Asan Medical Center(서울아산병원) is the parent of seven hospitals which are part of the Asan Foundation established in 1977 and which has non-profit operations in areas including healthcare, social work, scholarship, and R&D support. In particular, providing equal opportunity access to top-quality healthcare for residents in rural areas, AMC hospitals have become the embodiment of the Asan Foundation's mission and also that of their founder, Mr. Chung Ju-Yung, whose philosophy was "to help the neediest in our society."
Global Medical Complex - Asan Medical Center
With an area greater than 3 million sq. ft. and with 2,406 beds, Asan Medical Center is the largest hospital in Korea. AMC's first-class doctors and specialists, cutting-edge equipment, and advanced patient care system are the factors behind its position as the leader of Korea's medical society. Seoul AMC treats 8,900 outpatients and 190 emergency patients on an average day. It also performs 49,000 highly complex surgeries each year.
Asan Medical Center enjoys the reputation of being the hospital most visited by Korean people.
Reasons Behind the Reputation of Number One
- Most Respected Hospital in Korea - Korea Management Association, 2007 and 2008
- Performed Most Organ Transplantations - KONOS (Korean Network for Organ Sharing), 2007
- Number 1 in Cancer Operations for 9 different cancers - Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, 2006 and 2007
- Performed Most Cancer Operations for 6 different cancers - Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, 2006 and 2007
- Innovative Clinic for Cancer Research - Ministry for Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, 2007
- Performed Most Operations (30 major diseases) - National Health Insurance Corporation, 2006
- Top Healthcare Organization - Ministry for Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs
Behind the global leadership of AMC is the organic bond of continuous research effort and clinical studies, second-to-none experience in patient care, cutting-edge medical technology, and respect for life.
Asan Medical Center is no longer limiting itself to competition in Korea, but is reaching out to be among the world's leading clinics and to exceed the global standard in medicine. For this reason, Asan Medical Center established Asan Institute for Life Sciences and Clinical Research Center which function as the ground for research and training, new treatments development, and clinical study for cancer treatment. Modern medicine involves more than relieving pain and facilitating recovery for patients. Its overall goal is to eliminate the causes of illnesses and to protect human beings against disease so we can all live a healthy life. This is also AMC's goal in its pursuit of futuristic, state-of-the-art research based on the organic bond between medicine and technology. As the backbone of practical study for the development of medicine, AMC's Clinical Research Center goes far beyond theoretical study. Last year, it was selected as the clinical laboratory for a world-renowned pharmaceutical company, which represents another of AMC's achievements in the area of clinical study.
Progress Also Means Giving More
"Asan Spirit" breathes in the way Asan Medical Center gives to the community and provides free-of-charge treatments for those in need. Since its establishment in 1989, AMC has donated 11 billion KRW in medicine and treatments to 150,000 patients. AMC is committed to sharing patients' pain and to putting the mission of generosity and compassion into practice. Our ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality medical service, that is, to treat all patients as family members.
[edit] Overview
- Total licensed Beds : 2,406 (East Building(1,125 beds), West Building(554beds), New Building (727beds))
- Outpatients : approximately 8,900/day
- Inpatients : approximately 774,000/year - 2,100/day
- Emergency patients : approximately 70,000/year
- Surgical Operations : approximately 49,000/year
[edit] History/Milestones
- June 2009 The 6th Asan-Partners Harvard Medical International Symposium
- June 2009 Opened 'Same-day Endoscopy Clinic' using OAES (Open Access Endoscopy System) in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center
- June 2009 Commemorative event celebrating the 20th anniversary of AMC
- June 2009 Selected among the world top 100 hospitals, ranking 1st in Korea and 7th in Asia, in a survey by Cybermetrics Lab., (CINDOC), Spanish National Research Council
- June 2009 Dr. Jeong-Sik Byeon(Department of Gastroenterology), listed in Marquis Who's Who.
- June 2009 Dr. Chang-Sik Yu (Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery), won a "Best Poster Presentation" in EAES.
