[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, led by President Han Seong-woo, recently received the Innovative Education Award from the Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Society (KOMISS) for its contribution to minimally invasive spine surgery education.
Since April 2025, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital has been hosting the Spinal Endoscopy Surgery Beginner Workshop for medical professionals in Korea, with support from Incheon Technopark.
Based on the staged endoscopic surgery training model developed by the Spine Team, Department of Neurosurgery, led by Professors Choi Il, Jang Joon-soo and No Chan-yang, the hospital has invited medical professionals from Taiwan, Chile, Vietnam and Australia, among other countries, to provide training in minimally invasive spine surgery, including biportal endoscopic spine surgery. So far, 46 doctors from 12 countries have completed the program.
Endoscopic spine surgery is a procedure that treats spinal disorders through one or two small incisions, each about 0.5 to 1.0 cm in the lower back. A high-definition camera provides a wide and precise view, allowing surgeons to minimize damage to healthy tissue. Because the incision is small, recovery is faster and the risk of complications is lower, making the procedure relatively safe even for older patients.
Foreign medical professionals who complete the training program return to their home countries and continue teaching endoscopic spine surgery and engaging in academic activities, further expanding international exchange.
In April this year, the Vietnamese Spine Society selected endoscopic spine surgery as a major session, and medical staff from Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital were invited as speakers to give Live Surgery demonstrations and lectures. Endoscopic spine surgery will also be featured as a key session at the 1st Latin America Surgical Innovation Week in Chile in November, where the hospital's medical staff will participate as speakers.
Professor Choi Il of the Department of Neurosurgery, who took part in developing the program, said, "It is very meaningful that the excellence of the training program designed by our hospital's Spine Team, Department of Neurosurgery, has been officially recognized." He added, "With this award as a stepping stone, we will continue to develop the curriculum so that more medical professionals in Korea and abroad can receive high-quality training."
Meanwhile, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital plans to continue leading the spread of surgical techniques and the advancement of spinal disorder treatment at home and abroad through its endoscopic spine surgery training programs, including biportal endoscopic spine surgery, and to grow into a global base for training doctors to teach doctors.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
