Seoul National University Hospital's New Director Outlines Future Plans

"We will strengthen our role as the last bastion of national healthcare and establish future medical standards based on connected healthcare and artificial intelligence (AI)."

Seoul National University Hospital is embarking on a significant overhaul focused on responding to the essential healthcare crisis and digital transformation. Baek Nam-jong, the new director, stated during a press briefing on June 15 at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, "We will fulfill our role as a think tank for national healthcare standards and policies."

During the briefing, Baek unveiled a long-term strategy centered on two pillars: the completion of essential healthcare and the establishment of intelligent connected healthcare. This plan aims to enhance the public healthcare control tower's role in response to structural crises such as the collapse of essential healthcare, regional disparities, and the entry into a super-aged society.

The core of this initiative is the 'One-Hospital' system. The plan is to build a nationwide collaborative governance structure that connects regional and public healthcare, concentrating treatment capabilities for severe and rare diseases around Seoul National University Hospital.

The hospital will also accelerate its digital transformation. It plans to introduce a 'Digital Hospital at Home' model, which continues care and treatment after discharge, and establish its own medical AI platform, 'SNUH.AI,' to enhance efficiency across clinical and operational processes.

In terms of research and industry, the hospital aims to create an integrated ecosystem linking Seoul National University (basic research), Seoul National University Hospital (clinical), Bundang Hospital (digital healthcare), and Baekgok Hospital (smart rehabilitation). The goal is to position itself as a global hub for the expansion of 'K-Medicine' through the training of physician-scientists (MD-PhD) and commercialization of technology.

Significant infrastructure investments will also be made. Notable projects include the Infectious Disease Specialty Hospital at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, the Gijang Heavy Ion Therapy Center (scheduled for 2027), and Baekgok Seoul National University Hospital (scheduled for 2029).

Specifically, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital plans to significantly expand its clinical and research infrastructure by constructing a large-scale infectious disease specialty hospital in the metropolitan area and enhancing the Jisuk-young Biomedical Research Institute to create a clinical training center. Boramae Hospital in Seoul will establish a 'Safe Respiratory Specialty Center' dedicated to the final treatment of severely vulnerable populations, while the Gangnam Center will transform into an AI-based preventive medicine hub covering disease prediction to personalized prevention.

Additionally, Seoul National University Children's Hospital will undertake a comprehensive remodeling project to increase the proportion of rooms with four beds or fewer to 93% for a more comfortable healing environment. Baek stated, "We aim to expand in a way that is fitting for a children's hospital in the long term."

To address the issue of emergency patients experiencing delays in treatment due to the so-called 'emergency room runaround,' Baek emphasized the need for national university hospitals to take a leadership role. However, he noted, "This is not an issue that can be resolved by the strength of a single hospital," explaining that collaboration through a network of hospitals is essential. He highlighted the importance of building a trust-based network that allows for information exchange and collaboration among hospitals, regardless of their location. Furthermore, he added, "We plan to secure leadership in education and research, lead the transition to medical AI, and actively utilize the research capabilities of Bundang Seoul National University Hospital."

Baek was appointed as the director of Seoul National University Hospital on May 13. His term will last until May 12, 2029. A graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Baek has served as a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, holding various positions including director of the Clinical Cooperation Center, head of the Public Relations Office, and head of the Planning and Coordination Office. He was the director of Bundang Seoul National University Hospital from 2021 to 2023.