Meet Dr. Sengmany, LFHC’s 12th Future Pediatrician

This August, Dr. Sengmany Sengphachan will start an exciting new chapter in her medical career, starting a three-year Pediatric Residency program in Vientiane. For almost four years, Dr. Sengmany has been a physician at Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC), and now she is taking the next step toward her lifelong goal of becoming a registered pediatrician.

Dr. Sengmany is the first in her family to enter the healthcare profession, inspired by an emotional moment years ago when her sister’s young son fell gravely ill. “Seeing him sick and feeling helpless made me realize I wanted to be a doctor,” she recalls. That determination led her to complete her medical degree in Vientiane, with a dream already in her heart, to work at LFHC one day.

When she graduated in 2021, that dream came true. LFHC became her first posting as a doctor. “LFHC is famous for the high level of care, but also for the quality of teaching they provide, on the same level as international standards,” she says. “I knew I wanted to work here.”

“I can’t wait to return to LFHC as a registered pediatrician. This is something I’ve always wanted to pursue, and I’m grateful for all the support that brought me here. Because of this, I can keep growing as a doctor, and keep giving back to the children of Laos.”

Even as a young doctor, Dr. Sengmany quickly took on big responsibilities. She became the manager of LFHC’s Thalassaemia Clinic, the hospital’s busiest outpatient department. Serving children with a chronic genetic blood disorder that often requires lifelong treatment. On any given day, the clinic may see more than 50 patients, most of whom need regular blood transfusions to survive..

The challenge is hard, as in northern Laos, safe, screened blood is often scarce. Sometimes it’s not whether a child needs a transfusion, but whether blood can be found in time. Every delay risks their health. This reality demands careful coordination, patient education, and tough decisions. These experiences have inspired Dr. Sengmany to deepen her expertise in thalassaemia and work toward improving clinical guidelines and care quality in the future.

For Dr. Sengmany, this residency marks more than just professional advancement; it is the realization of a dream she has carried for years. “I can’t wait to return to LFHC as a registered pediatrician,” she says with a smile. “This is something I’ve always wanted to pursue, and I’m grateful for every step that brought me here.”

She acknowledges the support that made this opportunity possible. “I want to thank LFHC and all the donors who believe in investing in local doctors,” she says. “Because of you, I can keep growing as a doctor, and keep giving back to the children of Laos.”