Dr Nguyen’s secret way to reduce stress

One’s interests are shaped at a tender age. Dr Nguyen’s passion for driving began when he was 10 months old (above), and at present he often rides all-terrain vehicle when travelling.

Dr Desmond Nguyen, the new Hospital Chief Executive (HCE) of Kwai Chung Hospital, has a unique way to beat stress — doing housework. “I enjoy cleaning the house and ironing. Housekeeping chores help me relieve stress and train my hand-eye coordination. I also work out at gym to stay healthy.”

Looking at his family name, colleagues may think Dr Nguyen is a foreigner while actually he is half-Vietnamese and half-Chinese. This special surname sometimes landed him in embarrassing situations. “When I was a medical student in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Tsan Yuk Hospital, many Vietnamese patients thought I was a fellow native and talked to me in Vietnamese. In fact, I was born and brought up in Hong Kong and could not speak Vietnamese at all,” says Dr Nguyen. “I guess I disappointed them a little as I wasn’t able to communicate with Viet patients or translate for my colleagues.”

As an HCE, Dr Nguyen’s management style is not trying to be a ‘know-it-all’ but to trust and learn humbly from colleagues’ expertise. Active listening and timely response to staff requests are also key to successful communication. Apart from management, Dr Nguyen still maintains his connection with frontline working environment by participating in clinical duties, such as Early Intervention Service for Psychosis.