St. Peter's Hospital expands and renovates its Health Promotion Center

Hospital News] March 9
 Doctors' News Approved 2026.03.09 16:00 Comments 0
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■Seoul National University Bundang Hospital signs a ‘healthcare platform development’ MOU with Hyundai E&C


Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (Director Song Jung-han) announced that on March 6 at 2 p.m. it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Engineering & Construction in the hospital's main conference room to develop a healthcare platform.

The signing ceremony was attended by key figures including Song Jeong-han, Director of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and Kim Jae-young, Head of the Hyundai E&C Research and Development Division.

The agreement was arranged to respond proactively to changes in the health environment, such as the arrival of a super-aged society and the rise in chronic disease. The two sides agreed to turn everyday life outside the hospital — the home in particular — into a key base for health management and to provide distinctive healthcare services grounded in medical evidence.

Under the agreement, the two organizations will jointly pursue △joint research and development of home-based healthcare services and platforms △a proof of concept (PoC) for AI healthcare linking daily-life and health data △the refinement of health management service scenarios and operating models for residents.

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Hyundai Engineering & Construction plan to use AI to integrate and analyze residents' daily-life and health data, implementing step by step health management services matched to each individual's health status and lifestyle patterns, and to refine the services and gradually widen their scope on the basis of real-world validation across sleep, exercise, nutrition and lifestyle habits.

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in particular will play a central role in setting a new standard for the housing model of the future on the basis of its medical expertise. Through reviewing the medical appropriateness of healthcare services, establishing health measurement criteria and methods of verifying their effects, and cooperation between specialist personnel, it plans to raise the level of completeness so that the services provided within the residential space meet the standards of actual clinical practice and contribute substantively to improving residents’ health.

Song Jung-han, Director of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, said, “With this agreement, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, which has world-class smart hospital capabilities, is extending the scope of medicine into the home, the everyday space of the patient.” He added, “Through clinical advice and medical validation we will raise the reliability of home-based healthcare services and build an environment in which people can manage their health with confidence in everyday life.”


■Davos Hospital holds a launch ceremony for its ‘2026 Making Davos Hospital Kinder’ campaign


Davos Hospital of the Yeongmun Medical Foundation (Chairman Yang Sung-bum) has launched the ‘2026 Making Davos Hospital Kind Campaign’ to strengthen patient-centered medical services, holding a campaign launch ceremony in the hospital's first-floor lobby on the 9th.
 
Davos Hospital has long maintained a hospital culture that values greetings and consideration among staff, and this campaign was arranged to put that culture into practice more actively and spread it throughout the hospital.
 
In particular, the focus is on establishing a culture of kindness in which every member of staff greets people first and treats others with respect, so that patients and their families feel warmth and trust throughout their time at the hospital.
 
The campaign will run through the end of 2026 as a kindness-in-practice campaign involving all staff, spreading naturally a hospital culture of everyday greetings and consideration.
 
Yang Sung-bum, Chairman of Davos Hospital, said, “In medical services, what matters is not only treatment but that the patient feels trust and warmth at every stage of their experience of the hospital.” He added, “Through this campaign we will make kindness part of daily life for every member of staff and build a hospital that patients remember and can trust.”
 
Davos Hospital, meanwhile, continues to pursue patient-centered medical services and improvements to its hospital culture in order to establish itself as a healthcare institution trusted by local residents.


■Yonsei Sarang Hospital's ‘AI and 3D customized artificial joint surgical instrument’, co-developed with Skive, is designated a new health technology with deferred assessment


The ‘AI/3D customized artificial joint surgical instrument’ jointly developed by Yonsei Sarang Hospital, a joint specialty hospital, and the digital healthcare company Skive has been designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for deferred assessment as a new health technology.

‘OnKnee-U(TKR)’ — the latest technology, which combines a ‘patient-specific instrument (PSI)’ that reproduces the patient's knee structure precisely with a 3D printer and a ‘navigator’ in which artificial intelligence (AI) sets the optimal lower-limb alignment and resection range — is expected to see full-scale adoption in clinical practice.

Knee replacement surgery is a treatment in which an artificial structure is inserted in place of cartilage worn away by degenerative change, relieving pain and restoring the ability to walk. Standardized surgical instruments have generally been used until now, but they have had limits in fully reflecting the different bone shapes and degrees of deformity found in each patient.

To overcome these constraints, Yonsei Sarang Hospital and Skive, a specialist artificial joint company, have taken the ‘3D printer-based patient-specific instrument (PSI)’ they have been developing together since 2017 a step further. OnKnee-U(TKR) recently passed the new health technology deferred assessment and, from March 1, 2026, may be used officially in clinical practice for two years.

New health technology deferment is a system under which the state allows the latest medical technologies of proven safety to be used first in clinical practice in order to gather clinical data.

The core of OnKnee-U(TKR) is that it integrates into an AI algorithm the large-scale clinical data accumulated over roughly the past 10 years, during which 3D printer-based PSI has been applied in practice in more than 2,000 artificial joint operations a year. 

The existing ‘PSI (surgical instrument)’ has served as a kind of ‘custom guide’: the patient's knee is imaged by CT or MRI, the bone shape is reproduced with a 3D printer from that data, and the instrument is fitted in advance of surgery.

Through this technology the hospital has already achieved, over many years, △greater precision in lower-limb alignment analysis △minimized resection error △shorter operating times △improved accuracy in correcting complex deformities. OnKnee-U(TKR), which has now passed the deferred assessment, adds ‘intelligence’, the key function, to all of this.

It has evolved beyond conventional manual guides into a ‘navigator-type’ system that adds AI-based alignment analysis, cutting planning and deformity correction algorithms.

Just as one wears a tailored suit rather than off-the-rack clothing, using an instrument that fits the patient's unique anatomy makes it possible to minimize resection error (the process of cutting away bone) and even to shorten operating time — and that is thanks to AI's precise analysis. 

AI precisely captures even the minute axial deformities that are difficult to see with the naked eye, drawing up an optimal surgical map. Lower-limb alignment here means the axis of the leg running from the pelvis through the knee to the ankle, and aligning this axis accurately is the key factor in preventing early wear of an artificial joint and extending its service life. Going beyond a simple guide, AI presents the optimal route much like a navigation system providing real-time traffic information, so the result can be expected to minimize physical error.

