When Dr. Minh T. Truong was growing up in Australia, her grandmother was diagnosed with an advanced brain tumor. Inspired by the physicians who helped her grandmother with an innovative, emergency surgery that allowed her to live 20 more years, Dr. Truong pursued a career as a radiation oncologist and is now the chief of Radiation Oncology at Boston Medical Center (BMC). She is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of head and neck, skin, and central nervous system malignancies, as well as rare benign diseases such as airway amyloidosis. A trailblazer in her field — where only 30 percent of practitioners are women — Dr. Truong was awarded the prestigious Fellow of the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), in recognition of her contributions and her leadership within the society.
We spoke with Dr. Truong to learn more about her path to oncology at BMC and the inspirations behind her pioneering work.
1. Why did you choose to specialize in cancer care?
I am originally from Australia with Vietnamese heritage. Throughout my childhood I went to Vietnam with my parents to visit my grandmother who, at the time, had a developing brain tumor. As Vietnam’s medical infrastructure was under duress, we brought her to Australia as her condition advanced, to receive care that enabled her to live for 20 more years. Moved by this, I took on an opportunity early on in medical school to spend two months as a medical student in Vietnam treating advanced cancers. From there on, I have stayed within the specialty of oncology.
2. What brought you to BMC?
When I arrived at BMC, the hospital was in the beginning stages of creating an integrated center for cancer services that we now know today as the Cancer Center. I was intrigued by the possibility of being a part of a team effort to build a complex program from the ground up. The center represents a physical manifestation of our mission come to life—delivering world-class care through innovative solutions.
3. What has kept you at BMC?
BMC affords me the opportunity to deliver first-class care alongside a dedicated team that have poured their life's work into the hospital. Here, we have the support to provide personalized care using state-of-the-art technology and the most advanced radiation techniques available in the world. The technology, coupled with our elite provider teams, has enabled my team and I to execute on an exceptionally high level.
4. Who or what inspires you?
Music and art are the epitome of beauty and perfection. When I can, I frequent the MFA, Insititute of Contemporary Art, and am a member of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I infuse the inspiration I draw from the arts within my craft of being a physician. On one hand, there is the knowledge base you need to learn through traditional training but on the other hand, there is an art of delivering care and healing that transcends beyond the physical bounds of our bodies.
5. What aspect of your role gives you the most satisfaction?
It is a privilege to be a part of a patient’s life and to support them through their unique care journey, through every trial and tribulation. I am touched by my patient’s resilience and empowerment; it is a side of humanity that not everyone gets the chance to see in their daily jobs. My patients breathe a spirit of hope not only into my work—but my life.