- May 2009 Signed the MOU with Daejeon and KAIST to set up 'Advanced Medical Complex'
- May 2009 Won the Grand Prize of 2009 Most Trusted Brand Award
- May 2009 Dr. Eun-Kyung Choi (Department of Radiation Oncology), won a president award from AARR.
- May 2009 Dr. Han-Wook Yoo(President of Children’s Hospital), received the commendation from Minister of Health, Welfare and Family.
- May 2009 Dr. Joon Pio Hong(Plastic Surgery), successfully reconstructed leg soft tissue.
- April 2009 Airway Vista 2009:International symposium on Chronic Obstructive Airway Diseases
- April 2009 International symposium commemorating the opening of Asan Cancer Center
- April 2009 Dr. Shin Hwang (Liver Transplantation and Hepato-Biliary Surgery), listed in Marquis Who’s Who.
- April 2009 Dr. Woo-Shin Cho(Department of Orthopedic Surgery), successfully performed 4,000 artificial joint replacements.
- April 2009 The Organ Transplantation Center takes initiatives in proliferating ABO incompatible transplants.
- March 2009 Opening of the world-class Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center
- March 2009 Opening of Children's Hospital
- March 2009 Opening of Asan Cancer Center
- March 2009 Dr. Ho-Yong Song(Department of Radiology), selected as an honorary member of ESR and RSNA
- March 2009 The liver transplantation team provided operative care training for Singaporean nurses.
- March 2009 Dr. Yong Ju Jang (Otolaryngology), co-authored a U.S textbook.
- February 2009 Dr. Duk-Hyun Kang(Cardiology) and Dr. Jae - Won Lee(Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery), set up new therapeutic guidelines for 'Mitral Regurgitation'.
- February 2009 Three years' consecutive honor as "Korea's Most Admired Company"
- February 2009 Medical volunteer work in Cambodia by Christian Volunteers Group led by Prof. Ahm Kim
- February 2009 Achieved 1,500 Laparoscopic Surgery for Stomach Cancer
- January 2009 AMC launches the Children's Hospital website
- January 2009 AMC announces the winners of the Functional Games for Children with Cancer
- January 2009 Dr. Jung-Sin Lee inaugurated as the new President
- January 2009 A Korean record of the 100th Da Vinci robotic cardiac surgery
- January 2009 Dr. Kyoo-Hyung Lee’s Team succeeds in half-match bone marrow transplantation*December 2008 Department of Nuclear Medicine acquires ISO 9001
- December 2008 AMC Parkinson's Disease Research Lab and Gachon University of Medicine and Science Brain Research Institute form a research partnership
- December 2008 AMC and Novartis launch a clinical trial center
- December 2008 Recipient of the Prime Minister's Award in the energy efficiency category in the 24th Kyunghyang Electricity and Energy Awards ceremony
- December 2008 The 6th International Liver Cancer Association conference
- November 2008 The second working meeting with Harvard Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- November 2008 International symposium commemorating the third anniversary of the appointment of the local clinical trial center
- October 2008 AMC participates in the International Clinic Information Fair
- October 2008 International symposium on neonatal intensive treatment status and development
- October 2008 AMC and Konkuk University Hospital form a joint research partnership
- October 2008 AMC launches Korea's first adult asthma center
- October 2008 Innovative Cancer Research Hospital international symposium
- October 2008 The second class of Cancer Expert training program
- October 2008 Volunteer activity in Harbin during Chuseok holidays
- October 2008 Recipient of the Most Highly Recognized Brand 2008 award
- September 2008 Department of Thoracic Surgery hosts an international symposium
- September 2008 Recipient of the Highest Brand 2008 award
- September 2008 AMC website (Korean) renewal
- September 2008 Cancer center visitor survey shows 98% satisfaction for one-stop patient care
- September 2008 AMC liver transplantation 'dream team' featured in ABC News
- September 2008 Yang Hyun Foundation donates cancer research fund
- September 2008 Vietnamese children with heart disease receive surgeries with the help from a Korean entrepreneur and AMC
- August 2008 Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd visits AMC
- July 2008 Asan Institute for Life Science and Institute Pasteur Korea form an extensive research partnership
- July 2008 Lecture series on 'cancer in Koreans' with Dong-A Daily News
- July 2008 Global Customer Satisfaction first place award by JMAC
- July 2008 International symposium on epileptic and asthmatic pulmonary diseases
- July 2008 International symposium commemorating the launch of AMC Children's Hospital
- July 2008 The second Asan International Gastrointestinal Diseases Symposium
- June 2008 International Clinic receives a thank you plaque from Seoul International School
- June 2008 AMC launches Korea's first medical alert team
- May 2008 Recipient of the Company of Korea 2008 award
- May 2008 Opened the Asthma Center and the Pediatric Asthma/Atopy Center
- May 2008 Opened the new 772-bed hospital building, strengthening advanced medical system, environment-friendly medical services
- May 2008 Won the Grand Prize of the Korea Social Contribution Award in ‘The Company of Korea 2008’ organized by the Korea Consumer Forum
- April 2008 Successfully transplanted a heart to a 100-day-old baby for the first time
- April 2008 The Medical Team of Cardiology led by Professor Park Seong Jeong published their dissertation in the NEJM, one of the most prestigious academic journals in the world
- March 2008 Selected as the most respected hospital for two consecutive years by KMAC
- January 2008 Publicly recognized as a hospital with the highest number of surgery cases
- January 2008 Exceeded 300 cases of liver transplantation annually
- January 2008 Seoul Asan Hospital recorded 200 cases of heart transplantation, for the first time in Korea
- December 2007 Obtained the certificate for HON Code of the homepage of Seoul Asan Medical Center (a prestigious international certificate allowed to medical information websites that comply with the 8 Code of Ethics suggested by the HON)
- December 2007 Celebration for marking 10,000 cases of colon cancer surgery
- November 2007 Held a symposium to celebrate the 1,000th prostate cancer surgery
- November 2007 Held a working meeting with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the most prominent cancer research institute in the world
- September 2007 Designated as the Good Productivity Enhancement Company in 2007
- August 2007 Yanghyun Foundation offered the donations to foster cancel specialists
- July 2007 Held the 1st Asan International Digestive Disease Symposium
- April 2007 Implementation of in house-developed EMR system
- April 2007 Selected as the most respected hospital by KMAC
- April 2007 Selected as “Korea’s Most Admired Hospital” by KMA Consultants, Inc.
- March 2007 Partnership with the Imperial College in London, UK
- November 2006 IRB officially recognized at the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific (FERCAP)
- October 2006 Ranked 1st in the National Brand Competitiveness Index (NBCI) by the Korea Productivity Center
- July 2006 World’s fist discovery of the production element of appetite control
- January 2006 AMC physicians perform Korea’s 1st simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants living donors
- September 2005 Prime Minister Award as acknowledgement of free medical services to the survivors of the tsunami
- May 2005 The groundbreaking ceremony of the new building
- March 2005 Selected as Korea’s best hospital in performance measurement by the Ministry of Health & Welfare
- December 2004 Awarded the Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs Prize
- December 2004 Fastest ever achievement of 1,000th liver transplant milestone
- December 2004 Won Presidential Prize in the Safety Management Awards
- December 2004 Open the Asan Research Center
- April 2004 First successful cardiac surgery using a robot conducted
- January 2004 1,500th kidney transplant surgery conducted
- November 2003 Awarded Grand Prize in the Korea Management Awards
- November 2003 World’s first discovery of cardiac valve replacement surgery using Ring
- September 2003 World’s first successful liver exchange transplant between four adults
- September 2003 Awarded Grand Prize for ‘Customer satisfaction’ at the National Productivity Awards
- December 2002 Awarded Presidential Prize for consumer protection services
- July 2002 First hospital in the nation to succeed in an open-heart surgery on a premature infant
- June 2002 Awarded Grand Prize in the Digital Awards 2002
- April 2002 First hospital certified ‘Korea Best Service’
- April 2002 Change the CI of Asan Medical Center
- January 2002 Liver transplantation exceeds 500 cases - Organ Transplantation Center
