Book Launch: From Vietnam to Australia | Sang's Memoirs
This book launch is an invitation to step into the past and gain inspiration for the future.
Historical events, wartime struggles, encounters with poverty, the pursuit of education, the trials and triumphs of medical school, love, and remarkable achievements all come together to create a vivid narrative.
Dr. Phan’s dedication to sharing this story, especially in a language he once knew little of, underscores his commitment to passing on the legacy of his people's resilience.
Don’t miss the opportunity to join UNSW Medicine & Health as we take you on an extraordinary journey through history and the remarkable life of Dr Sang Phan.
Register now to secure your spot, there will be an official book signing and short reading of the book during the proceedings.
Dr Sang Phan (Bác Sĩ Phan Giang Sang) is a UNSW alumnus and one of the many Vietnamese refugee doctors accepted by the University of New South Wales as they undertook medical retraining in the 1980s. Sang was born in Vinh Long, on the Mekong Delta, in South Vietnam. He studied at the University of Saigon, where he matriculated with a Doctor of Medicine researching tropical infectious diseases. After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Sang was imprisoned in a ‘re-education’ camp for 2 years and later placed under house arrest upon his release. At the first opportunity, the family escaped on a small fishing boat, where Sang would deliver a baby at sea. Sang resettled in Australia and, with the help and support of Max Thorpe, Warden of Prince Henry Hospital, and Professor Ian Webster, AO, graduated with MBBS from UNSW in 1990. He worked as a general practitioner in Cabramatta and has served the Vietnamese community for >25 years, with numerous columns in the Vietnamese community newspapers and broadcasts on SBS radio promoting vaccination, quitting smoking, and public health programs. He received the NSW Premier's Award for community service in 2011 and retired in 2016.
