Faculty
A Positions and Employment
2/1984 Medical license (South Korea)
2/1988 Internist license (South Korea)
3/1992 - 9/1998 Assistant professor (Asan Medical Center/University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
7/1995 -12/1996 Research fellow (Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School)
9/1998 - 8/2003 Associate professor (Asan Medical Center/University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
1/2002 - 2/2002 Visiting professor (Queensland University Hospital, Brisbane, Australia)
9/2003 - Present Professor (Asan Medical Center/University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
3/2010 - 2/2014 Associate dean (University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
3/2014 - 2/2018 Dean (University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
5/2021 – present Vice president of medical affairs (University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
9/2010 - 8/2011 Director of the scientific committee, Korean Society of Cardiology
1/2017 - 12/2018 Secretary general, Korean Society of Cardiology
1/2019 - Present Director of the international affairs committee, Korean Society of Cardiology
4/2004 - 3/2006 Director of the scientific committee, Korean Society of Echocardiography
4/2006 - 3/2008 Director of the planning committee, Korean Society of Echocardiography
4/2008 - 3/2010 President, Korean Society of Echocardiography
9/2019 - Present Associate editor, Heart (BMJ Publishing Journal)
B Honors and Awards
1984 Graduation with honors from Seoul National University Medical College
1997 Distinguished academic achievement award, Korean Society of Internal Medicine
2005 Best manuscript of the year, Korean Society of Internal Medicine
2008 Best professor of the year, University of Ulsan College of Medicine
2010 Best manuscript of the year, SNUH (Seoul National University Hospital) Alumni Award
2011 Yuhan Excellence Award, Seoul Medical Association
2018 Pfizer award for translational research, National Academy of Medicine of Korea
2019 Hamchun Excellence Award, SNUMC (Seoul National University Medical College) Alumni Award
2019 Best Professor of the Year, University of Ulsan College of Medicine
C. Contributions to Science
1. Medical treatment to prevent progression of aortic valve calcification
The historical background that frames the scientific problem: AS is the most common valvular heart disease that requires surgical or transcatheter valve replacement. The molecular mechanism of development of valvular calcification is not clear and medical treatment is not available.
The central findings: We found that the DPP-4/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis is critical for maintaining normal valvular structure, and that increased DPP-4 expression due to aging or endothelial damage cause pathological oseoblastic transformation of the valvular interstitial cells, which results in aortic valvular calcification. Successful drug repositioning of the currently available DPP-4 inhibitors that are currently used for diabetes would enable the prevention of AS progression.
The influence of the findings on the progression of science or the application of those findings or technology: These findings can serve as a sound scientific background for clinical trials. Considering that AS is a typical example of unmet clinical need, positive results of the trial can change our treatment guideline with a significant paradigm shift in routine daily clinical practice.
My specific role in the described work: I initiated a translational research with molecular biologists at our campus and served as a corresponding author of two landmark papers on DPP-4 and AS.
Publications:
2. Cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale
The historical background that frames the scientific problem: The potential association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and cryptogenic stroke has been a controversial issue for several decades and we have witnessed the publication of articles with the contrasting results of percutaneous closure of PFOs in the past 5 years.
The central findings: We hypothesized that transcatheter device closure confined to patients with cryptogenic stroke and characteristic PFO morphology associated with a higher stroke recurrence rate is a more appropriate approach for enhancing the benefits of PFO closure. In a randomized clinical trial (DEFENSE_PFO, NCT01550588), we confirmed that PFO closure in patients with high-risk PFO characteristics resulted in a lower rate of the primary end point as well as stroke recurrence. In the pooled data analysis with CLOSE-PFO trial performed in Europe, the morphologic characteristics of PFO and the adjacent atrial septal wall were found as important determinants of stroke recurrence.
The influence of the findings on the progression of science or the application of those findings or technology: These results can help to better identify the patients with a high risk of stroke recurrence under medical therapy who may particularly benefit from PFO closure. Considering the high prevalence of PFO in the general population and in patients with cryptogenic stroke, transcatheter device closure confined to patients with cryptogenic stroke and characteristic PFO morphology associated with a higher stroke recurrence rate would be a more appropriate approach for enhancing the benefits of PFO closure.
My specific role in the described work: I was the primary investigator of the randomized clinical trial (DEFENSE_PFO) and served as the corresponding author of the two publications generated from the trial.
Publications:
3. Aortic intramural hematoma as an independent disease entity in acute aortic syndrome
The historical background that frames the scientific problem: The imaging characteristics of aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) on computerized tomography and transesophageal echocardiography enable differential diagnosis from aortic dissection (AD) in patients with acute aortic syndrome. However, it is yet to be clearly determined whether IMH is an independent prognostic factor for determining the clinical outcomes of acute aortic syndrome.
The central findings: We confirmed that the clinical features, response to treatment strategy, and outcomes of IMH patients were distinct from those of AD patients with better early and late survival outcomes. In addition, the disease entity (AS vs. IMH) was an independent factor associated with both acute and long-term mortality.
The influence of the findings on the progression of science or the application of those findings or technology: Due to the geographic heterogeneity of the prevalence of IMH (i.e., significantly lower prevalence in the Western populations), the clinical significance of IMH is unfairly underestimated and IMH is treated merely as a variant form of AD without distinct characteristics. Our findings can contribute to dramatic changes in the management guidelines for patients with acute aortic syndrome and IMH will be considered as a distinct disease entity with different clinical characteristics and prognosis.
My specific role in the described work: This topic has been one of my main research topics for more than 20 years and I was the corresponding author of the following publications.
Publications:
4. Ergonovine echocardiography for non-invasive diagnosis of coronary vasospasm
The historical background that frames the scientific problem: Although coronary vasospasm is an important mechanism of myocardial ischemia, the current American guidelines no longer address spasm provocation testing, indicating their underutilization. Non-invasive spasm provocation testing thus warrants further investigation so that its place in routine clinical practice may be conclusively determined.
The central findings: Ergonovine echocardiography for coronary vasospasm diagnosis could be safely performed even without angiographic documentation of fixed coronary stenosis depending on the clinical presentation, and provides important prognostic implication. Ergonovine echocardiography can replace the invasive spasm provocation testing, which has been overlooked unfairly in daily practice.
The influence of the findings on the progression of science or the application of those findings or technology: Ergonovine echocardiography can largely replace invasive spasm provocation testing with reasonable safety and tolerability, and considering its prognostic implications, the clinical importance of ergonovine echocardiography in various clinical presentations cannot be underestimated. The wide clinical applicability of this test could contribute to the appropriate positioning of CVS in daily clinical practice, where it has been disproportionately overlooked. This technology may be able to significantly change the current clinical practice patterns for the better.
My specific role in the described work: This topic has been one of my main research topics for more than 20 years and I was the corresponding author of the following publications.
Publications:
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