Reflections from Vietnam: Commitment to the Work
- Jideka Nwosu
- Nov 13
- 2 min read
Written by: Jideka Nwosu
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Global Health Elective Dates: February 17 – March 28, 2025
Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam
After spending two months away from Vietnam, I’ve returned to my familiar routines, but something feels different — as though I’ve come back, yet haven’t fully settled. I find myself missing the warmth of the tropical air, the vibrant energy of the streets, and the undeniable freshness of the fruit. But beyond the sensory nostalgia, what lingers most are the questions I’ve been carrying about healthcare — how it functions, who it serves, and what it means across different societies.
Since returning home, I’ve been preoccupied with the weight of these questions. I believe healthcare is — or at least should be — a fundamental human right. And yet, that belief is constantly tested, especially against the backdrop of the American healthcare system. It often feels narrow in scope, disconnected from the broader, more inclusive lens of public health. This dissonance is not new, but it feels more urgent now, in a time when political and public health challenges seem to mount with no clear resolution in sight.
In the midst of these conversations, I find myself disoriented — wondering about the true motivations behind policy decisions, trying to locate logic or compassion in the system, and more often than not, feeling discouraged and deeply disheartened. And yet, even in the heaviness, there’s one thing that remains clear: my commitment to the work. Not just a career, but a calling — a deep understanding that I am meant to serve in underserved and global communities. This conviction hasn’t wavered. If anything, it’s been strengthened by the discomfort and questioning. Now, the question I sit with is not if I should do this work, but how I can best prepare myself to do it well. What skills must I learn? What knowledge must I seek? What kind of presence do I want to bring?
This is the part that excites me. The path may not be clear, but the purpose is. And that keeps me grounded and hopeful.
