In August, Todd, Leigh, and Marisol had the incredible opportunity to travel to Cao Bang, Vietnam, for a momentous occasion: the opening ceremony of the Good Samaritan Family Medical Center. After over 20 years of dedicated planning and collaboration with Dr. Vien Doan, this project has finally come to life, providing much-needed healthcare to the ethnic minority. The anticipation and excitement felt by everyone involved was overwhelming, as described by Leigh:
“It was such an immense joy to see actual doctors (American and Vietnamese working side by side) and patients from the local area in the clinic! Honestly, it was a bit surreal after so much time and struggle to make it a reality.”
Pictured: Marisol Chinchilla, Glenn Rowden, and Todd Erlandson put the finishing touches in place before the ribbon cutting ceremony.
While the team initially broke ground in 2019, Covid-19 created unexpected delays, prompting them to start and stop construction multiple times. Reflecting on his trip in 2022, Todd recalls:
"When I traveled to Vietnam in October, the building was essentially complete, and the construction team that I traveled with was able to get the building close to completion, but it took another year of diplomacy with the local government to organize the final opening."
As the Project Manager/Designer on the clinic, Marisol played a crucial role in keeping the project on track. She meticulously translated and reviewed all drawings in metric, ensuring accuracy and providing detailed feedback for the local architect. Building a facility that would truly serve the needs of the Cao Bang community required a careful balance between cultural sensitivity and practical design. Reflecting on this, Marisol noted some unique challenges:
"One of the challenges we faced was ensuring the building’s landscape could be easily maintained, especially given the differences in local irrigation systems. This required us to redesign some areas to make all landscape spaces accessible and manageable. We not only considered the usability of the space for medical purposes but also prioritized ease of maintenance post-installation."
With patience and persistence, the clinic finally reached completion, making the opening ceremony an especially proud moment. The true impact of their work was felt during the opening, as they witnessed the first patients walking through the doors. The clinic was buzzing with life, filled with doctors, nurses, and patients eager to receive care. This marked the culmination of years of effort, a proud moment where vision met reality. Reflecting on that day, Todd shared:
Pictured: Todd Erlandson, FAIA, at the ribbon cutting ceremony on the opening day of the Good Samaritan Family Medical Center.
"The appreciation of the people of Cao Bang for the building was the high point of the trip. Being able to sit in the reception area, speak to the patients through an interpreter, and hear their comments about the airiness of the building, its light-filled qualities, and the feeling that it had been made for them with dignity really made the project worthwhile."
It was a humbling reminder of the purpose behind every challenge they had overcome.
With this milestone achieved, we’re thrilled to announce that a new community project is already in the works just down the road. The experience and insights from the Good Samaritan Family Medical Center will guide our next steps as we continue to invest in the health and well-being of the Cao Bang community. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming endeavors!
