I recently returned to the USA after an impactful journey to Hanoi, Vietnam, where I joined an incredible medical mission team with Medrix.org. Medrix is a well-established nonprofit that has been active for over 20 years, focusing on funding cardiac surgeries and providing medical training to nurses in Vietnam. When I met LaRelle and Robert Catherman, the Executive Director and Board Chairman of Medrix, they expressed a keen interest in having me on board to offer my expertise. Our mission was to train pediatric psychiatry staff on assessing ADHD, Autism, and suicide prevention for children and teens in Vietnam. As someone with ADHD myself, I felt I could bring a unique, personal perspective to this critical training.
Building Connections Through Shared Advocacy
The Cathermans became interested in my participation after attending one of my online lectures where I discussed suicide prevention from a layperson’s perspective for our shared congregation at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. We later met in person in June to outline the content of the lectures and develop the learning objectives. Although I am not a psychiatrist, the Cathermans felt confident in my ability to review American ethnic statistics on youth suicide for the National Children’s Hospital of Vietnam. This collaboration was a unique opportunity to bring my insights on ADHD and neurodiversity to a global audience.
Revisiting My Pediatric Practice Roots
This mission was particularly meaningful to me, as I treated over 100 Vietnamese families during my pediatric practice years ago. Returning to their homeland gave me the chance to immerse myself in their rich culture, cuisine, and traditions. Back in those days, I was honored to receive a Diversity Award from the Anti-Defamation League, as my practice served families from over 35 different countries. This connection with diverse communities has always been a passion of mine, and revisiting these roots in Vietnam felt like a full-circle moment.
Embracing New Experiences in Asia
Even though I’ve traveled to multiple countries across Europe, Africa, and North America, this was my first time in Asia, making it an exciting third mission trip for me. My first mission was a religious and medical journey to South Africa, followed by a dental mission to Jamaica. This new experience offered a fresh opportunity to contribute to a country with a special place in my heart.
Preparing for the Mission: Challenges and Rewards
Preparing for this mission wasn’t without its challenges. I needed to complete a series of forms required by Medrix, including an educational visa application. Additionally, I was tasked with creating 10 PowerPoint lectures, which had to be ready six weeks before my departure on September 26th. The lectures required administrative approval and translation into Vietnamese, making it essential to provide accurate and timely references to support the scientific information.
Turning Knowledge into Impactful Programs
Creating this lecture series was a first for me and an opportunity to combine my knowledge of neurodiversity and suicide prevention, which also serves as a foundation for developing new coaching programs. As someone with ADHD, even while on medication, this was no small feat. I had to put into practice all the strategies I recommend to my clients—using reminders on my phone, a whiteboard, and my handwritten calendar. These techniques helped me stay organized and meet the deadlines, though I must admit, the final annotation and discussion points for the slides were only completed once I arrived in Hanoi.
This is the first episode of my journey to promote ADHD, Autism, and suicide prevention awareness in Vietnam. Follow my story of teaching and learning with a receptive medical team in Vietnam.
