KDCA Launches First 'Field Training' Program for Public Health Workforce

39 Sungkyunkwan University Medical Students Participate

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 15th that it will hold the 'KDCA Field Training Program' for future public health personnel. This program was established for the first time this year to increase the interest and understanding of prospective medical professionals in national public health policies, following the emphasis on the role of healthcare workers in the public sector and the importance of cooperation between the government and the medical community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From today until the 19th, KDCA will operate the field training program for 39 fourth-year medical students at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, utilizing the vacation period over five days.

This program includes an introduction to major public health policies promoted by KDCA, such as infectious disease preparedness and response, vaccination, chronic disease management, and climate change response, as well as tabletop exercises simulating infectious disease crisis situations.

Additionally, to provide diverse career exploration opportunities for medical students, special lectures by experts active in various fields are scheduled, including Professor Jung Eun-kyung, former KDCA Commissioner (Seoul National University), physician-scientist Professor Shin Ui-cheol (KAIST), and international health expert Dr. Song Man-ki (International Vaccine Institute).

Lee Joo-heung, Dean of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, expressed expectations, saying, "The experience in the public sector through this KDCA field training program is expected to serve as an important stepping stone for medical professionals to grow into leaders equipped with the capacity to fulfill social responsibilities."

Ji Young-mi, Commissioner of KDCA, stated, "I hope this program will greatly help in understanding public health and public medical care, and since this is a very important time for career decisions, I hope students can consider a wide range of career paths beyond clinical practice."

In the future, KDCA plans to regularize the field training program by expanding the target participants to include students from medical schools (graduate medical schools) and nursing colleges.