Such customized systems are of particular clinical value in patient groups where surgery is technically demanding. The main candidates are △patients with leg deformity of 15 degrees or more △patients whose bone shape has been distorted after trauma △patients with existing metal plates or screws △complex cases in which anatomical landmarks are unclear. Even in such cases, AI's precise calculations suggest the optimal surgical approach. 

This reflects the hospital's treatment philosophy of returning the benefits of advanced medical technology to every patient, achieving both surgical accuracy and patient satisfaction.

Director Koh Yong-gon said, “Combining AI with 3D printing will be an important turning point that raises the quality of artificial joint surgery, which is increasing sharply in an aging society.” He added, “Through thorough clinical validation we will establish a standard that lets patients undergo precise surgery with even greater confidence.” 

Interest is growing in the medical community as to whether combining digital technology with long-honed clinical expertise can give patients with knee arthritis a healthier everyday life.

 

■Sahmyook Seoul Hospital holds its 2026 appointment ceremony


Sahmyook Seoul Hospital (Director Yang Geo-seung) held its ‘2026 Appointment Ceremony’ on March 4 in the Dr. Ryu Je-han Memorial Hall.

The appointments, made to support the hospital's mid- to long-term development strategy and strengthen its organizational competitiveness, gave promotions to a total of 110 people, along with accompanying departmental transfers. Those promoted comprise 10 in the medical department, 56 in administration and clinical support, and 44 in nursing, with the appointments taking effect on March 1, 2026.

Notably, this round of appointments filled the key posts of Deputy Director for Medical Affairs and Head of the Planning Office, which lead the hospital's clinical capability and future strategy.

Ahn Sun-ho (concurrently head of the intensive care unit) was appointed Deputy Director for Medical Affairs. He is a nephrology specialist who graduated from Wonkwang University College of Medicine, completed his residency at Wonkwang University Hospital, and went on to serve as a clinical professor and Director of Medical Services.

Since joining the hospital in 2024 as head of the intensive care unit, he has contributed to stabilizing the critical care system and improving the quality of care, and with his clinical and organizational management experience he is regarded as the right person to lead the hospital's medical systems and overall operations.

Choi Dae-ro was appointed head of the Planning Office. He is a hematology-oncology specialist who graduated from Hallym University College of Medicine, earned his doctorate at the University of Ulsan, and worked as a clinical professor at Asan Medical Center and Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital.

Since joining the hospital in 2021 he has contributed to its development through clinical and research work, and he has now been given charge of the Planning Office as someone well prepared to lead the hospital's mid- to long-term strategy and policy planning.

In the medical department, letters of appointment went to Nam Tae-seok, Chief of the Medical Affairs Department (concurrently Deputy Chief of Surgical Departments); Jung Jae-il, Deputy Chief of QI (concurrently Deputy Chief of Internal Medicine Departments); Baek Hyun-nam, Chief of General Surgery; Oh Hyun-jin, Chief of Otorhinolaryngology; Lee So-yeon, Chief of Psychiatry; Lee Jung-myung, Chief of Internal Medicine; Jeon Jae-beom, Chief of Urology; and Choi Moon-young, Chief of Family Medicine.

In the administration and clinical support divisions, 56 staff were promoted, including Lee Yong-seon, Chief of the Admissions Department, and 44 more were promoted in the Nursing Department, including Nursing Chief Kim Bu-kyung.

Some departmental transfers were also made to improve organizational efficiency and strengthen collaboration.

Nam Hyung-seok, Deputy Chief of Sahmyook Leaders Life, moved to Chief of the Funeral Services Department and Sahmyook Leaders Life (concurrent); Yong Tae-soon, Chief of the Patient Affairs Department, to Chief of the External Cooperation Department; Lee Soo-young, Chief of the Funeral Services Department, to Chief of the Safety Management Department; and Lee Yong-sun, Deputy Chief of the Logistics Department, to Chief of the Patient Affairs Department. In addition, Kim Dae-gon, Deputy Chief of the External Cooperation Department, moved to Deputy Chief of the Medical Administration and Training Department, and Yoo Jae-young, Supervisor in the Safety Management Department, moved to Supervisor in the Logistics Department.

Nursing Chief Kim Myung-hee will move to Outpatient Nursing Chief as of September 1, and Moon Ho-jin, Deputy Chief of the QI Department, to Deputy Chief of the Planning Office as of October 1.

Director Yang Geo-seung said, “These appointments are part of an organizational restructuring aimed at the hospital's continued growth and future competitiveness.” He added, “With capable people at the center of each field, we will work still harder for the hospital's development and for better patient-centered medical services.”

 

■Korea University Medicine receives a USD 300,000 gift from the late donor Kim Sang-deok to establish the ‘Kim Sang-deok Scholarship’


Korea University Medical Center (Yoon Eul-sik, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Director of the Medical Center) has received US$300,000 (about 430 million won) from the late donor Kim Sang-deok, a descendant of Dr. Kim Tak-won and Dr. Gil Jung-hee.
 
The donation ceremony, held on the 7th (local time) in San Francisco, USA, was attended by Vice President Yoon Eul-sik, Dean of the College of Medicine Pyun Sung-bom, Director of Medical Planning Son Ho-sung and Head of the External Cooperation Office Kim Hoon-yub, together with family members of the late donor Kim Sang-deok including her eldest son Dean Paik and second son David Paik.
 
Kim Tak-won and Gil Jung-hee, a married couple who practiced medicine during the Japanese colonial period, worked with Mrs. Rosetta Sherwood Hall to found the Chosun Women's Medical Training Institute, the forerunner of Korea University College of Medicine and Korea's first institution for women's medical education. After Mrs. Hall returned to the United States, they took over the institute and reorganized it as the Kyungsung Women's Medical Training Institute, achieving meaningful results in difficult circumstances, including producing its first successful candidates in the medical licensing examination.
 
They also drew donations from philanthropists such as Kim Jong-ik, who went by the pen name Wooseok and shared their commitment to education and to training women doctors, and so contributed greatly to the launch of Kyungsung Women's Medical College. Their dedication laid the foundation that led from the training of women doctors to the establishment of a medical college and, ultimately, to today's Korea University College of Medicine.
 
The late donor Kim Sang-deok, a graduate of Korea University College of Medicine (class of 11) who also served as a professor there, had long expressed a wish to donate to her alma mater, carrying on the spirit of parents who devoted their lives to the country and to medicine. The US$300,000 donated will be used to unveil busts of Mrs. Rosetta Hall and of Kim Tak-won and Gil Jung-hee, and to establish the ‘Kim Sang-deok Scholarship’ at the College of Medicine to nurture talent in medicine.
 
Dean Paik, the eldest son of the late donor Kim Sang-deok, said, “I am glad we can express in this way the love for her alma mater that my mother always held in her heart.” He added, “As my mother always emphasized the importance of education, I hope this legacy will be used meaningfully for students who will lead the medical field of the future.”
 
Yoon Eul-sik, Vice President for Medical Affairs at Korea University, responded, “I am deeply grateful to the late donor Kim Sang-deok and her family for carrying on the spirit of Kim Tak-won and Gil Jung-hee with this precious act of sharing.” He added, “At this meaningful moment, ahead of the 100th anniversary of Korea University College of Medicine in 2028, we will do our utmost to ensure that this donation is used meaningfully for nurturing future talent and advancing medical education.”

 

■KMI Korea Medical Institute invites proposals for its 2026 research grant program


KMI Korea Medical Institute (hereafter KMI) is openly recruiting researchers for its ‘2026 KMI Open Research Grant Program New Project Call’ until Friday, March 27.

Since 2008, KMI has supported research every year across preventive medicine (including health screening), clinical medicine and basic medicine, in order to contribute to the advancement of medicine in Korea and to improving public health.

This call for proposals is divided into three types, reflecting researchers' careers and the characteristics of each stage: △‘Leap type (early-career researcher)’, for researchers within seven years of their first appointment or aged 45 or under; △‘Growth type (mid-career researcher)’, for researchers more than seven years after appointment; and △‘Leading type (mid-career researcher)’, for researchers more than seven years after appointment.

Funding is provided at 20 million won, 50 million won or 100 million won depending on the project type, with a one-year research period from May 2026 to April 2027.

Researchers wishing to apply should submit online through the KMI research support system (kris.kmi.or.kr) by 2 p.m. on March 27.

Results will be announced during April, and selected projects will begin research in May once agreements are signed.

Other inquiries can be directed to the Research Programs Team of the KMI Research Institute (02-3702-9104).

 

■St. Peter's Hospital expands and renovates its Health Promotion Center


St. Peter's Hospital (President Yoon, Kangjun) announced on the 9th that it has expanded and renovated its Health Promotion Center and is launching a further-upgraded health screening service.

The renovation focused on creating a comfortable, efficient environment for premium health screening services. The center was expanded, the waiting and examination areas were reorganized throughout, and patient flow and the overall layout were further improved for the convenience of those being screened.

The Health Promotion Center at St. Peter's Hospital is a leading local health screening center, equipped with university hospital-level equipment and screening systems and performing an average of more than 19,000 screenings a year. It provides a wide range of screening services, from National Health Screening to comprehensive health screening, pre-employment screening, and in-depth screening for people at high risk of cerebro-cardiovascular disease.

The Health Promotion Center offers blood and urine testing covering more than 71 tests, along with a range of one-stop comprehensive health screening programs that can be tailored to each individual’s health status and goals. Screening for the six cancers covered by the national cancer screening program (stomach, colorectal, liver, breast, cervical and lung cancer) is also available all in one place. For added convenience, the center provides services such as a QR-code questionnaire system and digital delivery of screening results.

Backed by advanced diagnostic infrastructure including the state-of-the-art MAGNETOM Vida 3T MRI, St. Peter's Hospital leads the way in providing specialized health screening and precision diagnosis in the community. With this expansion and renovation of the Health Promotion Center, it plans to respond actively to demand for corporate and group screening and to further strengthen screening programs tailored to each individual.

Yoon, Kangjun, President of St. Peter's Hospital, said, “Health screening systems are key infrastructure for community health management from a preventive medicine standpoint, so we decided to renovate the center to raise service quality.” He added, “We will keep working to provide accurate, precise screening through a comfortable, well-organized environment centered on the people we examine.”

 

■Korea University Anam Hospital reflects on the value of medicine as its medical volunteer corps marks its 20th anniversary


Korea University Anam Hospital (Director Han Seung-beom) marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of its medical volunteer corps by holding the ‘2025 Medical Volunteer Service Report Meeting’ on February 23 at the Byeolbit Healing Lounge, an occasion to look back over 20 years of putting the social responsibility of a healthcare institution into practice.
 
The event was attended by Director Han Seung-beom and Lee Sung-woo, Deputy Director for Medical Affairs and head of the volunteer corps, together with representatives of partner organizations including Seegene Medical Foundation, the Korea University Alumni Association and the Korea University College of Medicine Alumni Association. A photo exhibition covering the volunteer corps' main achievements and history was also held, providing a chance to look back on 20 years of medical volunteer work and to discuss future directions.
 
Since founding the Houi Social Volunteer Corps in 2005, Korea University Anam Hospital has carried out 233 medical support activities for 48,913 medically underserved people, with a total of 2,725 staff taking part. Through activities such as ‘Mobile Clinics with Our Neighbors’ and ‘Medical Support for Rural Communities’, it has provided practical help to residents of areas with poor access to healthcare.

It has also delivered medical care beyond national borders to underserved areas, including the tsunami-hit regions of Sri Lanka and the earthquake-affected areas of Indonesia and Haiti, as well as Mongolia, Timor-Leste, Myanmar and Vietnam.
 
Korea University Anam Hospital raises donations each year to support patients in financial difficulty and continues a range of support activities for people in medical blind spots at home and abroad. In recognition of these efforts, it received a commendation from the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in 2023 and won the Medical Social Contribution category of the 2024 Korea Value Management Awards, and it is regarded as a model of a healthcare institution realizing its social responsibility.
 
Director Han Seung-beom said, “I want to thank all the members who have been with us over the past 20 years.” He added, “It is thanks to your dedication and effort that the volunteer corps' work has won deep sympathy and trust from society. I hope you will continue to bring care to the places that need it over the next 20 years.”
 
Lee Sung-woo, head of the volunteer corps, said, “I am grateful to all the members who have practiced the spirit of sharing and philanthropy in medical volunteer work over the past 20 years.” He added, “The Korea University Anam Hospital Rosetta Hall Volunteer Corps will continue to reach out to the local community and to medical blind spots, practicing sharing and leading the way in building a healthy society.”
 
Meanwhile, Korea University Anam Hospital has continued a range of social care activities for patients and the local community. It recently held an event marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of its Hospice Society, reflecting on the meaning of care for terminally ill patients and their families. Since founding the Hospice Society in 1995, Korea University Anam Hospital has sustained hospice activities for cancer patients and patients in the final stages of life, and has conveyed the significance of hospice care through volunteer training and volunteer work. In 2018 it was designated a consultative-type hospice institution, and it continues medical volunteer activities that accompany patients on their journey through life.
 

