The people in the border region taught medical students a lesson that no textbook could ever teach.

"Thank you to the doctors, teachers, and students of the Faculty of Medicine - Dai Nam University..." - This heartfelt thank you echoed as the medical team concluded a day of free medical examinations, health consultations, and medication distribution for the people of Can Yen commune, Cao Bang province.

A large number of people from the border region were present from early morning, patiently waiting for their turn to be examined.

There were no lengthy speeches, no bouquets of flowers, or formal ceremonies. Instead, there were only firm handshakes, gentle smiles, and lingering glances from the border residents as they bid farewell to the delegation. These simple things moved many doctors, lecturers, and students to tears.

That emotion was further amplified by the heartfelt sharing of the people. Mr. Lanh Van Co (62 years old), a resident of Can Yen commune, expressed: "Today, I personally thank the doctors from Dai Nam University for coming to examine our people, to detect diseases early and provide the best treatment."

Sharing in the joy, Mrs. Hoang Thi Lien (72 years old), despite having to travel 10km to the examination point, could not hide her excitement. This was the first time she had ever received a medical check-up in her life: "Here, the doctors examined me very thoroughly, checking my electrocardiogram, bones and joints, and teeth... They explained clearly about the illnesses I am suffering from and gave me free medicine. I am truly grateful for the noble gesture of the team," Mrs. Lien expressed.

Ms. Hoang Thi Lien (72 years old) was delighted to receive her first medical examination from leading doctors and free medication.

A "clinic" nestled in the mountains, and faces that are hard to forget.

From early morning, a large crowd had gathered at the examination site: elderly people leaning on canes with hunched backs, mothers patiently waiting for their turn with small children in their arms, and people who had walked from distant villages, traversing many kilometers of mountain roads just to be examined by a doctor and receive advice on their health.

Beyond simply examining patients, medical students also learn to listen to life stories from faces etched with the marks of time.

Many faces bore the marks of sun, wind, and years of hard work; their hands were calloused, their hair gray, and their clothes, though old, were neatly washed, as if they wanted to show the utmost respect to those who came to visit.

Many students witnessed such situations for the first time, making the knowledge they had read in textbooks about public health care suddenly seem more real than ever when standing before real people.

The volunteer trip not only brought health benefits to the community, but for student Nguyen Minh Anh (class YK 17-02), it also held the value of a precious practical lesson in medical ethics.

Recalling this journey, student Nguyen Minh Anh (class YK 17-02) shared: "The journey to Can Yen was incredibly arduous. Twelve hours on the bus, coupled with being in unfamiliar surroundings, pushed me to the limit. But seeing the elderly, children, and hundreds of villagers eagerly waiting for medical examinations, including some 60-year-olds who had never been to a hospital before, I felt I needed to try my best to support the teachers in providing timely check-ups for everyone. Here, I saw how truly noble the community service of healthcare workers is."

There are things only the heart can learn.

In the classroom, students learn how to ask about patients' symptoms, examine them, and prescribe medication, but in Can Yen, they also learn how to listen. Listening not only to the symptoms of illness, but also to life stories. It's the gentle smile of an elderly person who hadn't had a thorough examination in years, the repeated thanks of a mother holding her young child after receiving advice on childcare, or the reassuring look in the eyes of someone holding free medicine.

MSc. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tinh examines and advises parents on common childhood illnesses.

These moments, not found in any textbook, reminded future doctors that behind every medical record is a human being; behind every case is a family with so much hope. Emphasizing the practical value of the trip, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tinh stated: "By visiting a region, we can view health from a more diverse perspective, considering customs, lifestyles, and so on. This is an incredibly valuable trip, providing students with both professional insights and enhancing their thinking and vision for the future."

Having directly experienced these values, student An Thi Khanh Ly (class YK17-02) shared: "I am very happy to wear the white coat and serve the community on volunteer trips. I feel I understand better why I chose to pursue the values of the medical profession."

Lessons in medical ethics begin with compassion.

According to faculty members of the Faculty of Medicine, these volunteer trips are not only for people to receive healthcare, but also to help students gain a deeper understanding of the value of their chosen profession. Knowledge helps a doctor treat illnesses, but compassion is what helps a physician heal.

Reflecting on this practical lesson, People's Physician, Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Duc Hanh - Head of the Faculty of Medicine, former Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, affirmed: "Medical students should not only know how to conduct health checkups in hospitals but also how to conduct health checkups in the community. By doing this, they will see the hardships and difficulties faced by people in remote areas, thereby teaching them a spirit of community service and concern for the vulnerable. It awakens medical ethics and compassion in them as they complete their doctoral program."

Instead of standing on a lecture podium, People's Physician, Associate Professor, and Doctor of Medicine Hoang Duc Hanh chooses to pass on the flame of medical ethics to future generations of doctors through practical actions for the community.

That's also why many students shared that what they remembered most after the trip wasn't the number of patients they examined, but the grateful eyes, the firm handshakes, and the simple words of farewell from the locals. Perhaps, that will be a valuable asset for them for a long time on their professional journey.

A lesson that will stay with you throughout your career.

The trip to Can Yen will come to an end, the white coats will return to the lecture halls, but the legacy left by the people of the border region will remain for a long time in their memories, in the way they look at patients, and in their vow to always uphold the medical ethics of a doctor.

The people of Can Yen may not stand on a podium, but through their sincerity, faith, and gratitude, they became extraordinary teachers for the medical students on that trip. There are invaluable lessons that only life and the school of life can teach.