Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital

Dr. Seok Woo Kim, director of the Spine Center at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, was invited to international conferences on neurosurgery and orthopedic surgeries in Indonesia and Vietnam from October 2 to 7, 2010. Known as an expert in spine surgeries, he introduced new trends of the cervical spine surgeries and transferred his own surgical know-how.

At the Indonesian meeting titled ‘Advances in Cervical Spine Surgery’ in Surabaya, he elaborated on ‘the midline splitting double-door laminoplasty,’ one of the surgical approaches for the ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, and the minimal invasive upper cervical surgery. He also did cadaver demonstration for further discussion and performed a live surgery to introduce ways to deal with an emergency situation during an actual surgery.

He had also participated in an orthopedic conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, which was held in commemoration of the 1,000th year of the Vietnamese capital relocation. Dr. Kim delivered recent surgical knowledge on pedicle screw fixation and fusion of the first and second cervical segments, spinal stenosis and spine surgeries and joined a workshop for international orthopedic and neuro surgeons while performing a live surgery.

Since he has succeeded in his independent cervical surgery in May, 2006, the Hallym surgeon has been invited to many international conferences for lectures on high-risk cervical surgeries, and cervical artificial disk replacement surgeries. He was appointed as a member of screening board of the Spine Journal in 2007, and is now playing an important role as a member of vice editors’ board.

By Jong Hun Im, Int’l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)