Yonsei University College of Medicine's Department of Orthopedic Surgery Marks 100th Anniversary of Medical Practice

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Yonsei University College of Medicine announced on April 27 that it is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the commencement of its specialized medical practice.

The origins of orthopedic surgery at Yonsei University College of Medicine date back to 1926, when Professor Lee Yongseol, the first Korean orthopedic surgeon, returned to Korea after completing his training at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled (now Hospital for Special Surgery) in New York. Upon his return, he began specialized medical practice as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Severance Hospital. He pioneered advanced treatments in Korea, such as spinal tuberculosis surgery and muscle transplantation, introducing them for the first time in the country for diseases that were difficult to treat at the time, including poliomyelitis and bone tuberculosis, thereby opening a new chapter in the Korean medical field.

At the 100th Anniversary Ceremony of Medical Services, officials from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Yonsei University College of Medicine are taking a commemorative photo. Yonsei Medical Center

In 1953, Professor Moon Byungki, drawing on four years of orthopedic education and training at the University of Chicago, University of Illinois Graduate School, and the University of Oklahoma Hospital in the United States, established Korea's first independent Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Severance Hospital. This became a pivotal moment in the establishment of modern orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation systems in Korea, especially in the wake of the Korean War, when the number of patients with limb amputations and poliomyelitis surged. Later, the third chief professor, Jung Inhee, who took office in 1961, led the department for nearly 20 years and further solidified its foundation.

The department continued to grow in the years following the 1990s. In 1994, it launched Korea's first osteoporosis clinic and arthroscopy research institute, followed by the introduction of specialized pediatric musculoskeletal care in 1999, a foot and diabetic foot disease clinic in 2008, and a joint and sports rehabilitation center in 2015, thereby achieving advanced specialization in each field.

Currently, the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Yonsei University College of Medicine encompasses Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Yongin Severance Hospital, treating nearly 100,000 outpatients and performing over 8,000 surgeries annually. Since being ranked fifth in the world and first in Korea in the 2021 'World's Best Hospitals' evaluation by Newsweek, it has consistently maintained its position in the global top 10, earning international recognition for its capabilities.

Professor Suk Kyungsoo, the current chief professor, stated, "Over the past 100 years, our department has achieved internationally recognized research outcomes across all areas, including spine, joints, trauma, pediatrics, and tumors. Amidst the rapidly changing paradigm of biomedical science, we will foster next-generation talent with specialized expertise through interdisciplinary integration and the adoption of cutting-edge medicine, setting new standards for patient care."

Meanwhile, at the 100th Anniversary Ceremony of Medical Practice Commencement held at Baekyangnuri Hall, Yonsei University on April 25, more than 200 guests, including Yonsei University President Yun Dongseop and Yonsei Medical Center Director Geum Kichang, delivered congratulatory remarks. The department reflected on the past 100 years of orthopedic surgery in Korea and pledged to make new strides toward the next century.

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