In 2024, Quan entered the highly competitive medical residency entrance exam at the same university. Among more than 1,000 candidates, he scored 24.9 out of 30, ranking first and becoming the valedictorian of the residency class.

Quan attributes his results to independent study habits. He regularly read ahead of lectures, asked himself questions like “Why is it like this?”, and chased answers online and in foreign‑language sources until no doubts remained.

Even though his early achievements were in mathematics, Quan chose medicine early because he was drawn to the white coat. His clear, long‑term goal – identified in his first year of university – guided his disciplined, active learning approach.

“Before the exam, my only goal was to make the top 30 so I could choose my preferred specialty. Becoming the valedictorian was a surprise to me,” Quan said. He adds that continuous effort is essential, no matter how far a doctor progresses.