Dr. Pham Huy Hieu, a trailblazing scientist specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) in digital healthcare, believes that outstanding scientific achievements can indeed make one wealthy.

Yet, for him, financial success is not the ultimate goal. Instead, his dedication to research and innovation is driven by the desire to make a positive impact on society.

At just 33, Dr. Hieu, a lecturer at VinUniversity and Director of the E-Lab Entrepreneurship Center, has authored 70 scientific papers, including over 20 published in Q1 journals.

He has also led several groundbreaking projects that have been cited by more than 700 research groups globally.

Notably, he became the youngest recipient of the Golden Globe Award 2023 for his invaluable contributions to AI in healthcare.

Returning to serve the homeland

After graduating from Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 2015, Dr. Hieu earned a full PhD scholarship from the French government to study Computer Science at Toulouse University.

Despite lucrative job offers abroad, he made the decision to return to Vietnam, driven by a strong sense of responsibility to advance technology and solve local healthcare challenges.

“When I first went to France, I was determined to come back. Being abroad offers opportunities to contribute in many ways, but returning home allows me to be directly involved in developing technology solutions for Vietnamese people,” he explained.

His primary focus upon returning was to apply AI in smart healthcare. According to Dr. Hieu, this field has immense potential to address healthcare disparities by reducing costs and making cutting-edge medical solutions accessible to all.

“When technology solutions are too expensive, not everyone can benefit. My goal is to create affordable, scalable applications to bridge the gap between healthcare quality in rural and urban areas,” he said.

Conquering challenges with innovation

Joining VinBigData, Dr. Hieu faced challenges related to medical data analysis and disease progression modeling. He emphasized the importance of understanding data to create low-cost, effective AI models.

“I was fortunate to work with a diverse network of doctors and healthcare experts, which helped me grasp the nuances of medical data. Such interdisciplinary collaboration is key to success,” he noted.

One of his most notable projects is VAIPE - a smart healthcare monitoring system tailored for Vietnamese users.

The platform collects and analyzes personal data such as heart rate, blood pressure, and medication habits, allowing users to proactively manage their health and detect potential risks early.

“This approach aligns with the global trend of shifting from treatment to early diagnosis and preventive care,” Dr. Hieu remarked.

Building a sustainable scientific community

Dr. Hieu’s research aims not just to publish papers, but to translate scientific achievements into real-world applications that improve lives.

“To me, science is about creating positive impacts rather than counting the number of publications,” he said.

Looking ahead, he aspires to establish a world-class research team in Vietnam capable of competing internationally.

He envisions a future where AI and healthcare are seamlessly integrated, enabling doctors to diagnose faster and more accurately, ultimately enhancing public health.

“AI is evolving rapidly, and Vietnam has a unique opportunity to pioneer interdisciplinary research that combines medicine and technology,” he added.

Thuy Nga