From Doctor to Healthcare Entrepreneur: Ton Van De Velden on Home Care in Vietnam

What does entrepreneurship look like when it begins with healthcare, public service, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the community? In this episode of Thriving in the Age of Disruption, Dr. Ramesh Ramachandra speaks with Ton Van De Velden, a Dutch medical doctor, public health practitioner, nonprofit leader, and healthcare entrepreneur based in Vietnam. Ton began his career as a medical doctor and surgeon before working with Doctors Without Borders in Somalia and Cambodia. What was meant to be a short assignment in Cambodia became an eight-year chapter that transformed his understanding of medicine, public health, family planning, and social impact. A defining moment came when Ton realized that one-on-one medical care could only go so far. Through his work in family planning and public health, he saw how access to reproductive choices could change the lives of women, families, and entire communities. After decades of nonprofit and public health work across Southeast Asia, Ton eventually identified another underserved need in Vietnam: professional home care for the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and patients who need medical support outside hospitals. Together with his business partner, he started a home nursing care agency in Vietnam, helping build not just a company, but an entirely new healthcare sector. This conversation explores: • The entrepreneurial mindset of a medical doctor • Moving from surgery to public health and social impact • Why family planning and female education are powerful drivers of empowerment • The challenge of creating a new home care sector in Vietnam • Aging populations and the growing need for professional care at home • Crisis readiness, practical resilience, and not over-labelling problems as crises • Secular humanism, ethical responsibility, and community contribution • Sustainability as healthcare access, dignity, and support for underserved communities Ton also shares a deeply grounded view of thriving: living with clear values, being part of a warm community, and contributing to something larger than yourself. At its heart, this episode is about healthcare as a human responsibility, and entrepreneurship as a way to serve unmet needs in society. Key Takeaways Entrepreneurship can begin with service, not just business ambition Public health creates impact at scale beyond one-on-one care Home care is becoming essential as populations age Creating a new sector means educating families, hospitals, regulators, and nurses Crisis readiness can be practical: don’t ruminate, focus on what can be done next A thoughtful life begins with knowing your values and living them in your daily roles Thriving is connected to community, contribution, and ethical responsibility Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: From Holland to Southeast Asia 01:47 – Transition from Medical Doctor to Entrepreneur 06:15 – Challenges in Starting a Home Care Agency 09:33 – Building Home Nursing Care in Vietnam 14:16 – Personal Philosophy and Approach to Crisis 16:41 – Advice for Young People and Living a Simple Life 21:10 –Reciprocal Altruism and Sustainability 27:17 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Listen to the podcast on Buzzsprout: https://thriving.buzzsprout.com/19051... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1MBVwQJ... Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Social links: Linkedin:   / ramesh-ramachandra   Facebook:   / titaod   Tiktok:   / talentleadershipcrucible   Instagram:   / thrivewtlc