■Seoul Environmental Health Center runs ‘fine dust health education for seniors’ at smart senior centers in Gwanak-gu


The Seoul Environmental Health Center (Director Min Kyoung-bok, Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) provided health education on fine dust for older adults, using smart senior centers, together with the Gwanak-gu Public Health Center and the Gwanak-gu branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association.

Fine dust is a risk factor for respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma), cancer (lung cancer) and circulatory disease (myocardial infarction, hypertension, arrhythmia). Older people react more sensitively to fine dust and are known to be at greater risk than the general adult population at the same level of exposure.

In particular, because high concentrations of fine dust are more likely in winter, the program was launched to reduce health impacts by teaching older adults, a vulnerable group, how to recognize and respond to high fine-dust levels.

The sessions focused on △how to recognize high concentrations of fine dust △what to do about it △how to manage indoor air quality.

The program was arranged to use the Smart Senior Centers established in Gwanak-gu as teaching bases, conveying to local seniors the health effects of fine dust and ways to reduce everyday exposure. The Smart Senior Center is part of the smart welfare infrastructure Gwanak-gu is developing, and the program is significant in that environmental health education was delivered in the everyday spaces where local seniors gather.

In this program, nurses from the public health center's home visiting health care service prepared and delivered the education, while the Gwanak-gu branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association helped encourage and support participation by the seniors who use the Smart Senior Centers. Cooperation among community organizations, including the Seoul Environmental Health Center, the Gwanak-gu Office, the Gwanak-gu Public Health Center and the Korean Senior Citizens Association, made effective education on the health effects of fine dust possible.

The Seoul Environmental Health Center explained that the significance of the initiative lies in joining forces with community resources such as the Gwanak-gu Public Health Center and the Gwanak-gu branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association to deliver sustainable, effective education using smart facilities.

Min Kyoung-bok, head of the center, said, “Fine dust is an important environmental factor that can affect the health of older adults in particular.” He added, “Through education and communication that make use of the health and welfare infrastructure and professional medical personnel already in place in the community, we will expand the foundation for environmental health practices that allow citizens to protect their own health.”

Deputy Center Director Lee Dong-wook also said, “The significance of this program is that it confirmed the possibility of running environmental health education using community medical personnel and the basic public health service system, rather than as a one-off program led by outside experts,” adding, “We will continue to actively link community resources such as the Smart Senior Centers and the home visiting health care service in order to expand environmental health education and risk communication activities that older people can put into practice in their daily lives.”

The Seoul Environmental Health Center plans to keep strengthening community-based environmental health risk communication, including education on responding to fine dust.

The Seoul Environmental Health Center is a regional environmental health center designated by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Operated by Seoul National University College of Medicine, it conducts environmental health surveys of citizens, surveillance of environmental diseases, environmental health education and risk communication programs.


■Kyung Hee University Hospital ranks 12th in Korea in Newsweek's ‘World's Best Hospitals 2026’


Kyung Hee University Hospital (Director Kim Jong-woo) was ranked 12th in Korea in the “World’s Best Hospitals 2026” evaluation published by the U.S. news magazine Newsweek.
 
The evaluation was conducted jointly with the global research firm Statista and combined, for hospitals in each country, △medical performance indicators (40%) △recommendations from medical experts at home and abroad (35%) △patient satisfaction (18.5%) and △implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (6.5%).
 
Kyung Hee University Hospital placed 12th among Korean medical institutions and 184th among the world's top 250 hospitals. It was also selected in the top tier in four categories of Newsweek's “Asia Pacific's Best Specialized Hospitals,” published last June, demonstrating medical capability of international standard.
 
Kim Jong-woo, Director of Kyung Hee University Hospital, said, “The dedication and effort every member of our staff has devoted to providing high-quality medical services has led to a meaningful result.” He added, “We will continue to build a care system that meets global standards, with patient safety as our highest value.”

Meanwhile, Kyung Hee University Hospital completed construction work last December to build and expand its intensive care units in order to strengthen its capacity for severe, essential and emergency care, and it is also working to upgrade its medical infrastructure, including building a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between medical institutions to strengthen essential care in the region.


■ Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital holds an obesity prevention campaign for ‘World Obesity Day’


Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital (Director Joo Woong) announced on the 6th that it held an obesity prevention campaign on the 4th to mark World Obesity Day, organized by the Department of Family Medicine and the Well-Aging Center at the Woo Bok-hee Art Hall on the first floor of the hospital's main building.

The event was designed to promote recognition of obesity as a “disease” rather than a simple matter of body shape, and to raise awareness of the importance of prevention and early intervention. It was planned as a health education event through which the hospital could fulfill its social responsibility as a medical institution and contribute to community health promotion.

Visitors and staff interested in obesity prevention took part, and the medical team of the Department of Family Medicine and the Well-Aging Center delivered accurate health information through a variety of participatory programs.

An O/X quiz program deepened understanding of obesity as a disease and of the importance of prevention and management, and the quiz responses will be used as baseline data for future obesity prevention education and outreach.

A participatory roulette program was also run, presenting questions related to obesity prevention and healthy living. When the roulette landed on “squat” or “back exercise,” participants were shown the correct basic movements, and when it landed on “InBody,” a brief consultation was offered at the participant's choice.

A commemorative photo zone was also set up to spread messages about changing perceptions of obesity and managing weight healthily. The family medicine team provided health consultations on obesity on site, offering practical advice on improving individual lifestyle habits and preventing obesity.

Participants said the event “was an occasion to raise awareness of obesity as a disease and to reflect on the importance of early prevention, marking World Obesity Day on March 4.”

Jeon Hye-jin, head of the Well-Aging Center and professor of family medicine, said, “Obesity is a disease directly linked to a range of chronic conditions, so correct awareness and prevention matter more than anything.” She added, “We will continue to expand health promotion activities carried out together with the community.”


■ Ewha Womans University Medical Center holds orientation for its 2026 new interns


Ewha Womans University Medical Center (Medical Center Director Yoo Kyung-ha) announced on the 6th that it held its “2026 New Intern Orientation (OT)” over three days from the 24th to the 26th of last month, in the large conference room on the 10th floor of MCC Building B at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital and at the Ewha Medical Academy on basement level 2 of Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital.

