Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

1. 1) Please introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Katherine Waleska Zelaya Bean and I am 29 years old. There are 4 people in my family: my father, my mother and my older brother and me. 

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

I work at Dentic Dental Studio, which is a private dental office located in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I work as a Doctor in Dental Surgery (General Dentistry). 

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

I knew about Severance Hospital from a Korean Missionary named Jeon Chan Hyeok 전 찬혁. He and other professors from the university where I studied (UNAH) introduced me Avison International Fellowship Program and without hesitation I chose Severance Hospital because of its high leading in education and in research in dentistry. 

4)  How long is your training period in Korea?

My training period in Yonsei Dental Hospital is for 6 months.

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

My focus area is in Prosthodontics. My supervising professor is Lee Hyeongjong, Clinical Associate Professor in Prosthodontics department. 

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

Severance Hospital has caught my eye since first day. It is impressive how the hospital has evolved over the years, and become one of the most recognized hospitals in South Korea. Their professionalism, their dedication and enthusiasms they put in all their work, besides how organized they are, are some of the things I admired the most. From the diagnosis, treatment plan, execution of the treatment plan until the moment the patient leaves the hospital shows love and the importance of doing things well.

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

The specific training contents of my fellowship are: 

Understanding the study of dental prosthetics

Basic evaluation of dental prosthetics patients

Establish a diagnosis and treatment plant for dental prosthetics patients

Understanding Digital Dentistry 

Clinical application of Digital Dentistry 

Diagnose and plan using digital data integration

Participation in research activities related to digital dentistry

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

If I have the opportunity to come back I would like to focus on Fixed Restorations, learn more about diagnosis, treatment plans and the behavior of different kinds of dental materials, and definitely incorporating digital dentistry to the workflow. 

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

I can't choose just one person. I'm grateful to everyone who made my stay so warm and enjoyable, like the staff at Medical Mission Center, who were like a second family to me; My professor Lee Hyeonjong, who helped me and taught me with great dedication in my training, together with his researcher, showed me in detail how to practice dentistry, and to continue studying, every day there is something new to learn. I thank the Prosthodontics department of the Dental Hospital for letting me be part of their team.

10) What was your first impression of Korea?

My first impression when I arrived in Korea was how organized they are. No matter what field, from the moment you arrive at the airport, public transport, in restaurants, inside the hospital, at the university, anywhere, the system is well organized and people respect it. It was very good to see how clean and pleasant it is to walk the streets of Seoul.

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

The best memory so far, apart from the training in Prosthodontics, is getting to know the culture of Korea. It is totally different from my country, just like its customs and traditions, and of course Korean food is delicious. I enjoyed the autumn and winter weather for the first time in Seoul, and it has been one of the best experiences for me.