Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital

The Stroke Center of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital hosted an international joint symposium on "Stroke Unit and Stroke Care System" at the Hanmaeum Hall in the main building on March 21, 2009. The center invited medical experts from the U.S., Sweden and Japan to the meeting.

Stroke is getting public attention due to aging and the growing prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases, and the world has recently been seriously suffering from the trouble. Fourteen medical experts of neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, and rehabilitation medicine in Korea, the U.S., Sweden, and Japan were invited to speak at the symposium where they shared clinical experiences, compared stroke care systems of different countries, and discussed current issues in stroke care.

Presentations and discussions focused on three sessions: The stroke care system in Korea, Sweden, and Japan; The current issues in critical care of acute stroke; and The recovery of stroke using endovascular treatment and neuroplastiticy.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Hae-Ran Lee, President of Hallym University Medical Center, welcomed all participants, saying, "This forum on stroke unit and stroke care system bears a particular significance by the time we open the Hallym Neurological Institute at this Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. I believe it is a result of Hallym's efforts to go ahead with a strategy of specialization, to secure the competitive edge in an era of globalization."

Dr. Byung-Chul Lee, director of the hospital, noted, "I am convinced that expert knowledge of the presenters and extensive experiences followed by lively discussions help us identify the problems of stroke, and explore ways to relieve human beings of their sufferings."

The specific programs including topics and speakers are as follows:

Session I
    1. Stroke care systems and quality control of stroke management in Sweden
        (Dr. Anderas Terent, Uppsala University, Sweden)
    2. Stroke care system in Hallym Stroke Center
        (Dr. Kyumg-Ho Yu, Neurology, Hallym University, Korea)
    3. Stroke Unit and Stroke care system in Japan
        (Dr. Yasuhisa Kitagawa, Tokai University, Japan)
    4. Issues for certification of stroke unit in Korea
        (Dr. Hee-Joon Bae, Neurology, Bundang Seoul National University, Korea)

Session II
    1. Role of Neurointensivist in Stroke care unit
        (Dr. Axel Rosengart, Weill-Cornell University, USA)
    2. Controversies in Critical Care of Acute Stroke
        (Dr. Sung-Hee Hwang, Neurology, Hallym University, Korea)
    3. Intra-venous Thrombolytic Therapy in Korea: SITS-MOST Korea
        (Dr. Joung-Ho Rha, Neurology, Inha University, Korea)

Session III
    1. Current Status of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke
        (Dr. Deok Hee Lee, Radiology, Asan Medical Center, Korea)
    2. Carotid Stenting
        (Dr. Sing-Gi Ahn, Neurosurgery, Hallym University, Korea)
    3. Neuroplasticity and Recovery of Stroke
        (Dr. Suk Hoon Ohn, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Hallym University, Korea)

By Jonghun Im, Int'l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)