The event was attended by 36 new interns and opened with welcoming remarks from Cho Soo-young, Director of Education and Training at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, and Cho Soo-beom, Director of Education and Training at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, followed by a varied programme of training and core procedural skills practice covering △sedation training and preoperative evaluation training △proper specimen handling and transfusion △difficult urinary catheter insertion △understanding radiology examinations △infection control for health care workers △quality improvement and patient safety △medical ethics and medical law.

In particular, in the procedural skills training held on the second day at the Ewha Medical Academy (Director Han Seung-ho), the new interns took part in group sessions of “hybrid core skills integrated practice,” combining practice on models with practice using cadavers, further strengthening their procedural competence.

The practical session that day began with a silent tribute honoring those who donated their bodies for medical education. In the day-long session, the new interns had the opportunity to perform 12 procedural skills themselves under the guidance of some ten clinical professors. Afterwards the new interns were unstinting in their praise for the quality of the training, saying, “Ewha Medical Center must be the only hospital where professors themselves deliver cadaver-based procedural skills training to interns.”

Hospital officials who visited the training site during the event, including Yoo Kyung-ha, Vice President for Medical Affairs of Ewha Womans University and Director of the Medical Center, Kim Han-soo, Director of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Joo Woong, Director of Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, and Han Seung-ho, Director of the Ewha Medical Academy, offered words of welcome and encouragement to the new interns taking their first steps as physicians.

Yoo Kyung-ha, Director of Ewha Womans University Medical Center, said, “I hope this orientation will be a valuable time in which the new interns go beyond mere theory and practice to strengthen their ethical awareness as medical professionals, their attitude toward patients and their sense of mission.”

She added, “Ewha Womans University Medical Center, which carries on the founding spirit of Bogunyeogwan (普救女館), Korea's first hospital for women, will continue to focus on nurturing the talent that will lead Korean medicine, drawing on its distinctive strengths: outstanding medical staff, advanced medical equipment and facilities, and systematic clinical skills training.”


■ Busan Paik Hospital introduces the latest CT and MRI


Inje University Busan Paik Hospital (Director Yang Jae-wook) announced on the 9th that it has further strengthened its capacity to diagnose cerebro-cardiovascular and emergency conditions by introducing the latest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems.

The CT scanner in particular has been installed in the emergency medical center, where it is used for the rapid diagnosis of cerebro-cardiovascular patients for whom the “golden hour” is critical, such as those with stroke or myocardial infarction. Together with the hospital's recent designation by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Disease Center, this is expected to further strengthen the emergency care system for cerebro-cardiovascular disease in the region.

Busan Paik Hospital brought both systems into full operation from March. The CT system ‘Revolution APEX Elite’ is a state-of-the-art device with ultra-fast rotation technology and a wide detection range, capable of faster and more precise imaging than conventional CT. With an ultra-fast rotation speed of 0.23 seconds and a wide 160mm scan range, it can image the heart and cerebral blood vessels in fine detail in a very short time.

Brain perfusion studies to check cerebral blood flow in emergency stroke patients can be performed quickly, and technology that allows cardiac imaging without attaching an electrocardiogram (ECG) device enables rapid examination in severe and emergency cases such as myocardial infarction.

The MRI system introduced at the same time, the ‘SIGNA Premier 3.0T’, applies deep-learning-based artificial intelligence imaging technology and can rapidly acquire clear, high-resolution images, so it is used for the precise diagnosis of brain disease, spinal disease, degenerative disease and other conditions. It is designed so that a soft, blanket-like coil wraps around the area being examined, which makes the examination more comfortable for patients, and its wide 70cm bore also reduces the discomfort of being in an enclosed space.

Director Yang Jae-wook said, “Following our recent designation as a Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Disease Center, which allowed us to further strengthen our specialist staff and care systems, the introduction of this latest CT and MRI equipment expands our medical equipment infrastructure as well, raising our cerebro-cardiovascular care capability on both the hardware and the software side.”

He added, “Because rapid diagnosis and treatment matter more than anything in cerebro-cardiovascular conditions such as stroke and myocardial infarction, we will do everything we can to make sure patients in the region do not miss the golden hour.”


■ Ajou University Hospital opens a Trauma / Bone and Joint Infection Clinic


Ajou University Hospital (Director Cho Jae-ho) announced on the 9th that, drawing on the extensive treatment experience accumulated at its regional trauma center, it has opened a “Trauma / Bone and Joint Infection Clinic” specializing in the treatment of bone and joint infections, which began full operation on the 3rd.

The newly opened clinic has established a 'one-stop system' in which patients can be seen by both an orthopedic specialist and an infectious disease specialist on the same day in a single visit. Precise △imaging studies △nuclear medicine tests and △genetic analysis make it possible to distinguish the infected area from dead tissue accurately and to draw up an efficient treatment plan. △Orthopedic and △infectious disease medical staff, together with pharmacists and dietitians, then discuss patient cases each week to decide the optimal course of treatment.

The clinic's aim goes beyond simply eradicating infection. Its ultimate goal is to restore the function of bone, muscle and joints and, further, to return patients to their pre-disease state. To that end, it plans to actively pursue the latest treatment techniques, antibiotic delivery and clinical trials.

Heo Jung-yeon, professor of infectious diseases, said, “In bone and joint infections, combining surgical treatment with antibiotic therapy is essential.” He added, “Effective testing to identify the causative organism, the selection and administration of antibiotics, monitoring of drug response and side effects, and preparation for antibiotic resistance must all be carried out systematically.”

He added, “We expect this clinic to let us provide prompt, optimal treatment for patients with intractable osteoarthritis.”

Lee Doo-hyung, professor of orthopedics, said, “Bone and joint infection is an area where treatment outcomes are hard to predict and recurrence is common.” He added, “If clinics where specialists from several fields discuss treatment strategy together become more widespread, treatment outcomes can be improved further.”

He went on to say, “We are in fact seeing positive results such as shorter hospital stays for patients,” adding, “We will continue working to improve treatment outcomes for our patients.”


■ NHIS Ilsan Hospital reaches 2,000 peripheral artery angioplasty cases


The Department of Cardiology at National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital (Director Han Chang-hoon) announced on the 9th that it held a commemorative event on the 5th to mark 2,000 cases of peripheral transluminal angioplasty (PTA, Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty).

