SNU Hospital staf at Phu Yen General Hospital in Vietnam

From July 24 to 29, the SNU Hospital collaborated with the Smile for Children medical volunteer organization to give free operations to children with cleft lips and palates at the Phu Yen General Hospital in Phu Yen Province, Vietnam. Around 50 doctors, medical staff and student volunteers participated in this effort, a legacy of the collaboration between the Smile for Children medical volunteer organization and the SK Group that began in 1996.

In performing the operations alongside their counterparts at the Phu Yen General Hospital, the SNU medical staff has helped Vietnamese hospitals over the years to become more self-sufficient in providing operations and medical care for cleft conditions. The equipment used during the program is then donated to the Phu Yen General Hospital.

This year, which marks the 23rd year of the legacy, brings the total number of operations to almost 4000. Baek Rong-min, Professor of the SNU Hospital Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and President of Smile For Children, said that “the work feels most fulfilling when the children come back as full-grown adults to express their gratitude,” and that it is all the more worthwhile because it “contributes to the happiness and wellbeing of our neglected global neighbors.”

Written by Jeeye Hong, SNU English Editor, hongjeeye16@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr