Professor Lee Young-hee from Wonju Severance Hospital Named Chief Medical Officer for 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics

Yonsei Professor Lee Young-hee has been appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As CMO, Professor Lee will be in charge of planning and coordinating all medical services during the games, including injury treatment and drug testing. Professor Lee was chosen for the position due to his familiarity with the local medical service system and his extensive experience with the IOC. Professor Lee was an advisory member of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Bid Committee; currently, he is vice-chairman of the Korean Olympic Committee Medical Board, and he serves as a technical official for the World Curling Federation.  

From Sportsman to Sports Medicine

Professor Lee’s associates call him “The Sportsman.” He plays basketball with students, and he enjoys skiing and windsurfing. Because of his lifelong passion for sports, Professor Lee chose to specialize in rehabilitation medicine in medical school, which, at the time, was not a common choice for aspiring doctors. As one of the first specialists in rehabilitation medicine in Korea, Professor Lee became the country’s first rehabilitation medic during his military service.

Professor Lee’s connection with international sports began at the 1986 Asian Games, when he was working at Severance Hospital in Sinchon. During these Asian Games, he worked as a medical support staff member, which kindled his interest in sports medicine. “I first joined the medical support team,” said Professor Lee, “because the Asian Games Organization Committee asked for medical doctors whose specialization was related to sports and physical activities. I first realized the importance of the medical staff at such grand sports events through my participation in the Asian Games.” 

Participation at the Paralympics

One of Professor Lee’s specialties is treating patients who have suffered from brain damage and spinal injuries. His work with these patient eventually led him to participate in sporting events for disabled individuals, most notably the Paralympic Games.

In 1994, Professor Lee was appointed at Wonju Severance Hospital. With the cooperation of Professor Park Ju-young (Microbiology), Professor Lee founded the Wheelchair Basketball Team and Wheelchair Curling Team. The Wheelchair Curling Team received funding and support from over 500 Wonju Severance Hospital personnel; and in 2010, the Yonsei Dream Wheelchair Curling Team represented South Korea at the Vancouver Winter Paralympics, winning the silver medal.

In 1998, Professor Lee was appointed Chief Medical Advisor for the South Korean delegation at the Nagano Winter Paralympics, and he served in the same capacity for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Paralympics. These experiences led him to become more deeply involved with issues confronting disabled athletes; in 2005, he was named Chairman of Disability Categories for the Korean Paralympic Committee. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to the International Paralympic Committee, which gave him the opportunity to participate in a number of international sporting events and meetings.    

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Should Lead to Developments in Sports Medicine

Professor Lee contributed to the official Pyeongchang Bid Committee by advising on medical and Paralympic issues. According to Professor Lee: “The Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games should be an event that leaves a legacy not only in terms of sports facilities, but also in terms of sports medicine treatment.” He added that “a legacy does not necessarily mean something grandiose. Through the London Summer Olympics, Britain provided attention to areas of the city that were previously neglected. China improved its public health system through the Beijing Summer Olympics. The Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games could be an opportunity to create improvements in mind and health for Korean people, especially the young.”     

Wonju Medical School and Wonju Severance Hospital Leading the Field in International Sports Medicine

While preparing for the Pyeongchang Olympics, Professor Lee and Wonju Severance Hospital’s medical professionals have been recognized as global leaders in improving the quality of sports medicine services. Earlier this year, the Yonsei Institute of Sports Medicine and Exercise Medicine (YISMEM), which includes Wonju’s Medical School and Department of Physical Education, was named the first IOC Sports Safety and Injury Research Center in Asia. Professor Lee has been appointed director of YISMEM, and from now until 2018, the center will conduct various research projects sponsored by the IOC related to the prevention and treatment of sports injuries.     

Additionally, Wonju Severance Hospital has completed building its new Traumatology Center, which will play an important role in providing emergency medical services at the Pyeongchang Games. In the near future, a new outpatient center will be completed, which will also be used during the Olympics.