▲ (from the right) Professor Deok Hee Lee from the Department of Radiology and Dr. Abdullah Alhindi

Dr. Abdullah Alhindi is a neuroradiology specialist at King Fahad Medical City in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Since April, he has been training at Asan Medical Center under the mentorship of Professor Deok Hee Lee from the Department of Radiology. Dr. Abdullah Alhindi shares his experiences during his international physician training at Asan Medical Center.

What brought you to Asan Medical Center for training?

The first reason is that Asan Medical Center is renowned worldwide for its high standards of medical care. Given that it is the largest hospital in Korea, it attracts a wide variety of patients, allowing me to encounter rare and complex cases. This presents a valuable opportunity to expand my medical knowledge and skills. Recently, I heard the news that Asan Medical Center ranked within the top five globally in four clinical specialties, according to the U.S. Newsweek rankings. This is a tremendous achievement and one of the reasons why many medical professionals in Saudi Arabia recommend Asan Medical Center as an excellent training institution.

▲ Professor Deok Hee Lee from the Department of Radiology and Dr. Abdullah Alhindi (right) reviewing imaging results together.

What are your impressions of the training so far?

I am currently learning interventional neuroradiology under the guidance of Professor Deok Hee Lee. The goal is to provide the most appropriate treatment methods through accurate imaging diagnosis for various neurovascular diseases, such as cerebral artery stenosis, cerebral aneurysms, and cerebral arteriovenous malformations, which are leading causes of stroke. In reviewing patient imaging and discussing cases with Professor Lee, I have gained insights and practical knowledge that cannot be learned through theory alone. The medical staff has been incredibly supportive, making my time here highly productive. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone for their kindness.

What aspects of the training have left the greatest impression on you?

The training system at Asan Medical Center is extremely well-organized. It is not just about observing and learning from the sidelines, but the structured curriculum ensures that you acquire both skills and knowledge through intensive training. This setup allows for significant growth, even within a short training period. I was also impressed by how well-developed the interventional radiology services and research environment are compared to my home hospital, King Fahad Medical City. After completing my training, I plan to return to Saudi Arabia and actively apply and share what I have learned here to improve our healthcare services.

▲ Dr. Abdullah Alhindi at the National Hangeul Museum

How has your life in Korea been?

During my free time, I have been engaging in various activities to experience and learn about Korean culture. I was fascinated by the Korean writing system, so I visited the National Hangeul Museum, and I have also traveled outside of Seoul to rural areas to enjoy different experiences. Although there are significant cultural differences between Korea and Saudi Arabia, such as race, climate, and religion, I found unexpected similarities as well, like the importance of family and respect for elders. These cultural parallels made adjusting to life in Korea relatively easy. While my limited Korean language skills sometimes make communication challenging, I view this as part of the charm of living in a foreign country. My time at Asan Medical Center will be an unforgettable experience.