to addressing mental health challenges in low and middle-income countries, contributing significantly to the global health landscape.

Recent global health projects

Essential Package of Palliative Care for Women with Cervical Cancer: Dr. Quynh collaborated with a World Health Organization (WHO) consultant team to develop an Essential Package of Palliative Care specifically tailored for women with cervical cancer in Vietnam. This project addressed the unique needs of this highly vulnerable population, aiming to improve their quality of life throughout the disease trajectory. As the only social worker in the team, Dr. Quynh contributed her expertise to ensure that the package encompassed comprehensive psychosocial support, pain management strategies, and culturally sensitive care approaches. The initiative highlighted her commitment to compassionate healthcare and her dedication to enhancing palliative care services for marginalized groups.

Development of COVID-19 Mental Health Response Strategies:
Dr. Quynh played a pivotal role as the coordinator for the COVID-19 Taskforce of the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts. In this capacity, she provided expert consultation to the government on public health policies and strategies, particularly focusing on mental health considerations during the pandemic. Dr. Quynh spearheaded the development of innovative online training programs in collaboration with experts in the US. These programs aimed to provide mental health training for Vietnamese healthcare workers in Vietnam, Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic, ensuring that they had access to essential support and resources amid the global health crisis. Her efforts underscored her commitment to addressing the psychological impact of COVID-19 and promoting resilience within healthcare systems worldwide.

Selected publications

Eric L. Krakauer et al., Cervical Cancer-Associated Suffering: Estimating the Palliative Care Needs of a Highly Vulnerable Population. JCO Glob Oncol 7, 862-872(2021).
DOI:10.1200/GO.21.00025 https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/GO.21.00025
Eric L. Krakauer et al., Essential Package of Palliative Care for Women With Cervical Cancer: Responding to the Suffering of a Highly Vulnerable Population. JCO Glob Oncol 7, 873-885(2021).
DOI:10.1200/GO.21.00026
https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/GO.21.00026
Eric L. Krakauer et al., Augmented Package of Palliative Care for Women With Cervical Cancer: Responding to Refractory Suffering. JCO Glob Oncol 7, 886-895(2021).
DOI:10.1200/GO.21.00027
https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/GO.21.00027
Truong Q, Than T, Dai D, Duong K, Herman B, Taneepanichskul S. Anxiety and depression in palliative care cancer patients in Vietnam: baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of multidisciplinary palliative care versus standard care. J Health Res. 2024; 38(2):-. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2586-940X.1066
Quynh Xuan Nguyen Truong, The Ngoc Ha Than, Duong Le Dai, Khoa Duy Duong, Eric L. Krakauer, Bumi Herman & Surasak Taneepanichskul (2024) Inclusion of Social Work in Comprehensive Palliative Care to Address Psychosocial Needs of Advanced Cancer Patients in Vietnam, Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2024.2310863
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15524256.2024.2310863?src=exp-la

Last Updated: 15 February 2024