The milestone is the result of continuously performing highly demanding procedures since the hospital opened, on patients with peripheral artery disease accompanied by complex conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

It is regarded as particularly meaningful in that it was achieved through the efforts of interventional cardiology specialists and the staff of the cardiac angiography and functional testing laboratories, together with multidisciplinary Vascular Team collaboration involving orthopedics, thoracic surgery, plastic surgery and endocrinology.

Peripheral transluminal angioplasty is a highly demanding procedure: it takes a long time, involves considerable radiation exposure and is performed on patients with chronic, complex conditions, requiring a great deal of time and effort from the medical team as well as meticulous patient management.

To treat these patients with peripheral artery disease, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital operates a multidisciplinary care system that combines revascularization procedures with wound care, lower-limb surgery and blood sugar control.

The Ilsan Hospital cardiology team performing peripheral transluminal angioplasty (Professors Jang Ji-yong, Kim Hyung-soo, Kim Joong-min and Park Geun-hee) said, “We will continue our education and research on peripheral transluminal angioplasty and work to provide medical services that reflect the latest treatment knowledge.”


■ International St. Mary's Hospital recruits a large number of specialists in critical and essential care


Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital (Medical Center and Hospital Director Fr. Ko Dong-hyun) announced on the 9th that it has recently recruited specialists in critical and essential care fields such as Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The medical staff recruited by International St. Mary's Hospital in March total 10: △Emergency Medicine (2) △Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (2) △Obstetrics & Gynecology (1) △Orthopedics (1) △Endocrinology (1) △Gastroenterology (1) △Nephrology (1) and △Radiology (1).

Professor Kim Seung-ho, newly appointed to the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, has clinical experience of more than 200 single-port robotic laparoscopic operations and more than 800 conventional laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures. Professor Kim provides specialized care in gynecologic oncology as well as robotic and laparoscopic surgery, hysteroscopic procedures and general gynecology.

Professors Park Jin-won and Park Hee-geun have joined the Department of Emergency Medicine to care for emergency patients, while Professors Yoo Soo-kyung and Lee Soo-yeon of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine handle anesthetic management for safe surgery.

Professor Jeon Byung-hoon of the Department of Orthopedics takes charge of the knee joint field, including △knee arthritis and ligament and cartilage injuries and △artificial joint replacement surgery, while Professor Park Sang-young of the Department of Radiology performs △vascular and non-vascular interventions △interventional procedures for liver cancer and △recanalization and dilation of arteriovenous fistulas for dialysis access.

Also joining and beginning practice are Professor Lim Hyun of Gastroenterology (gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease), Professor Kim Yoon-ho of Nephrology (kidney disease) and Professor Cho Sung-jun of Endocrinology (osteoporosis, parathyroid disorders and more).

Ko Dong-hyun, Director of International St. Mary's Hospital, said, “We expect that continuing to recruit medical staff will further strengthen our capabilities in severe and essential care.” He added, “We will do our utmost to build a medical environment where patients with any severe condition can receive treatment with peace of mind.”


■ Ilsan Paik Hospital runs ‘medical leadership’ training for Vietnamese medical staff


Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital (Director Choi Won-ju) announced on the 9th that it held medical leadership training on the 6th for Vietnamese medical staff on placement there.

The lecture was part of the shared curriculum of the “2025–2026 Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program Clinical Course (Vietnam), Year 1,” a global health workforce education and training program run by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare. It was held to share the leadership roles physicians play at teaching hospitals and the core competencies organizations require.

The special lecture was given by Lee Byung-doo, Vice President for Medical Affairs of Inje University (Chair Professor), on the theme of “The Leadership of Junior Faculty at Teaching Hospitals.”

In his lecture, Vice President Lee Byung-doo emphasized that junior faculty at teaching hospitals play a key role in connecting clinical care, education and research, and should grow into leaders who guide medical teams.

It was also explained that effective leadership in clinical settings rests on a range of competencies, including self-awareness, respect and empathy, collaboration and communication.

He went on to introduce the concept of transformational leadership, stating that a leader must share a common vision with the members of the organization and drive organizational change.

It was further stressed that leadership is a capability developed through action and practice rather than position, and one that grows through continuous learning and experience.

Kim Hoon, head of Inje University's Office of International Development Cooperation and professor of emergency medicine at Ilsan Paik Hospital, who oversees the project, said, “Through this training we hope to share Korea's medical education experience and leadership skills, and we look forward to the trainees contributing to the development of healthcare in their own country.”

Meanwhile, five medical staff selected from Hue Central Hospital (5,000 beds) and Da Nang Hospital (2,000 beds), key medical institutions in central Vietnam, are taking part in the “2025–2026 Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program Clinical Course (Vietnam).”

The participants — △one from Pathology △one from Obstetrics & Gynecology △one from Gastroenterology △two from General Surgery — have been in the training program since last November.

 

■ Professor Lee Jeong-eui of Konyang University Hospital donates her hair for children with cancer


Lee Jeong-eui, professor of pathology at Konyang University Hospital (Medical Center Director Bae Jang-ho), practiced warm-hearted giving by donating hair she had carefully grown for two years for children with cancer.

Konyang University Hospital announced on the 9th that Professor Lee Jeong-eui had recently joined the ‘Eo·Meo·Na (Hair Sharing for Young Cancer Patients)’ campaign and donated hair she had grown herself.

Professor Lee decided to take part after happening to learn about the ‘Eo·Meo·Na campaign’ run by the International Cooperation and Development Association of the Korea Social Contribution Foundation.

He had never grown his hair long in his life, but he began growing it out to help children with cancer, and recently donated the hair he had carefully grown for about two years to the Eomeona Movement, a hair donation campaign for children with cancer.

The ‘Eo·Meo·Na campaign’ is a social contribution activity that collects donated hair to make wigs, provided free of charge to children with cancer who lose their hair during chemotherapy.

This helps reduce the psychological stress children experience during treatment and allows them to regain confidence and return more smoothly to everyday life, while also easing the financial burden of buying a wig for their families.

According to statistics, childhood cancer is known to be the leading cause of death among children, and in Korea an average of four children a day are reported to receive a new cancer diagnosis.

Professor Lee Jung-eui said, “Donating hair is a small act, but I hope it gives at least a little strength to the children going through a hard time in treatment.” He added, “I hope it also serves as an occasion for us all to realize that, if we look around, there are many ways anyone can help others in everyday life.”

 

■ Inha University Hospital recruits 13 outstanding faculty members


Inha University Hospital (Director Lee Taek) has recently recruited 13 outstanding faculty members, continuing to build a ‘locally complete healthcare system’ that strengthens the community health safety net.

