Our project aims to develop and implement a week-long mental health curriculum for residents, attendings, nurses, and staff in the pediatric oncology divisions at National Children’s Hospital and Vinh Medical University in Hà Nội, Vietnam, using the educating-the-educator model. This initiative supports the Southeast Asia Pediatric Hematology Oncology (SEAPHO) mission to strengthen pediatric oncology education across Southeast Asia and builds on the collaboration between UT Health San Antonio (UTHSA) and UCSF through Greehey Global Outreach and UCSF Global Cancer Program to improve pediatric cancer outcomes in Vietnam through sustainable medical education.
Mental health integration is critical for pediatric oncology patients, especially as Vietnam faces a shortage of child psychiatrists and limited psychiatric training for healthcare workers. Our curriculum, adapted from the International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP), will address these gaps through evidence-based teaching methods. By equipping local healthcare providers with essential knowledge and skills, we aim to empower them to integrate pediatric mental health care into their practice and sustain these efforts beyond our visit.
As a pediatric resident, I will lead the delivery of this curriculum through interactive workshops and case discussions, providing practical experience in identifying and managing pediatric mental health conditions. Our multidisciplinary team—including a child psychiatry fellow, pediatric heme/onc attending, medical students, psychologist, and myself—will focus on the early identification and management of conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD, particularly relevant due to the heightened psychological stress oncology patients face.
By strengthening hospital partnerships and training providers, we aim to enhance mental health education to create lasting systemic change in pediatric healthcare in Vietnam.
This project will primarily benefit pediatric patients with hematologic and oncologic conditions in Hà Nội, Vietnam, along with the healthcare providers who care for them, including pediatric residents, attendings, nurses, and other hospital staff. These children face not only the physical burden of their illnesses but also significant mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The emotional toll of long-term hospital stays, intensive treatments, and uncertain prognoses can severely impact their overall well-being, complicating their medical care and recovery.
In Vietnam, as survival rates improve for pediatric cancer and blood disorders, there is a growing recognition of the need to address the mental health and psychosocial challenges faced by this population. However, pediatric mental health care remains under-recognized and under-resourced, especially in oncology settings. Nearly 40% of pediatric cancer patients report anxiety, highlighting an urgent need for intervention.
This project builds upon the established collaboration between local hospitals, SEAPHO, UCSF, and UTHSA, which has focused on addressing gaps in education and training for pediatric oncologists to improve patient outcomes. While previous efforts have concentrated on enhancing medical care, we now aim to address the mental health and psychosocial aspects of care for this vulnerable population.
By providing evidence-based training in the early identification and management of common mental health conditions, we aim to foster comprehensive, integrated care. Using the educating-the-educator model, this project will promote sustainable education by empowering local healthcare providers to continue mental health training and support. Ultimately, this initiative will bridge gaps in pediatric mental health care, leading to earlier intervention, improved outcomes, and a better quality of life for children and their families in Vietnam.
This project will enhance pediatric mental health care by equipping healthcare providers in Hà Nội, Vietnam, with the skills to identify, diagnose, and manage common mental health conditions in children, particularly those with cancer and blood disorders. By integrating mental health awareness and management into daily practice, providers will be able to recognize symptoms earlier and offer timely interventions, leading to improved patient outcomes and quality of life.
The use of the educating-the-educator model ensures that the impact of this training will be sustainable and far-reaching. Providers trained during this program will continue to educate future trainees and colleagues, creating a self-sustaining cycle of mental health education. This approach will help to normalize mental health care within pediatric oncology/hematology and foster a culture of integrated care that addresses both physical and psychological needs.
Ongoing collaboration with local Vietnamese hospitals, UTHSA, and UCSF will further support this effort. These partnerships will provide continued mentorship, curriculum refinement, and access to updated resources, ensuring that providers have the tools to stay current with best practices in pediatric mental health care.
Furthermore, by embedding this mental health training into existing pediatric hematology/oncology training programs under the well-established Southeast Asia Pediatric Hematology Oncology (SEAPHO) collaboration, will promote lasting systemic change in pediatric healthcare delivery. Strengthening mental health care alongside ongoing medical care development will not only improve day-to-day patient care but also enhance the long-term well-being of this highly vulnerable patient population.
