Gyeongbuk Province Accelerates Talent Development in National Bio Health Industry with New Government

POSTECH Holds Interim Report Meeting on Execution Strategy for Establishing Research-Oriented Medical School

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 10th, Gyeongbuk Province held a mid-term report meeting for the ‘POSTECH Research-Centered Medical School Establishment Execution Strategy Service’ at the main conference room of POSTECH, attended by more than 30 people including officials from Pohang City and POSTECH.

The establishment of a research-centered medical school at POSTECH has gained momentum in forming consensus among related ministries and the National Assembly as it was included in the new government’s 110 major tasks and Gyeongbuk policy tasks.

This meeting was a mid-term report session for the research service jointly commissioned by the province, Pohang City, and POSTECH to prepare practical and concrete measures.

On this day, the Korean Management Association Consulting, the executing agency of the service, presented ▲ an analysis of POSTECH’s capabilities as an institution for training physician-scientists ▲ plans for establishing a medical school at POSTECH ▲ plans for establishing a university hospital for training physician-scientists ▲ expected effects of establishing the medical school and university hospital.

In particular, based on POSTECH’s competitiveness capable of fostering physician-scientists who can connect digital science technology with bio and medical technology, a concrete establishment plan was proposed to operate an MD-PhD dual degree program (8 years) at a graduate medical school (capacity of 50 students) and to promote a digital hospital as a university-affiliated hospital (900 beds) through private investment.

Following this, a heated discussion was held on response measures to continuously form consensus among related ministries, the National Assembly, and medical organizations on the necessity of training core personnel for bio-digital convergence, the source of technological innovation to strengthen the competitiveness of the future bio-health industry centered on healthcare before and after COVID-19.

The province has been steadily preparing for the establishment of a POSTECH research-centered medical school together with Pohang City.

Through the Pohang City medical school establishment investigation research service (July 2020), the justification was secured, and the ‘Pohang Medical School Attraction Promotion Committee (August 2020)’ was formed with participation from various sectors including politics, academia, medical, and economic circles, continuously establishing strategies and promotion systems that align with government policies.

Also, on December 8 last year, Pohang City, POSTECH, and members of the National Assembly held the ‘Policy Seminar on Training Physician-Scientists and Medical Education Innovation for Leading the National Bio-Medical (Healthcare) Industry,’ initiating public opinion formation and discussions for promoting the establishment of a research-centered medical school.

POSTECH President Muhwan Kim expressed confidence, saying, “Training physician-scientists is not a choice but a necessity of the era, and if a research-centered medical school and hospital are established, POSTECH will be able to produce the world’s best bio-convergence talents in its specialized fields such as predictive medicine, personalized drug development, and regenerative medicine.”

Jongho Son, Director of the Job and Economy Bureau of Pohang City, emphasized, “Through the establishment of a POSTECH research-centered medical school based on digital science technology, we will build a bio virtuous cycle ecosystem by supporting basic research, intermediary research of R&D institutions, clinical research at hospitals, and commercialization systems of companies, enabling Pohang to leap forward as a hub of the bio-health industry.”

Sungsoo Park, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “Training physician-scientists is most important to secure national bio-digital health industry competitiveness,” and added, “We will spare no effort to establish a POSTECH research-centered medical school without missing opportunities in preparation for policy changes of the new government.”

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