Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

Severance Hospital Helps Cambodian Child Hear Through Cochlear Implant Surgery Global Severance, Global Charity Program Supports Treatment for 6-Year-Old Unable to Access Care in Cambodia Severance Hospital has helped give a 6-year-old Cambodian boy the chance to hear after providing cochlear implant surgery through its Global Severance, Global Charity program. Heng Mongkol, who was born with congenital hearing loss, had been unable to receive the treatment he needed in Cambodia due to limited access to specialized medical care and financial difficulties. Congenital hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders, affecting approximately one to three in every 1,000 newborns. Early detection and auditory rehabilitation can play an important role in language development and social skills. Without appropriate treatment, however, hearing loss can significantly affect a child's ability to communicate and learn. For Mongkol, receiving treatment had been particularly difficult because of limited access to specialized care in his home country. A missionary working in Cambodia learned of his condition and contacted Severance Hospital to explore possible treatment options. After reviewing Mongkol's medical records, Professor Sung Joon Kim of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Yonsei University College of Medicine determined that cochlear implant surgery could potentially restore his ability to perceive sound. Severance Hospital subsequently selected Mongkol for its Global Severance, Global Charity program, which supported his surgery and treatment. Established in 2011, the program provides medical care to patients from medically underserved countries by inviting them to Korea and covering the full cost of their surgical treatment. Mongkol arrived in Korea on the 15th of last month and was admitted to Severance Hospital, where he underwent a comprehensive evaluation of his hearing and inner-ear anatomy. The medical team conducted pure-tone audiometry and auditory brainstem response testing to assess the severity of his hearing loss and the function of his auditory pathways. Imaging studies were also performed to evaluate key structures required for cochlear implantation, including the cochlea and auditory nerve. After confirming that surgery was possible, the medical team performed bilateral cochlear implantation on the 19th of last month. Cochlear implants are designed for patients with severe hearing loss who receive little or no benefit from conventional hearing aids. Rather than simply amplifying sound, the device bypasses damaged portions of the inner ear and uses electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing the brain to perceive sound. Mongkol recovered well and was discharged from the hospital on the 26th of last month. On the 10th, after doctors examined the surgical site, he underwent a process known as mapping, in which the cochlear implant was activated and the level of electrical stimulation was individually adjusted based on his responses. His care will continue even after he returns home. Severance Hospital plans to work with KT through the KT Dream Class program to support continued cochlear implant mapping and speech therapy, helping Mongkol develop his language, communication and social skills as he adapts to hearing.

Unification Health and Medical Center Selected to Lead Ministry of Unification Research Project on Inter-Korean Healthcare Cooperation The Unification Health and Medical Center at the Chejungwon Institute for Global Health has been selected to lead a policy research project commissioned by the Ministry of Unification on strategies for strengthening inter-Korean cooperation in healthcare infrastructure. The project, titled “A Study on Strategies for Promoting Inter-Korean Cooperation in Healthcare Infrastructure,” was announced on the 28th of last month. Supported by a research grant of KRW 50 million, the study will run through the end of December and aims to develop a roadmap for future healthcare cooperation between South and North Korea. The research team will assess the current state of North Korea’s healthcare infrastructure and examine relevant laws and institutional frameworks. It will also explore potential areas of cooperation, including hospitals and healthcare workforce development, pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug supply systems, emergency medical care and infectious disease control, and water and sanitation. The study will also examine potential cooperation models involving international organizations, NGOs, and third countries. Based on its findings, the research team plans to propose a phased implementation strategy and pilot project models that could provide a practical foundation for future government policies on inter-Korean healthcare cooperation. Professor Jun-wook Kwon of the Graduate School of Public Health, who serves as the project’s principal investigator, emphasized the broader significance of the initiative.

1) Please introduce yourself. My name is Katherine Paola Lara Franco, and I am 26 years old. I am from Honduras, a beautiful country in Central America. My encouragement has always come from God, my mother, sister, and grandmother. Their support gave me the confidence to embrace new challenges and continue growing. 2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty? I am a general dentist from Honduras and graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH-VS). After graduation, I worked in private practice and participated in community outreach through NGOs. I am currently completing the Avison International Fellowship at Severance Hospital, focusing on Conservative Dentistry 3) How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital? I first learned about Severance Hospital through Professor and Pastor Dr. Jeon Chan Hyeok (전찬혁), a Yonsei alumnus who visited my university in Honduras. He introduced the Avison International Fellowship and shared his experience at Yonsei, inspiring me to pursue this opportunity. His guidance throughout the application process encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and continue my professional journey at Severance. 4) How long is your training period in Korea? My fellowship was originally planned for six months. I was later given the opportunity to extend it for another six months, allowing me to complete a full year at Severance Hospital. I truly consider this extension a blessing and am deeply grateful to God for opening this door for me. 5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? My training has been in Dentistry, specifically in the Department of Conservative Dentistry at both Sinchon and Gangnam Severance Dental Hospital. 6) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital? One of the most impressive aspects of Severance Hospital is how clinical excellence, advanced technology, education, and research are integrated into patient care. The culture of continuous learning and collaboration inspired me every day. As a young dentist, observing this environment motivated me to pursue lifelong learning and always strive for excellence. 7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship program at Severance? My fellowship combines clinical observation, academic learning, and research. I observed clinical cases, attended lectures, seminars, journal clubs, and case discussions, and learned directly from professors and residents. At Gangnam Severance Hospital, I also participated in research activities related to endodontic sealers and scientific writing, giving me a broader perspective on evidence-based 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 had the opportunity to return to Severance, I would love to become more involved in dental research while continuing to strengthen my clinical skills. My fellowship has shown me that research is essential for advancing dentistry and improving patient care. 9) Who are you most thankful for at Severance(who helped you the most) & why? It is honestly difficult to choose just one person because so many wonderful people have been part of my journey at Severance. I have been incredibly blessed to learn from and be surrounded by people who have encouraged, supported, and inspired me throughout my fellowship. I am especially grateful to Professor and Pastor Chin Pak (박진용) for his guidance and encouragement from the very beginning. I would also like to sincerely thank Professor Yooseok Shin (신유석) at Sinchon and Professor Su Jung Shin (신수정) at Gangnam for their mentorship, their dedication to teaching, and for inspiring me to continue growing both clinically and academically. I am equally thankful to all the professors, residents, dental hygienists, coordinators, and staff members who generously shared their knowledge and always made me feel welcome. Their kindness, patience, and willingness to teach created an environment where I could learn with confidence every day. I am also deeply grateful for the wonderful friends I met along the way. They made my experience in Korea even more meaningful by sharing unforgettable moments, supporting me through challenges, and making me feel at home, even when I was far from my own country. Looking back, I truly believe that God placed each of these amazing people in my path at exactly the right time. 10) What was your first impression of Korea? My first impression of Korea was that it is an incredibly safe, clean, and well-organized country. I was impressed by its efficient transportation system, advanced technology, and the respect people show in everyday life. 11) What is the best memory so far during your stay here? One of my best memories has been everything I experienced, apart from training. I enjoyed attending academic conferences, getting to know Korean culture, exploring new places, and sharing those experiences with the wonderful people I met along the way made my fellowship truly unforgettable. This journey helped me grow not only as a dentist but also as a person, and it is a chapter of my life that I will always cherish.