Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

1) Please introduce yourself. My name is Dr. Nhi Yen Diep from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I am 31 years old, and I have a twin sister, who is also a dual board-certified plastic surgeon and dermatologist. 2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty? I am a dual-board-certified plastic surgeon and dermatologist. Together with my twin sister, I run a clinic specializing in dermatology and plastic surgery in Ho Chi Minh City. 3) How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital? I learned that Prof. Kee Yang Chung is a world-renowned expert in dermatologic surgery. I came to Severance to advance my knowledge, particularly in Mohs surgery and scar management, under the guidance of such esteemed mentors. 4) How long is your training period in Korea? My training period at Severance is approximately one year and 2 months. 5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? My fellowship focuses on dermatologic surgery. I have trained intensively in laser and skin surgeries. My advisors, Prof. Kee Yang Chung and Prof. Byungho Oh, along with Advanced Nurse Young Ae Nam, an expert in wound care, have been instrumental in my learning journey. 6) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital? I was deeply impressed by Severance's integration of cutting-edge medical technology with a patient-centered approach. The unwavering support and expertise of the faculty, staff, and fellow trainees create a truly inspiring and nurturing passion environment for me. 7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship program at Severance? I am training in Mohs reconstruction surgery (skin cancer surgery), benign tumor removal, scar surgery, lasers, wound care, and other skin surgeries. I am also learning cosmetic procedures such as thread lifting, blepharoplasty, liposuction, and fat grafting. 8) If you were to get the chance to come back, which field of clinical study would you like to focus on? I would love to continue developing my expertise in these fields and spend more time learning from the exceptional professionals at Severance. 9) Who are you most thankful for at Severance(who helped you the most) & why? I am immensely grateful to Prof. Kee Yang Chung, Prof. Oh Byungho, and Advanced Nurse Nam Young Ae for their mentorship and guidance. I also deeply appreciate Jinwoong, Clinical professor - Korean fellow, for his kindness, support, and the warm way he shared his expertise. He has been like an older brother to me, providing both professional instruction and personal encouragement. Thank you all for treating me as a family member. 10) What was your first impression of Korea? Korea amazed me with its advanced medical system, rich culture, and warm hospitality despite the very cold weather in winter when I first came (^_^). I felt welcomed both inside and outside the hospital, making my experience even more memorable. 11)What is the best memory so far during your stay here? My best experience has been collaborating with esteemed professors and learning from the best in my field at Severance. The warmth from Korean people, including the hospital staff, my mentors, and others I met, has left an indelible mark on my heart. My only regret is that my time here feels too short.

통일보건의료센터, 2025년 발전전략워크숍 실시 제중원보건개발원 통일보건의료센터가 1일 강화군에서 2025 발전전략 워크숍을 개최했다. 워크숍은 운영위원 및 연구진을 대상으로 센터의 활동 방향을 점검하고, 향후 수행할 보건의료 정책 과제를 논의하기 위해 열렸다. 참석자들은 강화군 교동도 화개산 전망대를 방문해 북한 접경지역의 보건의료 협력 가능성을 모색했다. 이어진 워크숍에서는 2024년도 센터 활동 내역과 2025년도 활동 계획을 공유하고, 각 기획단별 정책 연구 발표와 함께 실질적인 연구 성과 도출 및 협력 방안을 논의했다. 특히, 신설된 재난의료TF를 중심으로, 북한발 재난 대응 보건의료 지원 체계를 구축할 방안에 관해 심도 있는 논의가 이뤄졌다. 자연재해, 감염병, 대규모 인도적 위기 상황에서 효과적인 의료 지원 방안을 마련하기 위한 연구 방향이 제시됐으며, 향후 구체적인 정책 제안을 추진할 예정이다. 이번 워크숍을 통해 통일보건의료센터는 한반도 보건의료 분야에서의 지속적인 연구와 협력 방안을 마련하고, 재난 대응을 포함한 의료 지원 체계를 더욱 발전시킬 예정이다. The Center for Health & Unification of Korea, part of the Yonsei Institute for Global Health, hosted its 2025 Development Strategy Workshop in Ganghwa County, bringing together key researchers and steering committee members to review past initiatives and shape future healthcare policies. As part of the workshop, participants visited the Hwagaesan Observatory on Gyodong Island, near the North Korean border, to explore potential avenues for inter-Korean health and medical cooperation. The session continued with a review of the center’s 2024 activities and the presentation of its 2025 plans. Each planning team shared its policy research, sparking discussions on achieving measurable research outcomes and strengthening collaboration. A key focus was the newly established Disaster Medical Task Force, which held in-depth discussions on developing a healthcare support system for disaster response in North Korea. Experts proposed strategies for delivering medical aid in cases of natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and large-scale humanitarian crises, with concrete policy recommendations set to follow. With this workshop, the Center for Health & Unification of Korea aims to expand research and cooperation in healthcare on the Korean Peninsula, reinforcing medical support systems and disaster response capabilities.

