Q. Once again, congratulations on being selected as the winner of the ‘Doosan Yonkang Academic Awards – Pediatrics’ division’.

A. I am deeply grateful to receive the meaningful award, the 1st Doosan Yonkang Pediatric Academic Award. While the award itself brings me immense joy, I am even more touched and honored by the fact that so many esteemed colleagues recognize the value of my research on a rare pediatric cancer—research that was made possible through the collaborative efforts of various experts in pediatric hematology and oncology in Korea and published in medical journals.

Q. Among the many fields of medicine, I would like to hear the reason why you chose “Pediatrics” as your major.

A. During my time as a medical student and intern, when deciding on a career path, I set a personal standard: it had to involve caring for the vulnerable, contributing to society, and bringing me a sense of fulfillment. Pediatrics fit that criteria perfectly. Interestingly, during my residency in pediatrics, hematology-oncology was the first subspecialty I decided I would never pursue. However, during three years of medical volunteer work in Laos, I happened to treat pediatric cancer patients, and through that experience, I came to realize how meaningful and rewarding this field is, leading me to choose it as my specialty.

Q. It would be grateful if you are able to explain the field you are working on, and the importance of the research.

A. Just as in my clinical practice, my research focuses on pediatric cancers, leukemia, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, areas in which I have conducted studies and continue to pursue research. The topics I choose to investigate often arise directly from my clinical experiences—questions that remain unresolved and pique my curiosity as I treat patients. As with any medical research, finding answers to these questions ultimately leads to improved patient care.

Q. Could you please provide an explanation of the award-winning research paper?

A. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is an extremely rare type of pediatric leukemia, for which the only treatment is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, formerly known as bone marrow transplantation. Due to its rarity, conducting research on JMML patients at a single institution is almost unthinkable. In our study, we gathered data from 68 patients who received transplants over 20 years from eight institutions in Korea. The five-year post-transplant survival rate for these patients was 62%, and we were able to identify various factors related to relapse and survival. Notably, our study reported findings on transplant outcomes from alternative donors other than HLA-matched related donors in JMML cases—a significant discovery with very limited global precedent.

Q. I would like to inquire about your plans as a researcher and physician.

A. With a continued commitment to my core values—caring for the vulnerable, contributing to society, and finding personal fulfillment in medicine—I will strive to lead a life of constant reflection and research, always seeking ways to apply advanced and new knowledge to my medical practice.

Q. Lastly, could you please share a few words of encouragement or advice for your fellow surgeons who are applying for the ‘Doosan Yonkang Academic Awards - Pediatrics’ division

A. Like myself, few people undertake research and write papers with the primary goal of winning an award. I, too, was able to publish in reputable journals and receive the Doosan Yonkang Pediatric Academic Award thanks to the encouragement, guidance, and support of many people. I am not yet in a position to offer advice to others. However, I believe that conducting research on topics that genuinely spark one’s curiosity and finding satisfaction in the work—regardless of the journal's impact factor—is fulfilling in itself.