I traveled to Seoul, South Korea to be physically present at the intersection of healthcare data collection, infectious disease management, and public health initiatives within a universal healthcare system setting. More specifically, in my several weeks in Seoul, I shadowed Dr. Min, a renowned pulmonologist and public health specialist at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, who serves on the National Tuberculosis (TB) Expert Review Committee and the Korean Multidrug-Resistant TB Consortium.
The focus of my project was to learn the architecture propelling this national objective and whether the utilization of artificial intelligence could provide a complimentary measure in light of a national radiologist shortage. Dr. Min lead me through the historical context and future strategic plan of the Public-Private Mix TB Control Project nested under the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
I was welcomed by his whole department, which at dinner, provided me with additional insights regarding the Korean healthcare system. This included learning about the system’s patient-centered paradigm and unfortunately, the unintentional government payment framework incentivizing medical school graduates to pursue specialties situated in the private sector; specialties such as dermatology and plastic surgery.
When I was not getting lost in the hospital, I was mesmerized by the respect, kindness, and safety embedded within Korean culture. Seoul is a city with vertical architecture that would make Manhattan jealous and hills that make San Francisco look like it could be included among the Great Plains. Although I was in the country’s capital, the focus on integrating nature into Seoul’s ambience, was evident at every turn. The importance of history was also demonstrated with the five royal palaces nestled among the towering all-glass skyscrapers.
I will, without shame, admit that I would get blissfully lost, at minimum, 3x per day. Whenever I walked into a tiny door, thinking it was a studio closet-like space, I would encounter an underground market, a speakeasy, or stairs that would lead me to a 360-degree view, spanning all 234 square miles of that mesmerizing city. I was only ever reminded that I was 25 miles from the demilitarized zone when walking through the metro stations, where signs read “bomb shelter this way”.
By the end of my stay, the barista at my favorite local coffee shop knew me by name, and taught me how to properly pronounce “espresso please” in Korean. This trip was unforgettable and there are not enough words to describe how grateful I am to my P.I. Dr. Rodwell, Dr. Min, Dr. Oh and Dr. Averbach and Woss for such a fulfilling global opportunity.
