From September to November 2024, lecturer Phan Hong (MSc.) from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University – Hanoi will participate in the Visiting Scholar Program at Indiana University in the United States under the USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform, conducting research on pediatric hepatology and biliary atresia.

Mr. Phan Hong Long (MSc.) is a lecturer in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University Hanoi. An expert in pediatric hepatology and biliary atresia, Mr. Long will focus on innovative methods to improve patient outcomes from Kasai surgical interventions – a procedure to remove a diseased bile duct at the base of the liver and re-establish bile flow by using a portion of the child’s own intestine. From September to November 2024, Mr. Long will participate in the Visiting Scholar Program at Indiana University in the United States under the USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform.

While at Indiana University, Mr. Long will conduct research on factors that affect the prognosis of early post-Kasai outcomes. This study will analyze liver histopathological determinants and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) serological characteristics that affect the post-operative prognosis in biliary atresia patients at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Mr. Long will collect data from patients undergoing Kasai surgery at the Midwest Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium (MWPSC) to compare with similar data from patients being treated at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital.

In addition to his research, Mr. Long will also observe clinical activities, medical consultations, and post-operative patient care. While in the US, he will also attend conferences and workshops to update his knowledge on recent advancements in treating pediatric biliary disease.

After completing the program, Mr. Long will return to Vietnam and submit his findings for publication and share his knowledge with medical practitioners in Vietnam. His research results from the Visiting Scholar Program are expected to make a significant contribution to the field of pediatric hepatology and the treatment of biliary atresia, to the benefit both the academic community and patients.

The Visiting Scholar Program (VSP) under the USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform project supports scholars from (1) Vietnam National University, (2) the University of Danang, and (3) Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City. The goal is to improve the research and teaching capacity of scholars across Vietnam while expanding partnerships with higher education institutions in the United States. In the Summer and Fall of 2024, the VSP will send a total of 21 scholars from Vietnam’s three major public university systems to host institutions in the United States for academic research and exchange experiences.