Seoul National University Children's Hospital (SNUCH) stands at the forefront of pediatric healthcare in Korea.

Known for its commitment to excellence and innovation, the hospital claimed the top position among pediatric-specialized hospitals in Asia, as revealed in the 2021 global children's hospital ranking published by Newsweek, a prestigious U.S.-based weekly news magazine.

During an interview with Korea Biomedical Review, Director Choi Eun-hwa of SNUCH highlighted the hospital's exceptional pediatric care, stating that families from around the world are increasingly choosing SNUCH for their medical needs.

The hospital takes a two-track strategy -- extending its services to pediatric patients from developing countries who require critical treatment but lack access to adequate healthcare in their home countries, and dispatching SNUCH pediatricians to these countries to provide training and treatment, according to Choi.  

The hospital has cared for a total of 8,682 foreign pediatric patients, including 465 who were admitted to the hospital, between 2018 and 2022.

"Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the decrease in patients due to strict travel restrictions, the hospital continued to see foreign pediatric patients visiting the hospital to receive treatment," Choi said.

SNUCH recently achieved success with a kidney transplant on a Mongolian child but the patient showed high fever after surgery.

The SNUCH team quickly confirmed that the child was infected with brucellosis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria, after drinking camel milk that the mother had brought from their homeland.

"Considering that camel milk is not readily available in Korea, our hospital team was quickly able to confirm the cause of the symptom and treat the patient," she said.

Choi also highlighted that the hospital provides high-quality translation services for foreigners and meal plans that consider each patient's dietary and religious needs.

"The hospital is also active in bringing underprivileged patients to receive treatment free of charge," Choi said. 

SNUCH is collecting funds through the hospital's charity association to bring an epilepsy patient from Uzbekistan, she added.

SNUCH spearheading global transfer of Korea's pediatric care expertise

Aside from bringing patients to Korea, the SNUCH director also said that the hospital proactively shares its expertise in pediatric patient care by sending trained physicians to foreign hospitals.

"Until recently, the hospital had stationed two physicians specializing in child epilepsy and heart surgery at Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital (SKSH), a hospital in the United Arab Emirates run by Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH)," Choi said. Upon their recent return to Korea, the two doctors received exceptional praise from the SKSH staff they were dispatched to. ."

Choi explained that the hospital plans to be more active in promoting Korea's pediatric treatment expertise on a global scale.

SNUH is planning to enter a cooperation agreement with Pakistan, and SNUCH plans to send its physicians to the country when the agreement is finalized.

SNUCH's global reach: a potential solution to Korea's shortage of pediatricians

Korea is suffering from an extreme shortage of pediatricians. 

The application rate for pediatricians dropped from 74 percent in 2020 to 25.4 percent in 2023 in just three years.

According to the Korean Pediatrics Society, 75 percent of training hospitals nationwide are facing a crisis in pediatric emergency and inpatient care.

Choi said that the hospital's strategy of dispatching doctors abroad could potentially contribute to addressing the shortage of pediatricians in Korea.

"We need to show that doctors in essential medical fields, including pediatrics, can work abroad, which will help show a new vision for the future for doctors in essential medical fields and increase the number of applicants," Choi said. "SNUCH also sees new opportunities for pediatricians at a time when it is accelerating its plans to go abroad."

'A pediatrician's only mission is to save the lives of children'

During the interview, Choi also gave advice to young doctors aspiring to become pediatricians.

"Pediatric care is hard work as it's hard both physically and mentally," Choi said.

The director said that she often cries when she sees a sick child in front of her.

"However, as a pediatrician, we are all determined to save the child in front of you," She said. "Even if some doctors end up leaving the pediatric field due to their own choices or the circumstances surrounding them, I hope they will never forget the feeling of saving the life of a child."

As a senior in the field, Choi also promised that she would strive to revive the pediatric field based on that mindset.

"I will make sure that every pediatrician's effort to protect the field is recognized," she said. "I will make SNUCH a place where anyone who dreams of pediatric care can showcase their skills to the fullest."