DGIST, Promotion of Establishing Institute of Science and Technology ... "Aiming to Train Physician Scientists"

DGIST (President Kook Yang) is promoting the establishment of a Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine.

Recently, due to advancements in science and technology, collaboration between medicine and engineering has become increasingly important. In various fields of modern medicine such as diagnosis, medical data analysis, treatment, and rehabilitation, system efficiency and quality improvement are necessary for patient-tailored healthcare. To achieve this, an engineering approach to the medical field is essential.

DGIST Campus, Dalseong-gun, Daegu City.

The DGIST Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine plans to focus on nurturing physician-scientists specialized in advanced bio-industries by leveraging DGIST’s excellence-centered education system and closely linking with outstanding regional medical infrastructure.

DGIST has recently achieved research results in treatments for brain-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke, and has also held technology transfers and joint symposiums through collaborative research with other institutions including the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine and Kyungpook National University (College of Medicine).

Additionally, the Korea Brain Research Institute, affiliated with DGIST, has demonstrated various achievements in brain science, including research outcomes on treatments for brain-related diseases and collaboration with U.S. companies on digital therapeutics development.

The Daegu-Gyeongbuk region has five medical schools with outstanding capabilities compared to other regions (Kyungpook National University, Keimyung University, Yeungnam University, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu Haany University), and DGIST plans to cultivate physician-scientists through mutual cooperation with these institutions.

New students for the Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine will be selected annually from those who have graduated from undergraduate programs. The new students will obtain a medical license (M.D., Medical Doctor) through a mandatory master’s program (4 years) at regional medical schools, and then immediately pursue an interdisciplinary doctoral program (Ph.D./3 years) at DGIST’s Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine to receive an M.D.-Ph.D. degree.

A DGIST official stated, “It has not yet been decided whether DGIST will establish the Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine independently or jointly with the four science and technology institutes including KAIST. Specific plans such as the number of recruits for the graduate school are undecided, and currently, only the plan to promote the graduate school has been prepared.”

Along with the establishment and operation of the Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine, DGIST plans to build a bio-convergence new industry through organic cooperation and linkage with regional innovative bio-research institutions such as the Korea Brain Research Institute and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation, fostering globally competitive regional specialized talent and advanced biomedical technology innovation.

DGIST President Kook Yang said, “Based on the life science research achievements DGIST has shown so far, we aim to cultivate physician-scientists with convergent thinking through multidisciplinary approaches across fields such as science, AI, and robotics engineering,” adding, “Together with the four major science and technology institutes, we will establish a cooperative system with universities, local governments, hospitals, and research institutions in the Daegu region to nurture globally competitive regional specialized physician-scientists.”