Beautiful legacy of the late Dr. Lee Jong-wook, Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program.

For the past 15 years, Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program has fostered health and medical professionals in developing countries to honor the willingness of former Director-General Lee Jong-wook of WHO in various ways. As a result, the program raised international awareness of Korea's excellent reputation in medical service and helped domestic medical institutions expand their network with foreign entities. It started with one month training program which invited 11 healthcare professionals such as doctors and health administrators from Uzbekistan in 2007. The program has changed dramatically in its size and quality since Korea joined Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in November 2009. It gradually had professional systems with a series of courses in different categories over the years. Medical engineering course was established in 2010. The course for clinical experts in Lao PDR, also called ‘Lee Jongwook-Seoul Project’, started in 2011 which continued until last year. Courses for health administrators and disease research specialists started in 2013; courses for faculty members and high-level officials in 2017; and courses for graduate degrees and infectious disease specialists were newly established last year. The effectiveness of Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program can be found in its educational continuity from pre-to-post-education. Pre-education helps trainees prepare for the program before they come to Korea, while offering local consulting for learning transfer and better application of trainees’ skills in practice to improve the effectiveness of the program. Unlike other training programs, this fellowship program offers courses of education for various healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, professors, health administrators, disease researchers, clinical pathologists, and medical engineers. In addition, it could practically enhance capabilities of the fellows with mid-to-long-term training, tailored to specific situations of individual countries, and one-on-one customized curriculum which fundamentally could improve health care infrastructure in local areas.

Response to the infectious disease crisis through tailored reorganization.

The COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 brought various changes, affecting KOFIH’s projects. Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program immediately included courses for infectious disease specialists at the urgent request of partner countries. In this regard, KOFIH began to develop training courses in cooperation with organizations related to infectious disease control. Cambodia was added to attend courses for disease research specialists, and the budget for infectious disease related courses increased significantly from KRW 186 million to KRW 885 million this year. Safe operational system was also established for invitational training program in response to novel infectious disease. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, existing training courses had to be completely reorganized. Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program, which mostly had been conducted in face-to-face mode, has turned into a blended program that properly combines face-to-face and contactless settings. Necessary courses, which had been conducted in collective and face-to-face mode, became online education. As the need for disease control before the training is rising, the program was also with anti-epidemic measures. KOFIH responded to covid 19 by preparing manuals for invitational training program operation, and conducted disease control measures as well as monitoring at every stage of the program.Especially, KOFIH took the lead in developing a new blended program which introduced online mode of education in the mix. All of the measures came in place as training programs were disrupted by travel and flight schedule changes in addition to self-quarantine period. COVID-19 infection was also another risk factor when operating face-to-face training programs. Therefore KOFIH decided to replace offline preparations for training and mandatory courses with online education. KOFIH preemptively introduced contactless mode into the outsourced operational system for existing curriculum, and promoted online version. There were concerns and actions for safer implementation of programs compared to face-to-face invitational training. What stood out was the establishment of a comprehensive management system in response to pandemic beforehand. KOFIH prepared implementation plan for its training which followed the government’s disease control measures, and carried it out accordingly at every stage. Likewise, KOFIH actively engaged in the government’s disease control. It started to prepare COVID-19 response manuals and emergency countermeasure guides to manage entry, quarantine, and procedures for training. When support plans were established for inbound trainees, following quarantine measures and monitoring were carried out accordingly. With this tight disease control, KOFIH implemented Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program safely. Through these efforts, trainees' satisfaction with the program last year increased from 97.8% to 98%. Nonetheless KOFIH continued its program to provide a venue for exchanges with related organizations in partner countries to expand network. It was the same purpose that KOFIH has managed KOFIH Global Alumni (KGA) since 2010 until last year. Through the operation of KGA for trainees, who returned to their home countries, the post education network in the health sector was established in each country. For example, the KGA meeting was held and joined by 200 people from about 23 organizations in Lao PDR to discuss annual activity performance and future plans. Through additional support for post-training activities based on demands, KOFIH also contributed to strengthening local communities and capabilities of health workers. Above all, there were some achievements that strengthened healthcare solidarity between Korea and partner countries through joint development of projects and operation, suitable for the demand of the ministries of health in the countries, and through support for closer links.With Training of Trainers, KOFIH also improved the ripple effect of its invitational training. Due to increasing local requests for education on how to spread knowledge of medical device as well as operational and management techniques, KOFIH intended to promote its education by training lecturers and offering opportunities in local areas. Consequently, KOFIH invited medical device engineers to directly give training in local areas, which strengthened self-reliance and reduced blind spots in education. In the same manner, Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program is coping with rapidly changing situations through customized projects even in the crisis of COVID-19.

K-Quarantine, a new curriculum in joint response to infectious diseases around the world.

