Keck School of Medicine of USC signs student exchange agreement with Seoul National University College of Medicine

LOS ANGELES — With an eye on broadening the medical school experience for students, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and Seoul National University College of Medicine have agreed to establish a student exchange program between the two schools.

The agreement was signed March 14, 2013 by Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., and Seoul National University College of Medicine Dean Daehee Kang, M.D.

“This agreement presents an exciting opportunity for our students and students at Seoul National University,” Puliafito said. “Both Keck School and Seoul National University students will benefit from the expertise of the innovative and skilled faculty on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.”

The agreement calls for qualifying students to spend up to 12 weeks studying at either the Keck School or Seoul National University. Students will receive credit toward their degree at their originating university.

“We are proud to work in partnership with the Keck School of Medicine of USC to enhance the medical education of students from both institutions,” said Daehee Kang, M.D. Ph.D, dean of the Seoul National University College of Medicine. “These are the students who will determine the future of healthcare worldwide.”

The exchange program will begin this summer. Students will enroll in classes and have opportunities for clinical learning experiences while at both universities.

The Seoul National University College of Medicine was established 60 years ago and is considered one of the nation’s leading institutions in medical education, research, and clinical performance.

According to the Seoul National University College of Medicine website, the college’s goal is “to train our students to become true leaders with warm hearts and respect for principles, to lead the way for medical and life sciences research through creativity and novelty, to realize a healthy society through devoted service and participation, and to rank with the top 10 medical schools across the globe by the year 2017.”

About the Keck School of Medicine of USC
The Keck School of Medicine of USC is a place of dynamic activity in patient care, scientific discovery, medical and bioscience education, and community service. Located on USC’s Health Sciences Campus, just east of downtown Los Angeles, the Keck School of Medicine is home to the Keck Medical Center of USC — a state-of-the-art academic medical center comprised of the Keck Hospital of USC (formerly USC University Hospital) and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. The two world-class, USC-owned hospitals are staffed by more than 500 physicians who are faculty at the Keck School. USC is also partners with the nearby Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The Keck School also is home to several research institutes, including the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC, the USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute and the USC Institute for Global Health.

Click for photo of Dean Daehee Kang (left) and Dean Carmen A. Puliafito.
From left: Seoul National University College of Medicine Dean Daehee Kang, M.D., Ph.D. and Keck School of Medicine of USC Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., sign the agreement establishing the student exchange program between the two schools. Photo by Jon Nalick (USC)