Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

1) Please introduce yourself.  

My name is Lascu Ana, 41years old, and I have 3 family members.

2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty?  

University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara, Romania and Medical Clinic

University Assistant, MD, PhD

Cardiac Surgery Specialist, 

Vascular Surgery Specialist 

3) How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital?  

I heard about this hospital in a training that I did in the Florida, USA, where I had the opportunity to get acquainted with a famous cardiovascular surgeon who came from here, Dr Peter Chung. I decided to come here for a hands-on training in cardiovascular surgery. 

4) How long is your training period in Korea?

My training period in Korea is for one year.

5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? Who is your supervisor?

I am training as a fellow in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Supervisor: Prof. Youn,Young- Nam, Prof . Lee, Seunghyun, Dr. Shin, Yu Rim 

6) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital?

 I think that the main characteristic of Severance Hospital are the people who work, activate and are part of this "miniature city" where order is the defining element. The attitude of the people, also here I think that culture also intervenes, determines you to live carefully, imposes respect on you but also gives you the feeling that you are respected, you are important. Returning to people without whom the imposing buildings would be just lifeless museums, you can not ignore the dedication and desire to help, to be of benefit to those around you, to help the patient and make it easier for him to overcome his suffering. I think it can be said that altruism can be another characteristic of the people here.

7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship program at Severance?

My training program at Severance Hospital is outlined in my specialty. I am a cardiac and vascular surgeon and I came for this program from Romania, Europe.

I am interested in the cardiovascular surgical pathology of both adults and children. In adult cardiovascular surgery, we can talk about: valvular pathology (either repair or replacement), coronary heart disease - cardiovascular bypass, aortic disease (supra and infrarenal). Heart valve disease (Aortic valve surgery and transcatheter valve surgery, Mitral valve repair, Complex aortic root surgery). I came with the desire to improve my surgical practice, to do hands-on in the operating room of the cardiovascular surgery department. The specific contents of my fellowship program contains: Heart valve disease  (Aortic valve surgery and transcatheter valve surgery, Mitral valve repair, Complex aortic root surgery), arrhythmia surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery, aortic disease, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery bypass surgery, end-stage heart failure, left ventricular assist device, Thoracic and abdomimal aortic aneurysms,  Aortic dissection, Arterial Traumatic pathology, Congenital heart disease, adult congenital heart disease, pediatric heart failure, Heart transplant. 

8) If you were to get the chance to come back, which field of clinical study would you like to focus on?

Of course the answer to this question is quite simple and concise. Yes, I would return to my specialty that covers a vast pathology. I believe that the evolution of surgical procedures will be highlighted in the future and at the same time, I believe that every case I have seen in Severance helps me enrich my clinical experience. I would return to cardiovascular surgery in the situation where I could do hands-on, knowing that direct involvement, effective practice can bring a benefit, especially since we are talking about a surgical branch and in this case about one of the top surgeries. 

I am sure that the hospital, and the cardiovascular surgery department in particular, through the team it has and with the openness they prove will be able to carry on the classic and safe standard they prove (which they have), but also to implement any procedure that would bring a plus, a benefit to the patient.

9) What was your first impression of Korea?

Although I had the opportunity to travel to various parts of the globe, I waited impatiently and at the same time looked forward to my trip to Korea, "The Land of Quiet Mornings." 

Upon arrival in South Korea the first impression was positive. The largest Incheon International airport located 48km west of Seoul is a huge, grand, very clean and extremely well organized. 

The civilization, respect, culture here are some things besides which you cannot pass without noticing them. You can't help but be impressed by the grandeur of the environment, countless imposing / grand parks, green lawn and the multitude of colorful and perfectly arranged flowers, which all inspire your life.

Optimism, but also a continuous work, maybe sometimes hard, are specifically notable in South Korean population. As for the South Korean gastronomy, there would be countless to discuss, from the multitude of bowls, as well as the traditional products, their preparation, are strongly noticed in daily life. To conclude, I would say that everything works with a characteristic speed, a fast pace, everything unfolds quickly.

10) What is the best memory so far during your stay here?

It is quite difficult to limit it to one thing: besides the activity within the hospital, which I can categorize as an exceptional one, made with passion and dedication by everyone, without lacking competence and rigor in the procedure; I could mention part of some visits to Seoul considered the second metropolis in the world. 

About Seoul I would say that it is a huge urban agglomeration, a mixture between tradition and contemporaneity. Korea has taken over the technology of the West but has maintained its ethics and tradition. I can say that it is a real cultural expedition, where you can feel how the differences do not raise barriers between people, enrich the daily life, so it can be said that you see best how unity combines in diversity. 

