Getting to Know: Yong-Dae Kwon
Yong-Dae Kwon is a busy and dedicated department chair, surgeon, and educator at Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Here's what Yong-Dae had to say…
Where are you now?
Seoul, South Korea.
What's your official title? What does it mean to you?
My title is: Professor and Chairman, Department of OMFS, Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital. My title means holding big amount of responsibility as a department chair, surgeon, and educator.
What is your educational background?
I completed all of my degrees (DMD, MSD, PhD) in Dentistry at the Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea. I completed my residency program and maxillofacial surgery fellowship at this same hospital, which is also where I work today. I completed a clinical fellowship at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, and also spent one year as a visiting scholar in the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Stanford University.
Why did you become a surgeon?
Among the many dental professions, I believe that oral and maxillofacial surgery can do more for patients.
“Among the many dental professions, I believe that oral and maxillofacial surgery can do more for patients.”
What is your area of specialty?
Orthognathic surgery, dental implants, MRONJ, and bone grafts.
What's the best professional advice that anyone ever gave you?
“惻隱之心.” It means having “sympathy for patients” or “a caring mind for patients.”
What books are on your nightstand?
Stanford Sleep Book, and Fermat’s Last Theorem.
Coffee or tea?
Black coffee without sugar. Sometimes I like to add in some soy milk.
Name five artists on your iPod?
Bruno Mars, Maroon5, Wir sind Helden, Phil Collins, and Epic High (Korean Duo).
What is most fulfilling to you in your work?
The ability to change another’ persons life. Surgical change can sometimes bring about an emotional change.
“What I find most fulfilling in my work, is the ability to change another’ persons life. Surgical change can sometimes bring about an emotional change.”
Tell us about the most important experience in your life as a surgeon.
When I was a fellow in Mainz, I was very inspired by the friends that I had made while there. All of them were my mentors, even though we were all colleagues and shared the same room in the department.
If you weren't working in the medical field, what would your dream job be?
Teacher.
Do you have a mantra or favorite saying?
“I dressed him. God cured him.”—Ambroise Paré
In a few words, what does AO CMF mean to you?
It’s always great to communicate with other people who have the same profession.