Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

Yonsei Institute for Global Health (YIGH) recently held a completion ceremony for the Foreign Medical Trainee Pre-Training Program (SIF-PC) at the Comprehensive Building Faculty Meeting Room. A total of nine medical trainees from Uganda, Kenya, Indonesia, Ghana, Italy, the Philippines, Israel, and Malaysia successfully completed the program. The participants received training in a wide range of clinical fields, including orthopedics, breast surgery, cardiology, gastrointestinal surgery, dermatology, otolaryngology (ENT), obstetrics and gynecology, and ophthalmology. Launched in March 2020, the SIF-PC is designed for foreign physicians who will undergo clinical training at Severance Hospital. The program offers training on Korean culture, the national healthcare system, an introduction to the medical institution, and clinical research and statistics. It also helps participants meet the eligibility requirements for limited medical practice in Korea. Foreign doctors who complete the program may apply for “limited medical practice” after completing two months of clinical training. Typically, foreign trainees in Korea do not hold a Korean medical license and are restricted to observational training only. The SIF-PC is the first and only pre-training program for foreign doctors in Korea developed and operated by a private healthcare institution. Previously, only foreign physicians from certain Middle Eastern countries with agreements through the Ministry of Health and Welfare were eligible to apply for limited medical practice. With the implementation of SIF-PC, foreign doctors from a broader range of countries now have the opportunity to obtain eligibility for limited medical practice in Korea. Park Yong-beom, Director of the YIGH, stated, “As Korean healthcare continues to gain global recognition for its excellence, we aim to develop the SIF-PC into one of the leading programs for introducing Korean healthcare to foreign medical professionals.”

"SEVERANCE, Filled with Love" The 2025 Month of Medical Missions has officially begun, marking another year for Yonsei University Health System’s long-standing commitment to faith-based service. The opening service took place on the 29th of last month at Yongin Severance Hospital, setting the tone for a series of events under the theme "SEVERANCE, Filled with Love" and the slogan "Healing Hands, Loving Hearts." Through prayer gatherings, worship services, and special lectures held across the Sinchon, Gangnam, and Yongin campuses until November 11, the Medical Mission Center aims to reaffirm the founding mission that continues to define Severance’s spirit of compassion and service. A missionary prayer meeting will be held on November 3 at the sixth-floor chapel of Severance Hospital, where Nurse Jang Ki-beom from the Children’s Hospital will deliver a message titled "Because We Love." Missionary Staff Worship Services, featuring testimonies from missionaries working in regions such as Nigeria and Bangladesh, are scheduled for November 5 and 12. Later in the month, on November 19, Dr. Gaspard Habimana—a pediatric gastroenterologist from Rwanda and recipient of the 2025 Avison Global Leadership Award—will give a special chapel lecture. Having completed training at Severance in 2021 and 2022, Dr. Habimana now serves as Rwanda’s only pediatric gastroenterologist, dedicating his career to advancing child health and medical missions in his country. As part of the award, he will receive prize money and research funding for the next three years. Faith-centered gatherings will also be held across campuses. On November 11, the Nursing Department will host a faith revival service at Eunmyung Auditorium, followed by a faith lecture at Gangnam Severance Hospital on November 12, led by Medical Mission Center Director Park Jin-yong. On November 15, staff from Yongin Severance Hospital will visit the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery to honor the medical missionaries who laid the foundation of Severance’s legacy. On the same day, a Mission Talk session, jointly organized by the Medical Mission Center and eight Christian hospitals, will take place. In celebration of Severance Christian Day on November 17, Professor Jeon Woo-taek of the College of Medicine will deliver a sermon titled "Conditions for Becoming a Severance Person" at Eunmyung Auditorium. Students will also take part in the month-long celebration. On November 20, a Student Day event organized by medical, dental, and nursing students will be held at the College of Nursing’s Truth Hall. On November 28, the College of Nursing will host a Brown Bag Special Lecture on Nursing Missions at Creation Hall, led by Professor Emeritus Ogasil of Yonsei University, who served as a missionary in Mongolia. His lecture, "Nursing Missions Through Yonsei: Continuing the Legacy," will highlight the enduring influence of Yonsei-trained nurses in global health missions. The month will also feature a faculty choir performance at Severance Hospital on November 3, the Severance Praise Festival on November 11, and the 3rd Mission Day event at Ruth Chapel on the Yonsei main campus on November 27. Through these programs, the Medical Mission Center hopes to rekindle the founding vision of Severance—combining excellence in medicine with the spirit of love and service that has inspired generations of healthcare professionals.