COVID-19 has spread around the world, and there is a possibility that various novel infectious diseases will emerge one after another. Countries paid attention to fostering medical professionals in response to this possible outbreak of infectious diseases. But some countries have poor infrastructure so they need to prepare. These countries have problems in infectious disease response system, while vulnerable to novel infectious diseases including COVID-19. KOFIH has established new courses including basic theory of infection control in the Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program. And courses were established for various measures against and response to novel infectious diseases, which are currently in progress. The program had a basic framework where National Medical Center(NMC) and Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health and Welfare(KOHI) took charge of training for infectious disease control in association with Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program to enhance capabilities of developing nations. The NMC is in charge of infectious disease control at the forefront, which expands response systems and enhances consulting capabilities for infectious disease control in different countries to ultimately foster professionals who can confront epidemics. Courses for infectious disease specialists were joined by a group of experts from Central Infectious Disease Hospital Operation Center, Central Emergency Medical Center, universities, and from related departments at NMC and KOHI as members of operating committee. By assessing validity of each curriculum, they could check necessary matters such as educational support. Also they discussed the directions of operating education for infectious disease and of cultivating health workforce which could fit for local situations in developing countries in order to improve education quality. The fellows were 23 in total-- medical professionals, researchers, administrators, and epidemiological investigators from 8 countries (Ghana, Gabon, Laos, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Tanzania) During their 5-7 week stay, they were to receive specialized training to respond to and manage infectious disease policies. They completed training for basic theory of infection control and clinical techniques, applicable in practice, while cooperating to end COVID-19 by engaging in consulting for Korea's infectious disease response policy and in epidemiological investigators’ education, all of which are known as K-quarantine. In addition, the newly established course for infectious disease experts was not a one-time event, but is going to provide consulting and follow-up support for strengthening capabilities continuously. After completion of the course and fellows’ returning to home countries and fields, discussion for possible issues will be set up prior to online or on-site consulting. What is important is that field-oriented education is conducted. Practical education is provided so that fellows can make the use of what they learned in practice after they return home. In relation, KOFIH has established a close link with NMC and KOHI so that fellows with little experience in responding to new infectious diseases can introduce Korea’s disease control systems and medical resources, and can apply them based on different countries’ situation.

• Training Course for Infectious Disease Specialists(Policy and Epidemiology)
• Training Course for Infectious Disease Specialists(Tuberculosis)

Clinical Medicine Course, turning crisis into an opportunity

Courses for clinical experts in Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program are to enhance capabilities of fellows in clinical medicine and nursing; to improve policies for health and hospital administrators in community; and thereby to promote human and material exchanges with partner countries. The courses consist of various clinical subjects, including the introduction to medical education, the method of detecting neurological diseases, and the management of musculoskeletal pain. The courses for clinical experts were participated by four doctors and two nurses from Ghana and Mongolia for the past 6 months since July last year. And the COVID-19 situation was reflected in their curriculum. The courses were remarkable as there were more lectures on topics with high timeliness and necessity, such as prevention of novel infectious diseases and community medicine, which can provide K-Quarantine know-how so that fellows can utilized them in their home countries.But there were various issues, of course, as entry of fellows into Korea was delayed due to COVID-19. And full-time employees underwent COVID19 testing since there were confirmed cases among patients at the hospital during the program. However, the fellows complied with the high level of disease control measures at the hospital, which led to smooth operation of the program. The fellows were selected through joint video interviews, and they learned quickly thanks to their excellent basic knowledge and skills. So they were expected to contribute substantially to the medical advancement in their home countries after they finish the program.

Nursing Degree Course, evolving into tailored educational program

The nursing degree course under Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program was newly established to offer MA degree course for nurses from 4 new southern policy countries (Lao, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia). The course also promotes mid- to long-term education, stronger capabilities of research and of clinical medicine in oncology. Nurses from Vietnam and Laos participated in the program last year. The program, carried out by the Industrial-Academic Cooperation Group of National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, is a project that offers ‘customized local consulting for each student’ by visiting fellows’ affiliated institutions and having discussion with their supervisors even after the training is over. It also offers follow-up support so that fellows can apply their skills in the field. With this customized education, KOFIH continues to exchange with fellows and their affiliated institutions to ultimately turn into a hub for fostering global healthcare workers. Last year was full of variables which affected KOFIH’s program operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the selection of trainees was postponed due to a lack of applicants in chaotic local situation, the admission date was also changed from March to September, which was not a smooth start. But the organizers flexibly responded to the situation by shortening the training period to 3 semesters without changing the content, while reorganizing the entire curriculum and realigning the schedule of human resources. In case of difficulties in obtaining degrees due to time limitation, an alternative system became an option that replaced degree theses. After fellows’ entry to Korea, they went through strict quarantine and disease control measures for a safe environment as much as possible. Possible recurrent problems in the COVID-19 situation will be managed by adding more advisers, relaxing application qualifications, flexible selecting of trainees or follow-up management.

Biomedical Engineering Course, helping fellows to enhance self-reliance

Biomedical Engineering Course under Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program aims to enhance capabilities of medical engineers and medical engineering manager, while promoting better health of the people in partner countries. Last year, the medical engineering course, which was commissioned by Yonsei University's Wonju Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, was conducted for 9 medical engineers from 5 countries. The curriculum was composed of subjects to strengthen capabilities of engineers and managers in the relevant field and to improve capabilities of health workers in their community. In particular, training courses reflected the needs of trainees based on the results of demand survey before training. That way fellows satisfied their demands as they were provided with theoretical classes related to medical devices that they wanted to learn and practical education in association with medical device providers. Also, the skills and knowledge that fellows of medical engineering course actually need in the field were provided through the theoretical and practical training such as how to use medical device and do maintenance, which were conducted in connection with medical engineers at Wonju Severance Christian Hospital. Through this program, fellows were able to broaden their perspective by learning not only the fundamental principles of medical engineering but also development direction of medical devices that were difficult for them to access in their countries. Later 6 fellows became lecturers and provided local training in Biomedical Engineering Unit (BEU) Workshop under the Ministry of Health of Ghana. The workshop consisted of 12 specific topics such as medical device management, intensive care, and electrosurgical devices for infection control. And it provided classes for theories of medical device maintenance and practical exercises. Academic achievement measured before and after training rose from 43.89 points to 64.68 points on average, and overall satisfaction with lectures and instructors also showed encouraging results as 87.59 points.