Professor Ho Dac Di: Master of Medical Ethics and First Rector of Revolutionary Medicine in Vietnam

Professor Dr. Ho Dac Di (1900–1984) was one of the most distinguished medical educators and surgeons in modern Vietnamese history. He was the first Vietnamese Rector of Hanoi Medical University, a member of the National Assembly from its 1st through 6th tenure, and dedicated his lifetime to educating generations of eminent physicians for the nation.

1. Early Life and Academic Journey (1900–1931)

• Background: Born on May 11, 1900, in Hanoi into an aristocratic family originally from Hue (his father was Ho Dac Trung, a prominent Minister under the Nguyen Dynasty).

• Medical Training in France:

  • In 1918, he traveled to France for higher education and graduated with a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) in 1927, presenting a distinguished surgical thesis.

  • During his 12 years studying and practicing in France, he established himself as a skilled surgeon, serving as a resident physician (Interne des Hôpitaux) across major hospitals in Paris.

• Return to Serve the Homeland: In 1931, he declined lucrative career opportunities in France to return to Vietnam, determined to apply his surgical expertise in service of his fellow countrymen.

2. Surgical Achievements and Scientific Contributions

• Surgeon at Phu Doan Hospital: Upon returning, he worked at Phu Doan Hospital (now Viet Duc University Hospital). He became one of Indochina's leading surgeons, performing thousands of complex gastrointestinal and liver surgeries.

• Surgical Innovation: He developed and successfully performed a novel gastroenterostomy surgical technique to treat pyloric stenosis resulting from peptic ulcers—a major practical advancement for gastroenterology at the time.

• First Vietnamese Professor at Indochina Medical College: In 1939, he was appointed professor at the Indochina University of Medicine and Pharmacy, breaking colonial assumptions regarding the professional and academic capabilities of Vietnamese intellectuals.

3. Architect of Revolutionary Medical Education

• First Vietnamese Rector (1945): Following the August Revolution in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh entrusted him with leading Hanoi Medical University as its Rector. He was the first Vietnamese national to hold this position.

• Wartime Medical Education:

  • During the First Indochina War, he relocated alongside colleagues to the Viet Bac resistance zone to maintain academic operations.

  • In the jungle, he established and directed the Viet Bac Medical College (1947–1954), educating hundreds of medical doctors and officers to serve both battlefield fronts and free zones.

• Three Decades of Leadership: He continuously served as Rector of Hanoi Medical University from 1945 to 1976, establishing standardized medical curricula while prioritizing humanistic medical ethics centered on the principle "A physician must be as a loving mother".

4. Enduring Legacy and Recognition

• Mentoring the Golden Generation: Professor Ho Dac Di personally mentored and educated the legendary pioneers of modern Vietnamese medicine, including Prof. Ton That Tung, Prof. Dang Van Ngu, Prof. Nguyen Trinh Co, and Prof. Do Xuan Hop.

• Passing: Professor Ho Dac Di passed away on June 25, 1984, in Hanoi at the age of 84.

• Posthumous Honors:

  • He was posthumously awarded the inaugural Ho Chi Minh Prize in Science and Technology (1996) and the First-Class Order of Independence.

  • Major thoroughfares in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Da Nang, as well as educational institutions across the country, bear his name.