1) Please introduce yourself. My name is Luong Thi Van Trang, 33 years old. I am the only child in my family, with both of my parents being retired teachers. I was born in a small coastal province in Central Vietnam, and I have been determined to become a doctor since I was in high school, inspired by the strong medical tradition on my mother’s side, which began with my uncle, a military physician. 2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty? Before coming to Korea to pursue my second Master’s degree in Medicine at Chung-Ang University, I worked as a Cardiologist at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital, a branch of the leading private Medical Corporation in Vietnam. I was also a part-time lecturer, teaching pre-clinical cardiology at the Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University (Da Nang). These experiences inspired me to further specialize in Cardiology, prompting me to continue my studies in Korea in August 2022. 3)How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital? In November 2024, while studying for my Master’s degree in Seoul, I had the opportunity to attend the Echo 360 Conference organized by Professor Geu-Ru Hong (Department of Cardiology, Severance Hospital). I was deeply impressed by the clinical presentations on Echocardiography and Interventional Cardiology. Fortunately, my Vietnamese teacher, Assoc. Prof. Le Minh Khoi introduced me to Professor Hong. After graduation, I immediately researched training opportunities and knew that the Severance Hospital offers excellent and in-depth fellowship programs for international doctors. I sent an email to Professor Hong and was truly grateful to be accepted under his guidance. 4) How long is your training period in Korea? Initially, I had planned to join the fellowship at the Echo Lab for only three months. However, during that time, I was lucky to receive tremendous guidance and support. Acknowledging that there was still much more to learn, I applied for an additional year of fellowship, and I am deeply grateful that Professor Hong generously supported this decision. 5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? During my fellowship at Severance, I focused on Echocardiography and Echocardiography-guided Interventional Cardiology. I observed procedures such as: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Mitral Regurgitation (TEER), Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR), Percutaneous paravalvular leak closure… In one TEER case I observed, the intervention itself took only 30 minutes and was successfully completed. Observing the patient regain consciousness very shortly afterwards allowed me to experience firsthand the advantages of these transcatheter procedures, which significantly reduce pain and enable rapid recovery, especially in elderly patients. I was truly impressed by the fast, precise interventional guidance and the adoption of novel echocardiographic techniques by Professor Geu-Ru Hong, a leading expert in Echocardiography and Rare & Structural Heart Disease. I hope to learn extensively from him so that I can apply the knowledge and these techniques when I return to Vietnam. 6) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital? I knew that Severance Hospital was one of the leading hospitals in Korea, but when I first visited, I was amazed by its scale, the vast campus and the modern buildings. While working in the Cardiology Department, I was very impressed with the department’s organization and the way it creates a comfortable environment for patients. In addition, the advanced equipment and cutting-edge techniques in the Echo Lab and the Hybrid Catheterization Lab left a strong impression on me. This was the first time I had ever worked in such a professional and modern environment. Furthermore, I am truly grateful for the supportive working culture here, with dedicated teaching from Professors and the friendliness and strong collaboration among colleagues, all of which have greatly motivated my learning. 7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship program at Severance? I have been observing and learning Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) and Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE), as well as TEE-guided interventional procedures and the use of novel imaging software for this purpose, which are performed in only a few cases or are not yet available in Vietnam. In addition, I am participating in clinical research using large, multicenter registry data. The knowledge and experience I am gaining at Severance will be invaluable for my future work in Vietnam and will strongly support my continued development in Medicine. 9)Who are you most thankful for at Severance(who helped you the most) & why? The person I am most grateful to is Professor Geu-Ru Hong, my direct supervisor at the Echo Lab, Cardiology Department. I feel truly lucky and thankful to be his student. He guided me with excellent dedication, gave me great opportunities to participate in all activities of the Echo Lab, and generously supported my life in Korea. The comprehensive knowledge I have learned from him is essential for my future work, his strong passion for Medicine inspires me to continue learning and developing and his kindness toward patients serves as a role model for me to become a better doctor. He also created valuable opportunities for me to establish important collaborations with Professors in both Korea and Vietnam, that is a tremendous support for my career. I am also sincerely thankful to Professor Jong-Won Ha, Professor Chi Young Shim, and Professor Iksung Cho, who guided me through insightful lectures and gave me the great chance to attend conferences. I am grateful to all the doctors in the Echo Lab: Dr. Hyun-Jung Lee, Dr. Sun-Hwa Lee, Dr. Sang-Gon Yoon, and Dr. Hee-Kyung Seo, who helped me a lot and involved me in research. My thanks also go to the clinical assistant, Ms. Jihyun Hyung, nurses Ms. Jung Mi Heo, Ms. Jin Young Nam, as well as the sonographers and all staff members who treated me with such warmth and kindness. 10) What was your first impression of Korea? My first impression was of a large, modern city that is also beautifully covered with greenery. Everywhere, there are trees and benches where people can relax and connect with nature. I arrived in Korea during autumn, when the leaves had all turned yellow, creating the most breathtaking scenery I had ever seen. Moreover, in Vietnam, I worked in Da Nang, a city with a river whose name is pronounced very similarly to the Han River. This made Korea feel even more familiar, especially when I walked along the shoreline of the Han River, enjoying the cool and peaceful atmosphere, while also seeing many interesting activities taking place there. 11)What is the best memory so far during your stay here? I have lived in Korea for over three years and have become very familiar with life here. There are many similarities in daily life and culture that sometimes make me feel like I am living in Vietnam. Since my main purpose here is to study, my best memories are the opportunities I have had to learn and work at Chung-Ang University and Severance Hospital, as well as to attend conferences in different provinces of Korea. In addition, the stunning natural landscapes I have visited and the kind, lovely Korean people I have met will always remain in my heart. I have collected thousands of photos, and in the coming year, I will continue to add more, with all my effort and love. I would like to express my deepest gratitude from the bottom of my heart.