Inha University Hospital's recruitment of these faculty members was undertaken to maintain its expertise in essential care as a tertiary general hospital and to improve its capacity to respond to severe and highly complex conditions.

In particular, it focused on securing staff in advance in essential fields such as emergency medicine, pediatrics and general surgery, creating an environment in which patients can receive stable treatment within the region.

Inha University Hospital recruited a total of 13 specialists, by clinical department: △Emergency Medicine, 2 (Kim Han-gyeol, Joo Ye-jin) △General Surgery, 2 (Gong Yoon, Kim Sa-hong) △Orthopedics, 2 (Lee Je-wook, Han Hee-soo) △Gastroenterology, 2 (Ko Yoon-mi, Min Sung-jun) △Pediatrics, 1 (Shin Sung-hwan) △Otorhinolaryngology, 1 (Choi Sung-yong) △Nephrology, 1 (Cha Jun-hyuk) △Pulmonology, 1 (Kim Jun) and △Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1 (Kim Yang-woo).

The most important part is the reinforcement of emergency care and surgical capacity. With two additional emergency medicine specialists and two additional general surgeons, the care system for critically ill emergency patients and urgent surgical cases requiring a 24-hour response has become considerably more robust. Specialist staff were also added in orthopedics and otorhinolaryngology, strengthening the hospital's core function as a tertiary general hospital in treating highly complex conditions.

The new pediatric staff secure continuity in the treatment of severe and intractable childhood conditions, and in internal medicine the hospital added specialists in gastroenterology, nephrology and pulmonology to provide more finely differentiated medical services. With the addition of an occupational and environmental medicine specialist, it will also continue its public health role, including promoting the health of workers at local workplaces and preventing occupational disease.

Director Lee Taek said, “Creating a medical environment that local residents can turn to with confidence is our duty.” He added, “As an institution leading the way in building a healthcare system that completes care within the region, we will work with our newly joined faculty to make our system for severe and essential care more substantial and to fulfill our responsibilities.”

 

■ Hallym University's Ilsong Memorial Foundation names ‘Kim Choong-soo, former Governor of the Bank of Korea’ as the 19th Ilsong Prize laureate


Hallym University (President Choi Yang-hee) will hold the 19th Ilsong Award ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on the 10th (Tuesday) in the International Conference Room of the International Conference Hall. The recipient is Kim Choong-soo, former Governor of the Bank of Korea and the 6th, 9th and 10th President of Hallym University.

The Ilsong Award was established in 2006 to honor the legacy of the late Dr. Ilsong Yoon Duk-sun (1921–1996), founder of Hallym University, who devoted his life to university education, medical education and medical service. The award is presented each year to one expert selected for outstanding achievement in medicine, education or community service.

This year's recipient, Kim Choong-soo, former Governor of the Bank of Korea, is a leading economist and public official who served as President of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and Governor of the Bank of Korea, leading Korea's major economic policy bodies and monetary authority and contributing greatly to the nation's economic development.

As President of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) from 2002 to 2005, Kim played a pioneering role in turning Korea's development experience into an asset that could contribute to the international community, establishing Korea's image as a “knowledge exporter.” As Governor of the Bank of Korea from 2010 to 2014, he raised the Bank's international standing, broadened the paradigm of monetary policy and institutionalized financial stability.

He coordinated early economic policy as Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs at the start of the Lee Myung-bak administration, and as Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) he led Korea's accession to the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), making Korea the first country in the world to move from being an aid recipient to an aid donor.

Notably, as head of the OECD Accession Preparation Office (1995–1997), he successfully led Korea's negotiations to join the club of advanced economies.

As the 6th, 9th and 10th President of Hallym University, he set the goal of becoming a leading world-class university and actively led reform in response to the changing times in Korean higher education. As chair of the Glocal University Committee launched in 2023, he also contributed to selecting universities leading innovation in their regions as Glocal Universities, providing them with full government support and driving bold regulatory reform.

Song Ho-keun, head of Hallym University's Doheon Academy and a member of the Ilsong Award nomination committee, explained the reasons for the selection: “Former Governor Kim Choong-soo led numerous initiatives and reforms in education and the economy, and made an enormous contribution to national economic development and to the advancement of higher education.” He added, “The achievements he has made are credited with shaping the Korea and the Hallym University we know today.”

 

■ Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital discusses closer burn care cooperation with the Vietnam National Burn Hospital


Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital (Director Heo Jun) met on the 6th, in the conference room on the 9th floor of its main building, with a delegation from Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, Vietnam's most authoritative burn treatment institution, to discuss closer cooperation in burn care and to share Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital's advanced treatment techniques and infrastructure.

The visiting delegation comprised six people, including Hospital Director Nguyen Nhu Lam and core medical staff.

Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, located in Hanoi, Vietnam, is the country's representative specialist burn care institution and plays a pivotal role in burn and trauma treatment and in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

During the visit, the delegation closely benchmarked Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital's excellent medical infrastructure and burn care system.

The two institutions discussed practical avenues of cooperation, including △multicenter clinical research and the exchange of academic information △short- and long-term training programs for medical specialists and △more active academic conferences and joint research.

Academic exchange focused on demanding areas such as burn critical care, inhalation burn treatment, skin substitutes and advanced treatment technologies.

After working-level talks in the morning, the delegation toured the hospital's main facilities in the afternoon. Guided by Professor Yoon Jae-cheol of burn surgery, they visited core treatment facilities including Korea's largest hyperbaric oxygen therapy center, which can treat up to 36 patients at once, as well as the burn treatment room and the burn intensive care unit.

They then viewed the outpatient clinic, the laser treatment room and the skin regeneration treatment room, along with the advanced robotic rehabilitation therapy room, accompanied by Professor Seo Dong-kook of plastic surgery and Professor Joo So-young of rehabilitation medicine. They also saw firsthand the hospital's systematic clinical support systems, including the burn research institute, the department of laboratory medicine and the pharmacy team.

Nguyen Nhu Lam, Director of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, said, “I learned a great deal from seeing the multidisciplinary care system and advanced infrastructure of Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital firsthand.” He added, “We will make active use of the valuable experience and know-how gained from this visit in treating burn patients in our own country.”

Director Heo Jun said, “It is deeply meaningful to be able to share our experience of successfully performing more than 2,700 acute burn operations a year on average.” He added, “We hope the two institutions will continue to work closely together to provide even more advanced treatment and hope to burn patients in both countries.”