I must point out, which is already known, easy to see at the hospital level, that Korea is one of the most advanced countries in the world in the field of IT. No matter where it is, there are no people without the phone in hand. 

A beautiful memory is the location given by Yeouido Hangang Park on the banks of the Han River, also known as the Park of Colors. You can enjoy a true splendor of color in spring, being a very appreciated season due to the blossoming of cherries, a true spectacle of nature. 

I can't help but remember the representative places and monuments inscribed in the UNESCO world heritage such as: Gyeongbokung Royal Palace, Bukchon Hanok traditional village, Korea National Folklore Museum next to the Royal Palace.

In my opinion, I think that a special place is occupied by the “N. Seoul Tower ” located on top of Mount Namsan which offers an extraordinary panorama of the city and its surroundings, an excellent way to get to see and know the capital Seoul.

11) What are your thoughts and feelings about the way Korea is dealing with COVID-19, and what is the situation like in your home country?

Personally, I believe that responsible behavior is not an effort and does not require many resources, but above all, let us not forget that South Koreans are a disciplined people. In my country, not being there, I don't know exactly what the situation is. What I can say is that we face a greater number of cases than in South Korea. Certainly the lack of economic resources, which are not comparable to those in South Korea, is something that can generate a minus in the acquisition of the necessary resources and also in the evolution of cases. We must also remember the cultural difference that speaks for itself. I would limit myself to a simple example of wearing a mask, which is not a problem for South Koreans, there is no need for explanations in this regard, compared to Europe and in particular speaking of the country where they come from, where this is difficult to implement. Anyway, for everyone I think it was and is a different and difficult period. On top of all this, I hope that the situation with COVID 19 will have a favorable slope, in order to be able to continue the daily activity in normal parameters.

12) Who are you most thankful for at Severance (who helped you the most) & why?

I am grateful to those people with whom I have interacted:  professors, doctors, fellow, residents, physician assistants, nurses, secretaries; but especially to those who had the courage and confidence to work with a person foreign to their country and culture, being forced to communicate in another language. 

Those who allowed me to be actually be part of the surgical team with them and were also open to discussing therapeutic and surgical conduct. I am grateful to the surgical team in the cardiovascular department: Prof. Kyung-Jong Yoo, Prof. Young-Nam Youn, Prof. Sak Lee, Prof. Hyun-Chul Joo, Prof. Jung -Hwan Kim, Prof. You-Rim Shin, who accepted me in clinic. Also to the anesthesia department headed by Prof Young Ran Kwak, a kind, communicative person with a clinical experience you can't get over or ignore.

 A special place has Prof. Young Hwan Park, a true doctor and teacher who knows how to pass on the secrets of congenital surgery to younger generations,  who combines the rapidity of surgery with the patience to explain, giving you the opportunity to practice and then explaining what you need to improve, so that the result is good, effective procedure for the patient and the surgeon. If I were to make a comparison with a word from the country where I come from, I would say: that time has not passed in vain over him, he did not gain experience only for himself, but he is willing to be one who always stays active with what he leaves behind (on the principle that the student is better than his mentor).

I would also like to mention the fact that since the beginning of my period here in Severance Hospital Prof. Seung-Hyun Lee was open, both for medical discussions (therapeutic, surgical conduct as well as the classic procedure or the openness he has for the implementation of new techniques), but at the same time he showed his availability for the administrative part, which made my integration easier, as a foreign person in the team of this hospital. I really appreciate this hospitality and kindness and even the time allotted despite the countless activities he undertakes.

I would also like to mention other names and also to thank them for showing the desire for interaction and kindness (specifying that I cannot name them all):

from the echocardiography department Prof. Geu Ru Hong, Prof. Ji Young Shim;

from the department of interventional cardiology Prof. Chulmin Ahn, Prof. Jung sun Kim;

from the thoracic surgery department Prof Paik, and also Prof Kim Young Tae for his support and kindness. 

I do not want to end without mentioning those from Avison International Fellowship, who have been an important help and support for me: Dr. Chin Yong Pak, Dr. Choi Paul, Mr. Kang, Sarah, Jane.

Also May I want to thanks Severance Academy:  in special Park SooBin and Lee Seunghyun for their help.

In conclusion, for all the kindness, goodwill/benevolence and openness of all, I think that the words are superfluous and even insufficient to say: Kamsahamnida!  Thank you! Multumesc! 

I wish them all to have everything that is best for them, their families and in the activity that each has. May God watch over and help each one.