Thien Vu graduate assistant - Doctoral University of Texas School of Public Health
	International conference in Hanoi, Vietnam to promote and develop Vietnamese public health system
The ability for individuals to work together and collaborate on new projects is a key component in public health.  Vu Thien, a winner of the 2006 Office of International Programs Award,  is third year PhD student in the UT School of Public Health. He along with a group of Vietnamese students, their advisors and faculty in the University of Texas School of Public Health hopes to accomplish these components by proposing to co-organize an international public health based conference in Hanoi, Vietnam in the summer of 2007. The purpose of the conference would be to exchange and discuss issues relating to research and training in public health, thereby to explore opportunities to collaborate between Vietnamese students, allied American professors, government health officials, and public health institutions.  It will focus on current public health issues in Vietnam and look for research and intervention opportunities to resolve them. Mr. Vu feels that collaboration serves as a mutual benefit and hopes to further UT’s interest in projects in Vietnam.  The group plans to use the award to be part of the total funding for the international conference. “This award is a great starting point for our project,” proclaims Mr. Thien.  Most of it will be used to cover transportation and accommodations for professors from UT-SPH to attend the conference. “I felt very proud when I heard I had received the award,” says Vu, “due to the number of applicants and the overall encouragement from the office.” In addition to the support provided by the International Programs Award, Vu is working with and seeking the support of outside organizations such as the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF), US Department of Health and Human Services in Vietnam, WHO and USAIDS to help solidify the funding for the international conference.