Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym reached an affiliation agreement with the University of Padova, Italy, on October 18 and held the 1st joint symposium under the theme of ‘Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases’ at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital on the same day.

Both universities agreed on an idea to activate academic exchanges and joint research activities. Hallym is expected to provide 20 medical students with an opportunity to get clinical training at Padova and to push forward joint research in various fields in economics and engineering as well as medicine. It will also plan to academic symposiums annually.

For the symposium, world-renowned speakers of Padova and Hallym gave lectures and sought ways to deal with neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Hae-Ran Lee, President of Hallym University Medical Center, said in a congratulatory speech, “This symposium would be a great opportunity to prepare for an aging society by sharing our expertise and experiences on neurodegenerative diseases, calcium signaling, inherited prion disease and clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.”

The University of Padova in Veneto, Italy, was founded in 1222. It has produced such prominent figures as Nicholas Copernicus, William Harvey, and Galileo Galilei who was on the faculty from 1592 to 1610.

The European university offers a wide range of degrees in 13 schools including medicine and surgery, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. Approximately 65,000 students are currently enrolled in the university. It has the oldest Botanical Garden in Europe which remains to this day on its original site, and the geological research center.

By Sung-won Lee, Int’l Operations Team, HUMC (sungwon@hallym.or.kr)