Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

Q1) How did you join the Fellowship Program at Hallym University Medical Center, and get to know your mentor at Hallym?
A) The Stryker Medical Company helped organize a Spine Fellowship Program in Seoul, South Korea. When I found out that my mentor would be Prof. Seok Woo Kim, I immediately applied because I knew it would be a very enlightening experience.

Q2) Main purposes and the field of your fellowship training.
A) The main purpose of my fellowship was to gain more expertise and exposure in the management of patients with spinal conditions. This would include pre-operative care and outpatient evaluation, assisting in surgery, and going on patient post-operative rounds. Lastly, I also had an opportunity to participate and develop research projects and was successfully published in two international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Q3) Were you satisfied with medical expertise and communication skills of the Hallym faculty?
A) I was not only satisfied but also impressed by the medical and surgical expertise of the Hallym faculty. First, the high degree of professionalism and patient care demonstrated by the entire medical staff from the Professors all the way down to the secretarial staff can only be described as world class. In addition, I was very confident and always look forward in discussing the medical cases with Prof. Seok Woo Kim and the other members of the medical staff because they were very fluent in speaking and writing in English. If I had any difficulty in translating, there was always a computer nearby which could translate English to Korean.

Q4) How have you / are your going to put your training experience at Hallym back to your career at your institution?
A) My training experience in Hallym has definitely helped me in my present orthopedic practice here in Cebu, Philippines. My training experience in Seoul exposed me to an ideal clinical situation which I hope to apply to my practice when I returned in the Philippines. But perhaps what has influenced me the most would be the rigorous work schedule, the establishment of excellent patient rapport, and the high standard of patient care best exemplified by Prof. Seok Woo Kim.
But most importantly, the experience I gained in research methodology and the papers presented during my stay at Hallym have significantly influenced my academic career. Presently, I was recently appointed as an Associate Professor because of my international training and published research articles. I am able to teach medical students and orthopedic residents in didactic lectures and their respective research projects. I am forever grateful to the faculty and staff of the Spinal Unit of the Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital.

Q5) Throughout your training at Hallym, have you found its strengths which would be attractive for potential patients from your country?
A) After 2007, there were two subsequent Orthopedic Spine Fellows from the Philippines who also trained under Prof. SW Kim. I would like to enumerate the reasons why Hallym is a superb training institution. (In no particular order)
1) Close proximity to the Philippines
2) Hallym University recognizes our educational degrees. No need to take additional exams for accreditation.
3) Excellent research facilities (internet, library, laboratory)
4) Seoul is a vibrant, safe, modern, and fun city to live in.
5) The hospital provides good support for international fellow. (Excellent living facilities, cafeteria, housing)

Q6) Based on your experience at Hallym which has been in hot pursuit of globalization, please give us your thoughtful advice for our endeavors.
A) I would like to suggest a conference coinciding with the establishment of Hallym University wherein all previous fellows from various parts of the world would present a paper talking about their present status in their home country. Imagine delegates from different countries expressing their gratitude to Hallym University after all these years. It would highlight the global reach and impact of having a Hallym University fellowship/education. In addition, It would be a great opportunity for mentor and study to see each other after a long time.
Another suggestion regarding the website of HUMC. I would like to suggest a web page in the website a list/map of previous fellows from the different countries just to increase awareness and scope of the international fellowship training.

Q7) Other Comments:
A) Good luck and keep up the good work.

By Jong Hun Im, Int’l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)