 

■ Asan Medical Center expands its job training programs to help new employees settle in


Asan Medical Center (Director Park Seung-il) announced on the 6th that it has recently expanded a range of job training programs to help new employees settle in and build a sense of psychological security.

According to Asan Medical Center, about 410 people joined this year in nursing, allied health and administrative roles, of whom about 200 received structured training. To help new employees grow into medical professionals and strengthen their capabilities, the hospital builds the expertise and judgment required in clinical practice step by step through △theory and procedural skills training and △training in specific areas such as intensive care, pediatrics, surgery and anesthesia.

Recently it has also actively adopted digital technology, running scenario-based training using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). By training in simulated environments close to reality covering △cardiopulmonary resuscitation △tracheostomy tubes △hemorrhage and △sepsis, new employees strengthen the expertise they need to respond accurately and quickly even in emergencies.

For nursing staff, who make up the largest share of employees, the hospital also runs education and support programs to ease psychological strain. Each new nurse is matched one-to-one with a preceptor, and a clinical education nurse provides structured practical training and emotional support for a year to help them adjust to their new environment.

During that training period, the number of patients assigned to preceptors is adjusted so they can concentrate on teaching, and after training ends the number of patients assigned to new nurses is adjusted so they can settle into their work more easily.

At the three- and six-month marks after joining, when psychological strain runs high, the hospital also runs the ‘New Nurse Mind Keeper’ group coaching program for all new nurses. In addition, it operates △Korea's largest relief nursing team covering staff absences (the A plus team) △a ward transfer monitoring team for critically ill patients (MTT) △a telephone counseling office for discharged patients and △specialized training for each nursing field, all of which are proving effective in reducing early departures among new employees.

In addition, a “welcome kit” is provided to welcome new employees and foster a sense of belonging and pride, and a tour of the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Shipyard lets them experience firsthand the “Asan spirit” of challenge and passion.

Park, Ji Won, a nurse on Surgical Nursing Team 1 who joined the hospital in January this year, said, "When I got the call telling me I had been accepted, I felt great pride and excitement at going to work at one of the country's best hospitals, but at the same time I felt the pressure of wondering whether I could really do well in a setting where seriously ill patients come together." She added, "Since joining, though, thanks to a systematic training program and the careful coaching of my preceptor, I have been learning the practical skills step by step and building confidence. I want to grow into a nurse whom patients and their families can trust."

Choi In-cheol, Vice President for Education at Asan Medical Center and professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine, said, “The driving force behind Asan Medical Center's growth into a global hospital, beyond Korea, has been the constant challenge and passion of our staff. We will spare no effort in educating and supporting our new employees, who will be the ones writing the next chapter of Asan Medical Center's history, so that they can build their expertise and make full use of their abilities.”

 

■ Samsung Medical Center develops an artificial intelligence (AI) guideline for robotic mastectomy


Samsung Medical Center (Director Park Seung-woo) announced on the 6th that a research team of Professors Yoo Jae-min and Park Woong-ki of breast surgery and Professors Yoo Jin-soo and Oh Nam-ki of transplantation surgery has developed a navigation system in which AI guides the surgeon to a safe resection plane in real time during robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, and has confirmed its clinical applicability through multicenter external validation.

The findings were published in a recent issue of the official journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology. Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy is an operation in which a small incision is made near the armpit and robotic arms are inserted to remove only the breast tissue, leaving the nipple and skin intact. Patient satisfaction is high because no large scar is left on the chest, but robotic surgery has the limitation that tactile feedback is not transmitted, so the surgeon must rely solely on the on-screen image to judge tissue boundaries.

The team therefore developed a model that analyzes the video captured during surgery with AI in real time and displays on screen the boundary between the fat layer and the mammary tissue, that is, the safe resection plane. The model was trained on 1,996 frames extracted from video of 29 robotic mastectomies performed at Samsung Medical Center, with breast surgeons marking the safe resection plane on each frame.

In internal validation using Samsung Medical Center data, the AI model was 74% accurate. External validation using video from eight operations at Samsung Changwon Hospital showed similar performance at 70.8%.

Professor Yoo Jae-min said, “This is the first study to develop an AI navigation system for robotic mastectomy and to complete multicenter external validation.” He added, “AI guidance to a safe resection plane in real time during surgery can help improve the precision and safety of the operation.”

Professor Yoo Jin-soo added, “We have extended the application of AI navigation from liver transplant surgery to breast cancer surgery.” He said, “We will continue our research so that AI can be applied to a variety of minimally invasive operations to help patients.”

 

■ The Ulsan University Hospital team of Park Ki-bong and Lim Du-ho uncovers why osteophytes enlarge in end-stage knee arthritis


Ulsan University Hospital (Director Park Jong-ha) announced on the 9th that a study by a research team of Professor Park Ki-bong of orthopedics and Professor Lim Doo-ho of rheumatology, which identified an association between the formation of osteophytes (bone spurs) and inflammatory mediators in patients with knee osteoarthritis, was published in the January 2026 issue of the international journal Scientific Reports.

An osteophyte is a spur-like outgrowth of bone at the edge of a joint, and it is common in patients with knee osteoarthritis. As osteophytes grow, pain worsens and joint movement becomes restricted, causing considerable disruption to daily life, yet the causes of their formation and their relationship with the inflammatory response had not been clearly established.

To investigate this, the team analyzed blood and joint fluid from 44 patients (58 knees) with end-stage knee osteoarthritis who had undergone artificial joint replacement surgery.

The analysis confirmed that the higher the level of the inflammatory mediator interleukin-18 in the joint fluid, the significantly larger the osteophytes formed on the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). A clear correlation between interleukin-18 levels and osteophyte size was maintained even after adjusting for potentially influential factors such as age and body mass index (BMI).

Using the free-curve area measurement tool of the medical imaging information system, the team analyzed osteophyte area precisely, improving the objectivity and accuracy of the findings.

Professor Park Ki-bong said, “This study confirms that the inflammatory environment within the joint can influence structural changes such as osteophyte formation.” He added, “We expect it to serve as an important clue in developing new treatment strategies to suppress osteophyte formation.”

Professor Lim Doo-ho said, “We confirmed the potential for interleukin-18 levels in joint fluid to be used as a biological marker reflecting the progression of osteoarthritis.” He added, “Through research on a range of inflammatory mediators, we will advance patient-tailored precision medicine.”