Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) said on Thursday that Professor Kim Yeon-wook of the Pulmonology Department has been appointed as a member of the multidisciplinary practice standards committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Kim's tenure in this role will be until 2025.

IASLC is a globally prominent society focused on research, education, and guideline development for lung cancer and thoracic malignancies. With over 8,000 members spanning more than 100 countries, the IASLC is influential in shaping standards in the field. Their lung cancer staging system is widely recognized and utilized as a standard guideline worldwide.

The multidisciplinary committee, including Kim as a member, consists of specialists in lung cancer from various departments such as pulmonology, thoracic, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology worldwide. Its objective is to establish international standardization and clinical guidelines regarding the composition and function of multidisciplinary teams, crucial for effective lung cancer care.

Due to the inherent challenges in biopsying lung cancer without incision and bleeding, multidisciplinary care is vital throughout the diagnostic phase and treatment decisions, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. This approach integrates expertise from various fields alongside patients and their caregivers.

"I aim to formulate strategies and guidelines for lung cancer treatment tailored to the global treatment landscape, not solely limited to Korea," Kim said. "Furthermore, as a lung cancer expert, I will advocate for the equitable provision of proven effective medical technologies to all patients in need, irrespective of national variances and regulations."

Kim is an internationally recognized lung cancer researcher who also serves on the planning committee of the American Thoracic Society's Thoracic Oncology assembly. He has led the founding of the Asia Pacific Coalition against Lung Cancer.