Why Can't Science Gifted Students Enter Medical School?... Joining Forces to Train Physician-Scientists

Ministry of Science and ICT Forms Public-Private-Academic Council to Explore Alternatives

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Isn't it a dilemma to forcibly prevent science prodigies from entering medical school?" This was a question posed by a student from the Korea Science Academy of KAIST who attended the science and technology policy debate hosted by the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies on the 8th, inviting Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. The student asked why prodigies are being blocked from the medical field when they are needed to resolve the COVID-19 pandemic and foster the bio industry.

In response, candidate Yoon answered with the intention of "Don't go to medical school, but study and research medical science and biomedical engineering together." In fact, students at science and engineering specialized educational institutions receiving free education funded by the national treasury entering medical school goes against the founding purpose. It was a question that was out of the question, not only against fairness and equity but also against public sentiment. Nevertheless, it is also true that 'physician-scientists' who possess clinical experience, medical knowledge, and basic science research and development capabilities such as medical science and biomedical engineering simultaneously are absolutely necessary in the future. Accordingly, the government, private medical sector, and science and technology specialized universities are joining forces.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the first meeting of the 'Physician-Scientist Training Council' together with five major science and technology specialized universities nationwide, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), as well as major university medical schools and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools.

A physician-scientist refers to a doctor who attended medical school but also possesses medical science, biomedical engineering, and other competencies, combining clinical physician and basic science research and development capabilities to be utilized in new drug development and medical device and technology research. In the United States, they have been trained since 1956, achieving great success, with about 40% of Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine coming from physician-scientists. Previously, the Democratic Party also announced a pledge to train 1,000 physician-scientists recently.

The council will review domestic and international training programs and develop training policies utilizing science and technology specialized universities, operating for the next six months. The chairperson is Professor Kang Dae-hee of Seoul National University College of Medicine. Chairperson Kang said, "We will strive to establish a physician-scientist training system that satisfies all parties through cooperation between the science and technology sector and the medical sector."

Yong Hong-taek, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, who attended as a council member, expressed expectations, saying, "Since key figures from science and technology specialized universities and the medical sector have gathered, innovative and creative physician-scientist training methods will be discovered."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.