Earning an outstanding 80% scholarship in the General Medicine (MD) program—one of the most competitive majors at VinUniversity—Kỳ Anh (12Austin) has also secured offers from a series of prestigious medical institutions, including the University of Otago (ranked #2 among universities in New Zealand) and the University of Illinois Chicago (the leading medical training institution in the state of Illinois, USA). His passion for the biomedical path was first ignited by a life-changing surgery at the age of 10.
Kỳ Anh vividly remembers the joy of seeing him newly reconstructed ear, created from his own rib cartilage. Yet the greatest gift he received from that surgery was a dream: to become a reconstructive surgeon and help give children with congenital deformities a new life. Seven years on, that dream has remained a powerful driving force, pushing him to constantly challenge himself and strive for growth.
Awarded the ASEAN Full Scholarship (2023–2024) by Singapore’s Ministry of Education, Kỳ Anh embarked on a new chapter in a foreign country, firmly believing that its rigorous education system and advanced laboratory facilities would help shape him medical aspirations. The journey was far from easy—from language barriers to entirely new learning approaches—but with unwavering determination, he went on to achieve a Gold Medal in the Biology Olympiad Singapore, a Brozen Medal in the Chemistry Olympiad Singapore, and Distinction at the University of New South Wales International Chemistry Competition, among many other honors.
Reflecting on his decision to choose Dewey, Kỳ Anh shared that he had long set his sights on applying to international medical schools. Dewey’s partnership program with Mount Vernon School enabled him to become familiar with American-standard learning methodologies, while building essential university-level competencies such as independent learning, collaboration, and problem-solving. In addition, the AP curriculum helped him strengthen foundational knowledge for the medical and health sciences fields. Among these, AP Psychology stands out as his favorite. He believes that an excellent doctor must not only possess strong professional expertise, but also a deep understanding of patients’ psychology in order to provide the most effective care. With a clear vision for his major and dream universities, Kỳ Anh received close guidance from the Career Counseling Office in crafting a compelling application profile and honing his interview skills.
Speaking of Kỳ Anh, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Duyên, his Biology teacher, always expresses pride in a student known for his initiative and strong drive for self-improvement. Having directly supervised Kỳ Anh’s research project on developing a nutritional regimen for kidney stone patients, Ms. Duyên recalled: “For two months, we made use of every after-school moment to conduct experiments on the precipitation of calcium oxalate salts in different pH environments. There were times when the results did not align with the initial hypothesis. Kỳ Anh was not discouraged; he accepted the discrepancy, adjusted the methodology, and started again. At that moment, I knew he was not just learning science—he was learning how to become a scientist: questioning assumptions, adapting thoughtfully, and having the resilience to move forward.”
Often regarded as a model student with an impressive list of academic achievements, Kỳ Anh views medicine not as a collection of medals or prestigious certificates, but as a means to create positive impact within the community. He hopes to one day pass on the gift he once received—to children in Vietnam and around the world. The biomedical journey ahead may be long, but with his passion, lifelong learning mindset, and the solid foundation built at Dewey, Kỳ Anh is poised to go far—and, more importantly, to go in the right direction.
