Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

1) Please introduce yourself. I am Dr. Era Yadav, a 31-year-old surgeon specializing in Minimal Access Surgery, currently working at Dr. Ved Prakash Surgical and Laparoscopy Centre in Haryana, India. I come from a medical family—my father, Dr. V. P. Yadav, is a General Surgeon; my mother, Dr. Urmila Yadav, is a Radiologist; and my sibling, Arsh Yadav, is currently an intern in medical school. During my General Surgery residency, I was introduced to Severance Hospital through my professors and several renowned colorectal surgeons in India whom I closely followed. As I began planning my advanced surgical training, Severance Hospital naturally emerged as the ideal institution for my professional growth. I subsequently completed a 15-month advanced training program in Colorectal Surgery, which significantly contributed to the development of my clinical expertise and surgical skills. 2) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? My Clinical Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery has been very comprehensive, structured and hands on. It consists of Surgical training in the operating room by being part of multitude of surgeries and Academic and Research work. 3) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital? For me, the most impressive aspect of Severance has been witnessing the seamless integration of advanced clinical care, meticulous surgical standards, and highly structured teamwork. This combination not only ensures exceptional patient care but also maintains efficiency and consistently strong outcomes, even with the high patient volume. As a young surgeon, being exposed to such a high case load and participating in real-time, evidence-based decision making during complex surgeries has been invaluable. It’s an experience that will significantly shape my growth and development not just as a surgeon but also as a human being and will definitely influence the kind of surgeon I become. 4) If you were to get the chance to come back, which field of clinical study would you like to focus on? If I were given an opportunity, I think I would never want to leave. My experience both in Severance and South Korea has been very meaningful and enriching. Returning would feel like a natural continuation rather than a new beginning. If I had to chose one particular thing - I’d like to deepen my knowledge and skill set in Robotic surgery which is still an emerging and disparately available treatment option in my country. It’s the culture of precision, infallible team work and class level mentorship here that makes me hope to stay back and if not then definitely for a chance to return. 5) Who are you most thankful for at Severance(who helped you the most) & why? It’s truly impossible to choose just one person I am most grateful for at Severance. Every single person I have met here has contributed in their own unique way to shaping my experience. My time here would not have been the same without all of them. From my very first point of contact- the incredibly efficient, helpful, and patient team at the Office of International Affairs -to all my generous, highly skilled and kind professors, colleagues, and the entire OR team, each person has played a meaningful role in building my learning, confidence, and sense of belonging. Everyone has welcomed me into their routines and their lives, making Korea feel like a second home. So it’s safe to say that my experience here has not been shaped by one individual, but by the collective support and generosity of an entire team of phenomenal people. 6) What was your first impression of Korea? My first impression of Korea was that it is a beautiful country that perfectly amalgamates nature, history and modern innovations. It is a well organized, deeply respectful and welcoming country. Everything - right from the public transport to the functioning in the hospital, is efficiently and thoughtfully designed. Most of all I noticed how warm, considerate and welcoming Koreans are to all the foreigners trying to adapt to the new culture and language here. It’s a perfect blend of modernity and discipline that has always kept me motivated to strive for better. 7) What is the best memory so far during your stay here? I’ve made many wonderful memories in Korea, but the most meaningful one was the moment I realized I could fully participate in the operating room. My professors trusted my skills and allowed me to perform independent steps of procedures - under their guidance, of course - while I communicated in Korean to the best of my ability, anticipated the surgical flow, and contributed actively despite the cultural and language differences. It felt like a real milestone. It showed me how much I had grown, and that growth was only possible because the environment here has been incredibly supportive and conducive to learning.

The Center for Health & Unification of Korea at the Yonsei Institute for Global Health successfully hosted the 11th Severance Night for Korean Unification on the 24th of November at NEWILHAN Memorial Hall of the Avison Biomedical Research Center. The event was held under the theme, “Imagining My Role as a Healthcare Professional After Unification.” The event brought together faculty and staff of Yonsei University Health System, along with students from the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and the Graduate School of Public Health. Participants gathered to explore the future of healthcare and medical systems in a unified Korea and to discuss the preparations required in the field of unification health and medicine. The program opened with welcoming remarks by Yong-Beom Park, Director of the Yonsei Institute for Global Health, followed by a congratulatory video message from Ki Chang Keum, President & CEO of Yonsei University Health System. This was followed by a keynote address delivered by Seok-Jun Yoon, Chair of the Korean Society for Korean Unification, and a special lecture by Professor Woo Taek Jeon of the College of Medicine. Both speakers shared insights into the vision of a unified healthcare system and highlighted key challenges and tasks that lie ahead. In addition to the lectures, the event featured a variety of cultural programs addressing North Korean society and healthcare issues. A classical guitar performance by a North Korean defector and a vocal performance by a North Korean defector singer offered meaningful cultural perspectives. The program concluded with a talk concert titled “What Is North Korea Like These Days?”, providing participants with an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and gain a deeper understanding of the current situation in North Korea.

1) Please introduce yourself. My name is Gaspard Habimana, and I am a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), which is the busiest teaching hospital in Rwanda. I also work at the University of Rwanda. I am married and have four children—three boys and one girl—aged 10.5, 8.5, 6.5, and 2.5 years old. We adopted our 6.5-year-old son. My wife, children, and I are doing well. 2) How did you meet Severance Hospital and what kind of relationship have you had so far? I first learned about Severance Hospital from Korean medical students who were studying at the University of Rwanda. They spoke highly of Severance as one of the best hospitals in Korea and mentioned the scholarships available for international medical professionals. Two years later, I applied and was selected for the Avison International Fellowship Program. Since then, I have remained in contact with Severance through my professor Hong Koh, the Yonsei Medical Mission Center, and the Talmidim Family. This ongoing relationship has made me feel spiritually connected to Severance, even though I left Korea physically. 3) What do you mainly do in your home country and what rewards do you feel there? In Rwanda, I am a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. I run a busy outpatient clinic and conduct inpatient consultations for gastrointestinal disorders. I also perform pediatric endoscopic procedures such as diagnostic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and polypectomy, among others. The most rewarding part of my work is seeing my patients improve, especially when they come back to thank me. One memorable moment was when a patient came to my office not for a consultation, but just to say "thank you." This gave me the motivation to keep working hard. 4) What do the local hospitals and patients need most? The most urgent needs is to train more Pediatric Gastroenterologists in my country, as a single person cannot manage all the pediatric patients with gastrointestinal disorders and requiring advanced treatments. 5) If there is a task you need to do in the future, what is it? My future goal is to establish a Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship Program, which will help us to overcome that gap. With a supportive leadership and this international collaboration, my dream will become true. 6) Congratulations on receiving the award, and please tell us your thoughts. First of all , I thank God for the gift of life. I thank Yonsei University Health System for this training opportunity; I thank my home country leadership for its immense support. I thank my patients for entrusting me and their moral support. This award is a pride to my colleagues, my family, my country and myself.