—Gangnam Severance’s “Baikal Training Project” Brings Six Doctors from Republic of Buryatia to Seoul for Advanced Training in Cardiovascular Surgical Techniques

The six-month long “Korea-Russia Health and Medical Service Collaboration Clinical Training Project,” also named the “Baikal Training Project” after the famous Russian Lake, recently drew to a close. The project, which brought six doctors from the autonomous Russian Republic of Buryatia to Gangnam Severance Hospital, was coordinated by Gangnam Severance, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). Professor Hong Soon-chang (Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery) of Gangnam Severance directed the intensive training program for the Buryatian doctors, who were taught advanced techniques to perform a variety of cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgical procedures.
Over the course of their training, the six doctors attended lectures given by Gangnam Severance professors, while receiving hands-on clinical training and observing a number of actual surgical procedures. They also participated in more than a dozen medical conferences in Korea. In addition to providing advanced training to the Buryatian doctors, the project was designed to promote Korean medical technology in Russia.

—Delegation from Republic of Buryatia Visits Gangnam Severance

The Baikal Training Project garnered significant attention within the Republic of Buryatia, and on March 3, a visiting delegation from the republic visited Gangnam Severance Hospital to encourage the Buryatian trainees and observe the hospital’s advanced medical technologies and patient treatment system. Led by Aleksander Zandanoff, Buryatian Vice Minister for Health and Welfare, and Yevgenia Ludpova, Director of Republican Clinical Hospital in Ulan-Ude, the Buryatian group was impressed by what it saw during the week-long stay in Seoul. According to Vice Minister Zandanoff: “This health and medical technology project will significantly contribute to enhancing the medical standards of the Republic of Buryatia.”

—First “U-Health Care” Consultation with Buryatian Patient

The “U Health Care” system, which was created three years ago at Gangnam Severance Hospital, allows for remote video medical treatment. On March 19, in conjunction with the Baikal Training Project, Professor Haam Seok-jin (Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery) of Gangnam Severance provided the first video medical consultation with a female patient in the Republic of Buryatia. For his consultation, Professor Haam used medical data, such as CT-scans, MRIs, x-rays, and cardio ultrasounds, provided by Republican Clinical Hospital.