Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

The following is a full-text of the opening address by Dr. Hae-Ran Lee, President of Hallym University Medical Center(HUMC), at the 8th Hallym-Columbia-Weill Cornell-NYP International Symposium held on October 9, 2010, at COEX, Seoul:-Ed.

Dr. Schluger,
Chairman Yoon,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentleman:

I am very honored and pleased to be here with you to open the eighth Hallym-Columbia-Cornell-NYP Symposium. Let me take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Schluger, Dr. Henshke, Dr. Powell and Dr. Bulman for their generosity to accept our invitation to this symposium. I would also like to extend my special thanks to all speakers and chairs for their time and efforts to make this meeting possible.

I am really happy to tell you that since Hallym reached an affiliation agreement in 2002 with Columbia, with Cornell and NYP in 2004, we have been working very closely on annual international symposia with this year being the eighth.

We have so far addressed a wide range of socio-medical issues such as anti-aging, endocrinology, artificial organs, genetic therapy, robotic surgery, pediatrics, neurodegenerative diseases, arthroplasty and spine surgery, and cardiovascular diseases. I am convinced that sharing of their extensive experiences, profound medical knowledge and elaborate skills would be a powerful stimulus in our endeavor not only to boost academic research activities beyond borders of clinical departments, but also to contribute to the enhancement of human health.

Today, we are gathered here in Seoul again to further continue our talks under the theme of “New Strategy to Common Pulmonary Disease in the 21st Century.” As the incidence of pulmonary problems increases dramatically every year and the disease becomes more and more difficult to treat, down-to-earth discussions about the prevention and treatment of the disease are certainly well-timed. We feel it a great honor to share our thoughts with Columbia University, a world-renowned institution in pulmonology, among others.

In the meantime, we have envisioned an idea to make ourselves a world-class medical center in a few years. In March this year, we disclosed a new global vision, ‘The Mighty Hallym Initiative 2012-2015’ to bring change and innovation. We are well aware that to strengthen the global competitive edge, we should create professionalism and specialization. In this sense, I can say that today’s meeting is ultimately designed to maximize our competence to become a global healthcare center.

It may be hard to find out satisfactory solutions here and now, but I would say with every confidence that our continued discussions will surely pave the way for promoting the health of mankind in the future.

Before closing, I would like to renew my gratitude to all the participants for your presence today, and to all the organizers who have worked to put this wonderful symposium together, I wish this meeting could be most productive and rewarding.

Thank you!