Medical resident shares physical toll of intense training

Dr. Hoàng Văn Chương, a medical resident, has shared his experiences regarding the intense physical and mental toll of the residency program at Hanoi Medical University. Over the course of three years, the extreme pressure led to significant health changes, including a weight loss of nearly 7kg and the loss of approximately half of his hair.

The residency entrance exam is highly competitive, requiring candidates to master eight subjects, including six medical disciplines involving roughly 720 essay questions. The intense academic load and the high stakes of specializing in a specific field created such significant stress that Chương nearly withdrew from the exam just two days before it began.