1) Please introduce yourself. Hello, I am Crystal Karen Go Retuya, 38 years old from the Philippines. I came here with my husband and sons, who are also studying here. 2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty? I am a board certified Dermatologist in the Philippines. I am affiliated with St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City, Metro Manila Philippines and the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Inc. 3) How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital? I came to Severance to have a subspecialty in Dermatologic Surgery and Mohs Micrographic Surgery. It has always been my passion to perform Dermatologic Surgery, and Severance Hospital has one of the best training programs for this specialty. In the Philippines, there are only a few Dermatologic Surgeons, I will be able to serve more people after my training here. Yonsei Severance is known for having the brightest Professors and Physicians, the most advanced technology in healthcare, and has paved the way for the globalization of medicine. 4) How long is your training period in Korea? My training period is from March 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. 5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? I trained intensively to be a Dermatologic Surgeon under Professor Kee Yang Chung for the first 6 months and Professor Byung Ho Oh for the latter part of my stay in Severance. 6) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital? I have been in Severance for 10 months now, and I am still impressed with the quality of healthcare that is being delivered to each patient. I am amazed at the team effort that goes into each case and how each member is always prepared to carry out their task in the fastest and most efficient way possible. 7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship program at Severance? I am training to be a Dermatologic Surgeon and Mohs Micrographic (Skin Cancer) Surgeon 8) If you were to get the chance to come back, which field of clinical study would you like to focus on? Yes, I would still choose to study Dermatologic Surgery because it is a specialty that requires hands on training under the guidance of seasoned surgeons. Every new patient is a chance to learn new skills, techniques, and knowledge. Every day is a learning opportunity, and I always feel grateful that I was able to undergo hands on training with a medical license from the government of South Korea in such a prestigious Hospital. 9) Who are you most thankful for at Severance(who helped you the most) & why? I am most grateful to my Professors, Professor Kee Yang Chung and Professor Byung Ho Oh who have been very patient and meticulous about my training. They made sure that I would learn enough skills and knowledge to be able to perform well when I go back to my home country. They have not only taught me about surgical skills and research, they have also helped me and my family adjust to the life here in Seoul. I am also grateful to our Wound Care Nurse Ms Kyoung Ae Nam and Professor Jin Woong Jung who have also contributed so much to my training at the Dermatologic Surgery Department. 10) What was your first impression of Korea? My first impression of Korea is that everything was fast paced and done perfectly. It is one of the attitudes that I have come to adapt, and I believe it has increased my productivity and efficiency. I am very impressed with the exceptional results that come out off teamwork and being goal oriented, these are the values that I will bring with me when I return home. 11)What is the best memory so far during your stay here? The best experience during my stay is completing surgeries using the skills and knowledge that my Professors have passed on to me. When I first came here, I knew I had so much to learn, and I wanted to make sure that I would make the most out of my training period. My stay here in Seoul has also allowed me to learn many things about Korean culture, and one of the things I will bring home with me is the exceptional work ethic that they have. I have no regrets doing the Severance International Fellowship, I believe it is one of the best decisions I made in my life career-wise, and I would gladly do it again without any second thoughts. I have made new friends that I will surely keep even when I return home to the Philippines, and I am now equipped with knowledge that I could never have acquired if I didn't move out of my comfort zone.