Seoul National University

Chromosome Laboratory in the University of Health Sciences Lao PDR

Event: Opening Ceremony of the Chromosome Laboratory
Date: January 25 (Mon), 2016
Venue: Lao Univ. of Health Sciences

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Dear Colleagues,

Today, we gather here for this ground breaking event marking the opening of the Chromosome Laboratory. I offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes as you mark this significant milestone for the first Chromosome Laboratory in University of Health Sciences Lao PDR.

I would like to emphasize that the effectiveness of the universities’ work depends to a considerable extent on maintaining a credible analytical capability. Therefore, from the very beginning of my work as President of Seoul National University, the enhancement of the University’s Social Responsibility has been one of my top priorities.

The Seoul National University College of Medicine with the help of Minnesota State University was able to advance at a rapid rate in the 1950s in terms of education, research and healthcare. Just after the Korean War, all the big hospitals and medical facilities were destroyed in Korea. Western countries who participated as an allied army helped Korea in medical field in two ways. One was the direct dispatch of the doctors who treated the patients in the newly built hospital named National Medical Center. The other one was the invitation of more than 70 young doctors who worked at the Seoul National University College of Medicine to University of Minnesota in the USA to train the basic science and clinical activities for more than one year with the name of ‘Minnesota Project’. Minnesota Project showed its enormous effects gradually over time after the cessation of the six year program in early sixties. With the rapid socioeconomic growth, medicine in Korea developed very rapidly that nowadays big hospitals in Korea showed a comparable treatment results to the top ten hospitals in USA and all these quick advances could be attributed to the outcome of Minnesota project.

Furthermore, Seoul National University College of Medicine participated from 2010 with the Ministry of Health & Welfare and Korean Foundation for International Health in Official Development Aid program with the name of Dr. LEE Jong-wook-Seoul Project on purpose of giving back the help from Minnesota Project to other country who needs help. Seoul Project was a nine year program and consisted of four parts. Protocols were developed to overcome the limited resources setting and these were possible as the Korean doctors experienced these circumstances 30 years ago.

The team that has been working very hard to achieve project outcomes and in the process got recognized. The first was inviting a doctor from University of Health Sciences Lao PDR last year for one year training. The second was supplying the facilities when the trainees returned to their country for to educate students and treat the patients in hospital. The third was dispatching senior consultant in the field they needed to Lao PDR to diagnose the situation, give opinions for the policy, and deliver lectures for the students. Given my personal interest in the new lab, I have especially high expectations for your work over the next four years. Similarly, I have high expectations for us at the Chromosome Laboratory to step up and create the supports and accountabilities that will enable your success. Over the course of this contract I expect more relevant and usable research that is presented in clear and concise reporting. I expect a continued emphasis on and commitment to quality and rigor. I expect you to focus on a manageable number of key topics, make some real progress on them and really build knowledge about them. Finally, I hope that considerable action results from your work – action that leads to better decision making, better policy, better practice and demonstrable school improvement. These are the criteria that my colleagues and I are going to apply in our judgments of the success of the Lab.

As President of Seoul National University, I believe passionately in fostering students’ success – success that is focused not just on academic excellence, but also on cultivating attributes that build a more enlightened and dynamic society. Developed in collaboration with University of Health Sciences Lao PDR, Chromosome Laboratory aims to foster stronger cultural, medical and intellectual ties between Korea and Laos.

This important grand opening celebrates Dr. LEE Jong-wook-Seoul Project’s ongoing commitment to providing scholars and doctors with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in the global society. I commend everyone at Seoul National University College of Medicine and University of Health Sciences Lao PDR who have devoted time and effort to creating this institute.

Lastly, please accept my sincere best wishes for a memorable grand opening ceremony and for many more years of excellence in medical education. I look forward to getting better acquainted and working together to foster a healthy society climate both in Laos and in Korea.

Thank you very much.