- December 2001 100th successful heart transplant surgery
- November 2001 Korea’s fist operation in Drug-Eluting Stent on a patient with angina pectoris
- April 2001 Successful heart transplantation on the youngest recipient in Korean history
- March 2000 AMC surgeons successfully transplant livers from two people into one patient for the first time in history
- March 2000 Department of Clinical Laboratory receives CAP certification for blood bank
- September 1999 Awarded Grand Prize & Best Entrepreneur Prize in the Customer Satisfaction (CS) Awards 1999
- July 1999 Selected a certificate company to solve the Y2K problem
- October 1998 Awarded Grand Prize for Customer Satisfaction from the Korea Management Association
- September 1998 Found the cause and treatment for intractable pulmonary hypertension
- January 1997 Interventricular septal defect cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention using 100% alcohol conducted
- July 1996 World’s first lacrimal obstruction intervention using Stent conducted
- April 1996 Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) surgery for preventing heart stroke conducted
- September 1995 Awarded in the 2nd Korea Business Cultural Awards
- December 1994 First blood-relation liver transplant conducted
- January 1993 First bone marrow transplant using hematogenesis hair cells conducted
- November 1992 Heart transplant conducted
- June 1992 Fist simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant conducted
- March 1991 World’s first coronary angioplasty using Stent conducted
- December 1990 Cerebral artery operation using extracorporeal circulation conducted
- June 1989 Open Seoul Joong-Ang Hospital of the Asan Foundation
[edit] Research and Study
In various areas of clinical and basic medicine, AMC published 567 and 825 research papers in 2005 and 2006 respectively to domestic and international medical fields, and provides integrated courses by affiliating with University of Ulsan College of Medicine. AMC offers medical students with clinical experiences by operating a pre-internship program twice a year as well. As an affiliate medical center of Harvard Medical School, AMC runs a mutual patient advisory and referral system with Harvard Medical School and collaborates in the areas of medical treatment, education, health technology planning through the exchange of doctors, nurses, health technicians, and administrative staff with Harvard Medical School. Through the partnership contracted with Imperial College London in February 2007, AMC pursues an active clinical exchange and joint research for the areas of clinical and basic medicine.
[edit] Culture Activity
AMC provides visitors with a chance to meet the world of art by exhibiting artworks in the lobby. A concert called ‘Asan Medical Center Love Concert’ which is performed by volunteering professional musicians and music majored students is held in the main hall every month. As other endeavors to provide patient friendly environment, AMC plays a movie and offers a reading room to patients and visitors.
[edit] Affiliates
[edit] Asan Foundation
The Asan Foundation was established by the late Chairman, Ju-Yung Chung, as one of the commemoration works for the 30th anniversary of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, the parent company of Hyundai Group. The Asan Foundation has focused on medical treatment and welfare business following the foundation’s purpose, “Helping the least privileged member of our society”. From the early stage, the Asan Foundation established 8 regional hospitals in rural areas such as Jeongeup, Bosung, Youngdeok , Hongcheon , Gangneung, where there were very few hospitals existed at the time, and has provided medical benefits through the hospitals.
[edit] University of Ulsan College of Medicine
University of Ulsan College of Medicine
Since founded in 1988, University of Ulsan College of Medicine has been operated in the unifications of clinical and basic medicine and runs programs to raise the student’s problem-solving ability. In December 2004, the university’s Seoul campus was moved in the Asan education Research Center of AMC, and AMC, Ulsan University Hospital, and Gangneung Asan Hospital are its teaching hospitals. There are 450 professors working at the University and 358 undergraduate, 797 master, and 275 doctor graduates since it has been founded.
