Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital held a health lecture on shoulder health for the US Forces Korea at Osan Air Base on April 9.

Dr. Yong-Tae Kim, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery & Musculoskeletal Center at Dongtan Hospital, gave a two-hour health lecture on shoulder diseases and sports injuries, covering symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of shoulder diseases and sports injuries, as well as methods of injury classification, surgical treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.

The lecturer, Dr. Yong-Tae Kim, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Dongtan Hospital, is a specialist in shoulder and elbow disorders and sports injuries. Having worked as a military doctor at the Korean military hospitals in Busan and Yangju, he has a lot of clinical experience and understanding of soldiers' injuries and treatments.

About 32 officials from various medical professions, including doctors, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists and medical technicians from Osan Air Base, attended. They showed great interest in various preventive measures, including different stretching methods and rehabilitation treatments.

A healthcare official said, “In the course of military operations and training, joint injuries such as shoulder injuries are common. It was a very useful and practical lecture that helped us to better understand the cause of shoulder injuries and learn how to prevent them.” They suggested that it would be great if professional lectures by sports medicine experts were held on a regular basis.

Professor Kim responded, “I am always grateful for the role of the US Forces in Korea for stability and peace in East Asia. It was good to meet and share knowledge and experience with the medical staff responsible for the health care of the troops at the US military base. Until now, we have only cared for the patients who have been referred to our hospital, but we hope that this visit will allow more members of the unit to experience the professional medical services of our hospital.”

Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Medical Group in 2013. Since then, Dongtan Hospital has provided the best medical services to USFK and their families by opening an International Healthcare Center for customized services and providing a twice-daily shuttle bus between the hospital and Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. It maintains a close relationship with USFK by inviting US military officials every year and introducing its state-of-the-art medical facilities to foreign patients.

By Seungheon Han, International Healthcare Center, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital (sh0128@hallym.or.kr)