Vietnamese woman earns Harvard residency after decade of study in US

An alumna of the Foreign Language Specialized School in Hanoi, Chi was accepted into the program at Harvard's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after graduating near the top of her class from Johns Hopkins University.

In late May, the 27-year-old received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins, which is ranked third globally in health sciences and medicine by the QS World University Rankings 2025. Her upcoming residency will span six years at Beth Israel Deaconess, a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital founded in 1996.

"It's a long and demanding path, but being a doctor aligns with my passion and gives me the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to others and to society. I'm truly happy with this choice," Chi said.

Trinh Mai Chi on her graduation date at John Hopkins University, May 23, 2025. Photo courtesy of Chi

Nearly ten years ago, Chi, then a high school student specializing in German at the Foreign Language Specialized School under Vietnam National University, won a full scholarship to study biochemistry at Wellesley College in the U.S. Her college life was deeply rooted in both research and volunteer work.

In her first year, she joined a research project on the BCR-ABL kinase protein, a key factor in chronic myeloid leukemia. She studied electrostatic interactions between this protein's variants and certain drugs, specifically Imatinib and Ponatinib, to better understand drug resistance mechanisms.

During the summer of her second year, she worked on pediatric neuroblastoma research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, both Harvard teaching affiliates. The following year, she studied juvenile dermatomyositis at Lurie Children's Hospital, under Northwestern University, analyzing data from over 3,000 cases to help improve diagnostic criteria. Her work contributed to identifying the role of NK (natural killer) cells in the disease.

Beyond academics, Chi led the Blue Cancer Society, raising funds for cancer patients, and tutored math and science for immigrant children in Boston. Her clinical experiences and mentorship from physicians fueled her resolve to pursue medicine.

In the U.S., medical school is a graduate-level program. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in a related field, and provide academic transcripts, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, essays, recommendation letters, and proof of healthcare experience.

Chi graduated in the top 5% of her class at Wellesley College in 2020. She self-studied for the MCAT and scored 519 out of 528, placing her in the top 3% nationwide. She then spent a year conducting oncology research at Boston Children's Hospital and received a full scholarship to study medicine at Johns Hopkins.

"I couldn't believe it was real until I signed my acceptance letter in April four years ago," she recalled.

During her four years at Johns Hopkins, Chi balanced coursework with clinical rotations and research. Initially uncertain about her specialty, she explored dermatology and obstetrics before settling on diagnostic and interventional radiology, a sub-specialty that uses medical imaging to guide minimally invasive procedures.

To enter this field, securing a residency position is essential. The U.S. process requires candidates to submit medical school transcripts, United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores, recommendation letters, and a personal statement through the centralized Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

"Competition is intense, especially for international students," Chi said, noting that clinical grades, USMLE scores, and strong research credentials are all critical. To strengthen her application, she spent months balancing clinical rotations and studying for exams with 5–8 hour research sessions on the weekends.

Her research focused on dermatology, immunology, and pediatric oncology, using big data and molecular biology to improve diagnosis and outcomes. Her work was published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

"Many applicants take a research gap year to strengthen their credentials, but I chose to do it all concurrently," she said. By the end of her program, Chi had achieved honors in all coursework at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Troy Zhou, former head of Medical Physics and Radiology at Johns Hopkins, praised Chi's dedication and skills. He noted that her work on optimizing radiation in X-ray imaging earned the best presentation award at an annual performance and quality improvement forum of the Society of Interventional Radiology.

"Chi is full of integrity and compassion. Despite being an international student, she overcame significant challenges in medical education and proved her professionalism and maturity," Zhou said.

Chi now looks ahead to her six-year residency, determined to complete her training in diagnostic and interventional radiology while continuing her scientific research.