Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

The International Operations Team of Hallym University Medical Center interviewed Dr. Khishigjargal Purevsukh from Mongolia about her fellowship experience at Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital.

The visiting scholar Dr. Purevsukh has a Postgraduate Diploma in the General Surgery and did residency at the Institute of Postgraduate Training, Health Sciences University of Mongolia. She has also completed the Internship program in Plastic Surgery at the UB Songdo Hospital in 2013. The young talented Mongolian doctor has joined fellowship program from March 2014 under the supervision of Dr. Jong Wook Lee of Plastic Surgery and Dr. Jun Hur of Burn Surgery at Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital.

The following questions were asked to Dr. Khishigjargal Purevsukh at the interview:

Q) What made you choose to participate in the Fellowship Program at Hallym University Medical Center and how did you get to know your supervisor/mentor at Hallym?

A) While doing my surgical residency, my main interest became plastic and reconstructive surgery especially for burns. After doing some research I found out Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital is the best Burn Center in Korea. So, one of my goals was to come here for a fellowship program. Fortunately, my university had international relations with Hallym University. Through this I connected here and got the amazing opportunity to study at the best burn care hospital in Korea.

Q) What is the main purpose and the field of your fellowship training?

A) The field of my fellowship training is plastic reconstructive surgery for burn patients. The main purposes are to learn how to manage and give the appropriate care for burn patients, to give patients an opportunity to get the best outcome with reconstructive surgery.

Q) Are you satisfied with the medical expertise and communication skills of the Hallym faculty?

A) Yes, absolutely. I’m highly satisfied with the medical expertise. I could communicate fluently with the all professors and staff. They are open minded, thoughtful, skillful, great instructors, and make me feel like family.

Q) Do you have a particular story that you would like to share during fellowship program at the hospital?

A) During my fellowship program I participated in a dance competition during the sport day of Hallym University in 2015. Dancing is one of my biggest hobbies, so I volunteered. It was full of fun and left me lots of great memories. Also it was very challenging, so participants had to work hard together and it brought us closer. I made lots of talented friends.

Q) How have you / are you going to put your training experience at Hallym back into your career at your institution?

A) I have seen, learned and experienced many important, new, advanced, and latest techniques and managements. I would like to share and pass on my new experience, knowledge, skill and attitude to the Mongolian doctors and patients and continue my practice with the experience I gained.

Q) What was the most meaningful experience you had at HUMC?

A) Our hospital has a burn foundation and every year there are charity projects for Mongolians. I participated in those projects and got a chance to help many Mongolian patients.

Q) What was the biggest challenge in Korea or in the fellowship program at Hallym and how did you overcome the obstacles?

A) When I first came to Korea I used to know very little Korean. Even though I could communicate with the staff in English I couldn’t understand the patient’s speech and the professor’s advice to the patients and their conversation. So I took Korean courses and learned Korean quite fast. It was not very hard because I practiced everyday with the doctors and nurses and became close with staff. The staff helped me a lot with my Korean and also my fondness of Korean culture, food, language and lifestyle was a big motivation.

Q) What would you say to the next participants who will join the fellowship program?

A) In order to make the most out of a program I feel the person should learn the native language as well as English. Knowing the language and having some understanding of the culture is very important for learning abroad.

Q) Do you have any request regarding the fellowship program?

A) I don’t have any special requests regarding the fellowship program. But in my opinion, some extracurricular activities would be helpful for foreign fellows, such as a culture day, tours, meetings etc.

Q) Based on your experience at Hallym, which is in hot pursuit of globalization, please give us your thoughtful advice for our endeavors.

A) What Hallym doing for global is wonderful, please keep up and continue the good work.

Q) Any other comments:

A) I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to Hallym and Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital. I appreciate everything that Hallym and Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital have done for me.

Mighty Hallym!

By Ji Hee Hwang, Int’l Cooperation Team, HUMC (jihee@hallym.or.kr)