VinUni at APMEC 2026: Advancing AI Innovation in Medical Education
The Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference (APMEC) 2026 was held in Zhejiang Province, China, bringing together educators, researchers, clinicians, and academic leaders from across the region to discuss the future of medical education.
Recognized as one of the leading international conferences in medical education, APMEC serves as an important platform for academic exchange, collaboration, and partnership among institutions worldwide. It provides an opportunity for educators and healthcare professionals to explore emerging educational trends, innovative teaching models, and evidence-based practices that can be adapted and implemented within their own institutions.
This year’s conference featured presentations by Dr. Nguyen Hien and Dr. Le Quoc Thang, third-year Internal Medicine residents at VinUniversity, highlighting VinUni’s growing contribution to international scholarship in medical education.
More than simply participating in an academic conference, APMEC 2026 demonstrated that educational innovations developed in Vietnam can make meaningful contributions to global conversations on medical education.
VinUniversity faculty, resident physicians, and medical students at APMEC 2026
Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education
At the conference, Dr. Le Quoc Thang presented the study: “Perception, Confidence and Readiness for AI Application in Medical Education.”
Reflecting on the research experience, Dr. Quoc Thang shared:
“Rather than viewing AI purely from a theoretical perspective, analyzing unexpected findings—such as the ‘experience paradox,’ where senior faculty members were even more enthusiastic about AI than Generation Z—made me realize that educational research is far from abstract. It is highly practical, thought-provoking, and deeply inspiring.”
For Dr. Nguyen Hien, APMEC is not only one of the region’s premier medical education conferences but also a forum showcasing educational models with strong real-world applicability, particularly in residency training.
“APMEC encourages the sharing of educational initiatives that have been successfully implemented and rigorously evaluated. This aligns closely with our own philosophy of developing innovations that arise from real clinical and educational needs and can be adapted to the Vietnamese context.”
Balancing Clinical Responsibilities and Research
For the research team, the greatest challenge was balancing demanding clinical duties with the rigorous requirements of conducting high-quality research — from developing the study protocol and standardizing qualitative interviews to analyzing the data.
As Dr. Danh Hien explained:
“Maintaining the focus needed to ensure consistent, objective data while continuing to fulfill demanding clinical responsibilities was a true test of perseverance.”
Yet as the data gradually revealed meaningful insights, the pressure became a source of motivation. For these young physicians, research became more than an academic exercise — it became a way to actively engage with the future of medicine.
Key Trends Shaping Medical Education Across the Region
According to Dr. Quoc Thang and Dr. Nguyen Hien, several major themes emerged from APMEC 2026:
- The integration of artificial intelligence into medical education and clinical practice, alongside a strong emphasis on ethics, governance, and patient safety.
- A continued shift from time-based training toward Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME).
- Greater recognition of learner and faculty well-being as a fundamental component of educational quality.
- Increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary education, including nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and collaborative healthcare practice.
Another notable trend was the growing use of technology to support — not replace — educators. At the same time, collaborative approaches to curriculum development and the sharing of educational resources across institutions highlighted expanding opportunities for regional and international partnerships.
