Daniela Schupp, MD.

Hello, my name is Daniela Schupp. I'm a graduate of the Inova Fairfax surgical residency program, the class of 2009. Dai Vinh was my mentor, my fifth year or my chief year. Dai's passing has made me think back to my residency days a decade ago. I also have had the opportunity now in these last couple of days to reconnect with several residents that I haven't spoken to in several years. We're now trying to stay in touch better.

I speak on behalf of all of the residents that Dr. Dai Vinh was one of our most beloved attendings. He always smiled, he always wanted us to learn and he always wanted to learn. He always had a journal in his hand. He met us in the library, we would have assignments and we would give talks to each other.

He hosted his own private journal club at his house; Hoa and he would welcome us with wonderful takeout food and wine; and we would always learn and be happy in a safe environment.

I loved being on Dr. Vinh's team. I loved going with him to Springfield, to his clinic; and I loved learning how to assess general surgery patients before and after surgery. During lunchtime, he would pile us all in his car including his medical assistants, and he would take us to a restaurant, and he would pay for our meal. I learned what good pho tastes like. I'd never tasted pho before Dr. Vinh. I was lucky enough that Dr. Vinh decided to fly to New Orleans, even though he hates flying in 2007. He attended the American College of Surgeons Conference with me. Several times we went out to eat, and we even went to Preservation Hall and listened to live music.

I also met up with him at the American Hernia Society in 2013 in New York city, and it was great just to sit next to him. At that time, I was not a resident anymore. I had graduated, but I was able to just sit with him, catch up, talk and then we went out to dinner with my family. In 2013, also in October, the American College of Surgeons had the 99th Conference, and he invited several of his colleagues and his former residents to his house. It was a very relaxed atmosphere to catch up, and he gave us dinner.

He never stayed angry at a resident for long. Most of the time he would berate you, or he would stand next to the resident that had made some mistakes. And then afterwards, he'd start laughing and have a smile back on his face. He was a wonderful surgeon. He was wonderful at doing thyroid surgeries and laparoscopic Nissens.

He was also wonderful to be in the OR with during a Whipple. And he just was so knowledgeable that when he was in the room during a morbidity/mortality conference - we called it M&M for short. It was always great to know that he was in the audience because you knew that he could speak up. It's a very nerve-wracking conference most of the time, but when he was in the room, you knew that everybody would listen. Even if I was stressed out or tired, he could always make me laugh or smile. He could always teach me something. He won multiple Teacher of the Year awards and he was a role model. He lives on in all of us. Hoa and Tran thank you for sharing your husband and father with us. He was like a father to all of his residents. We love him and we will miss him dearly.

- Daniela Schupp, MD.