The International Health Sciences Conference 2026, themed “Professional Capacity Development – Building a Chronic Disease Management Model,” officially opened on September 7 at the HUTECH School of Medicine and Health Sciences, launching a series of in-depth academic discussions and practical sessions on chronic disease management.
Hosted by the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), in collaboration with Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia, and Carmel International Hospital, the three-day conference, held from September 7 to 9, brought together experts, lecturers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and students to discuss emerging needs in chronic disease management, from clinical practice and patient needs to core services and interprofessional collaboration mechanisms.
HUTECH representatives and guests delivered remarks at the conference
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, M.D, Vice Rector of the HUTECH School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, emphasized the concept of “One World, One Health,” highlighting that healthcare requires the collective efforts of multiple stakeholders. Chronic disease management therefore needs to connect research, policy, and education with treatment and patient care.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh emphasized that healthcare requires the collective efforts of multiple stakeholders
As the conference moved into its professional sessions, Dr. David Keohane, General Practitioner, Clinical Researcher, and Medical Educator at Joondalup City Medical Group, Western Australia, examined the challenges of chronic disease management. He emphasized the need to move from episodic care toward long-term monitoring, early intervention, lifestyle modification, and multidisciplinary collaboration, reflecting the long-term and complex nature of chronic diseases.
Dr. David Keohane examined the challenges of chronic disease management
From a health system perspective, Prof. Lisa Whitehead, Nursing Researcher at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia, focused on continuity of care, patients’ capacity for self-management, and collaboration among professional teams. Patients were viewed as active partners in their healthcare journey who should be supported in setting goals, identifying barriers, and adapting to changes as they live with chronic conditions.
Prof. Lisa Whitehead shared insights into continuity of care, patients’ capacity for self-management, and collaboration among professional teams
From the patient perspective, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh, Lecturer, Researcher, and Registered Nurse at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University (ECU), discussed issues that may arise following diagnosis and as patients return to their everyday lives. Challenges involving medication use, keeping appointments, monitoring symptoms, adjusting diet and physical activity, and accessing support when changes occur demonstrate the need for care models that closely reflect each patient’s actual needs and healthcare journey.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh discussed issues that may arise following diagnosis and as patients return to their everyday lives
These discussions further highlighted the importance of listening to patients before designing healthcare services. An effective model needs to accurately reflect the challenges patients face in their daily lives while reducing gaps in support between healthcare facilities and self-care at home.
That afternoon, participants continued to translate the professional discussions into practical activities, including identifying patient entry points and referral pathways, developing a continuous care journey, building a framework for a chronic disease management model, and consolidating the outcomes of the first day.
Participants took part in practical activities, identifying patient entry points and referral pathways and developing a continuous care journey
The conference provided a forum for academic exchange and created opportunities for in-depth practical engagement in chronic disease management
On September 8 and 9, the conference will continue with an in-depth focus on identifying core services and competencies, supporting patient self-management, strengthening interprofessional collaboration, and developing plans for the implementation, evaluation, and refinement of the chronic disease management model.
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The conference is part of a series of activities celebrating the commencement of operations of Carmel International Hospital in September 2026. It also opens up new directions for collaboration between HUTECH and Carmel in academic activities, clinical experiences, career orientation, and employment opportunities for Health Sciences students. HUTECH is the first institution selected by Carmel International Hospital in Vietnam to collaborate on academic activities and student engagement, providing a further foundation for both sides to develop programs that connect education with professional practice.
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News: Mỹ Lệ
Photo: Thành Phúc
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