Creating Future Value with a New Paradigm in Health Sciences & Technology

Greetings. I am Yun Sil Chang, the 8th Director of the Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology (SAIHST).

Since its establishment in 2011 with the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST has expanded to include the Department of Digital Health, the Department of Medical Device Management and Research, and the Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation. Today, we have grown into a premier hub for Health Sciences and Technology in Korea, with over 130 distinguished faculty members—including full-time, non-tenure track, and participating professors from Sungkyunkwan University and Samsung Medical Center—and over 260 ambitious students.

Building upon the 627-year academic tradition of Sungkyunkwan University and integrating the advanced research infrastructure and world-class clinical capabilities of Samsung Medical Center, SAIHST has contributed significantly to the domestic healthcare sector. We are pioneers in the field of Health Sciences and Technology, encompassing medicine, biology, bioengineering, health data, clinical epidemiology, and medical device management and research.

Now, based on this solid foundation, we are embarking on a greater challenge toward the future to create creative and innovative value in education, research, and practical application.

The currents of the 4th Industrial Revolution and rapid technological advancements are blurring the boundaries between medicine and science, strongly demanding talents equipped with creative thinking and collaborative skills. In response, SAIHST is committed to presenting a vision for future medicine and doing our utmost to educate talents who will shape the greater future of Health Sciences and Technology.

We foster creative talents who will lead the new paradigm of Health Sciences and Technology through innovative research and education that fuses various disciplines such as medicine, biotechnology, data science, clinical epidemiology, AI, digital health, and the medical device management and research. To this end, prioritizing individual student growth, we provide the best experiences through multidisciplinary convergence education programs, global research collaborations, industry linkages, overseas training, career and startup support, and MD-PhD programs.

In particular, we will revitalize creative and future-oriented translational research focused on unmet medical needs derived from the clinical field of Samsung Medical Center, a top-tier global medical institution. We will also take the lead in connecting clinical practice with the health industry alongside bio-health companies. In this process, we will provide students with education that encompasses both the depth and breadth of convergence studies, laying the foundation for them to grow into global biomedical leaders.

Furthermore, SAIHST will grow into a global advanced R&D hub through active communication and cooperation with domestic and international medical research/educational institutions and various industries. We will establish SAIHST as the center of global Health Sciences and Technology through cooperation with world-class researchers, expansion of international networks, and the establishment of a sustainable research ecosystem.

To realize the vision of "Creating Future Value with a New Paradigm in Health Sciences and Technology," we ask for your continued interest and participation in building a community where faculty, students, and all members work together. We hope to open a greater future together.

Thank you.

January 2025, Director of SAIHST