Severance Hospital and Widers Korea holds Completion Ceremony for “Arabic Internship Program”

The completion ceremony for the first “Arabic Internship Program” led by Severance Hospital and Widers Korea was held at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul on June 19. Three students majoring in Arabic Studies at Myongji University received their certificates at this ceremony. The director of the International Health Care Center, Dr. John Alderman Linton (Professor, Department of Family Medicine), the administrative officer from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Seoul, and the faculty at the Department of Arabic Studies at Myungji University were present at the ceremony and congratulated the students for their efforts. This program, which started at the beginning of this March, was intended to train specialists who can provide translation and information services for government sponsored patients from the Middle East.

Participants and guests present at the completion ceremony for the first “Arabic Internship Program” hosted by Severance Hospital and Widers Korea

Director Linton said that “Korean and Arabic are both difficult languages to learn but I think that Koreans and Arabs are all very affectionate people and have a lot in common.” He added that “I hope that this would be an opportunity for Korea and the Middle East form a closer relationship.” Professor Jung-Kook Ahn at the Department of Arabic Studies at Myongji University commented that “This internship program enables students to fully utilize their Arabic capabilities and get hands-on work experience. It is a program optimized to foster the aptitude and attitude fit for the globalized world.”

John Linton, the Director of the International Health Care Center at Severance Hospital gives a congratulatory speech at the completion ceremony for the Arabic Internship Program

11 new students from the Department of Arabic Studies at Myungji University and Chosun University will participate in the Second Arabic Internship Program which will start on June 23. The program will be introduced at Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital, Samsung Medical Center and Wooridul Hospital as well. The CEO of Widers Korea, Jeong-joo Lee, a consultant specializing in the health care industry, pointed out that “The language barrier is the biggest obstacle for international patients who visit Korea for medical tourism.” Lee added that he will “continue to educate global specialists who can not only help patients during the immigration procedures and their medical treatments, but who are equipped with a global and open mindset as well.”