[edit] Clinical Research Center
The AMC Clinical Research Center(CRC) was opened in 2002 to support the clinical research of AMC investigators. Despite its short history, about 380 clinical trials in 2005, 480 clinical trials in 2006 and over 500 clinical trials have been conducted in 2007. The AMC CRC was designated as the Regional Clinical Trial Center by the Korean Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs in June 2006. The AMC CRC provides high-quality clinical trial service with its committed, experienced investigators, large patient pool and efficient supporting infrastructure. The quality is assured by an independent unit and frequent sponsors' audits as experienced by the AMC CRC.
[edit] ASAN Institute of Life Sciences
ASAN Institute of Life Sciences
Laboratory of National Investment Project
The lab is a government-financed research team. They work on identifying the causes and developing diagnosis and treatment methods of adult diseases and cancers. At present, they are working on the discovery of genes that can maximize radiation therapy effect on cancer patients, the treatment techniques of metabolic diseases accompanied by obesity and other diseases, signal-transmitting systems related to insulin, and the discovery of Korean-specific SNP in osteoporosis genes and related gene discovery/ identification studies.
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology
The lab carries out basic research in cell biology and immunology and runs the cell cultivation chamber and the flow cytometry. The lab is working on disease development mechanism and regulation, molecular biological and cell biological research on the function, regulation and transmission agent of cure-related various cells. It is also actively engaging in the development of treatment techniques of metabolic diseases through the study of mitochondria functions, the study on the role of leukotactin-1, a new chemokine in rheumatic arthritis, the study on the role of HVEM and 4-1BB in allergic inflammation and airway remodeling of bronchial asthma airway and therapeutic possibility, and the study on surface antigen of cells related to diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis and nephritis, the study on adhesion protein and intracellular protein, the study on hematopoietic stem cell, the study on aging, the study on super antigen and self immune antigen, and the study on various tumor cell lines.
Laboratory of Genome Research
The laboratory is involved in developing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention methods of illnesses through the research on gene functions related to the identification of genetic causes using genomic analysis methods. The Genome Research Center for Birth Defects and Genetic Disorders (www.amcgenome.org) designated by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs is working on the clinical applicability and the development of prevention methods by carrying out biological research on gene discovery and genetic mutation related to various genetic disorders and congenital heart defects of human In addition, the center is equipped with an unparallel research environment where a group of clinical researchers conduct basic genome research and clinical research at the same time and the research findings are applied to the clinical trials. Such an effort will serve as a basis for realization of the personalized medicine based on individual genetic difference.
Laboratory of immunology & Transplantation
The laboratory is carrying out research to identify the pathophysiology of internal organs. It is also involved in the study on suppressing organ transplant rejection, insulin resistance treatment, islet autotransplantation, a single antigen synthesis of nucleroprotein, and the efficacy examination of new drugs in the animal models of heart disease and diabetes.
Laboratory of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
The laboratory has the first 4.7T MRI/MRS System for animal in Korea and employs the human in vivo MRS, animal in vivo MRS, in vitro NMR and the 3rd phase MRS in a mutually complementary way. It not only applies MRS using the 3D localization in brain, muscles, and heart by monitoring qualitative and quantitative analysis of bio metabolism but also uses T1 and T2 Weighted MRI and Micro MRI in picturing micro-structure of live tissues.
Laboratory of Animal Research
It has a SPF section, Semi-SPF section, Clean section, animal infection test section, operating room, electrophysiology room, SPF clearing chamber, transformation lab, microbiology lab, quarantine chamber, etc. It can breed small to large-sized animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, dogs and pigs. It is working on technical support for animal tests and the study on the development and maintenance of transformed animals. It runs the animal test committee to ensure the animal welfare and the ethics of animal testing.
[edit] Asan Health Network
Gangneung Asan Hospital, Keumkang Asan Hospital, Bosung Asan Hospital, Boryeong Asan Hospital, Youngdeok Asan Hospital, Jeongeup Asan Hospital, Hongcheon Asan Hospital
