To formally establish collaborations in medical innovations, healthcare leadership, and compassionate service, Saint Louis University (SLU), through its President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, and Catholic Kwandong University- International St. Mary’s Hospital (CKU ISMH), through its President and CEO, Rev. Fr. Dong-Hyun Go, forged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 19 March 2026.
The ceremonial MOU signing, held at CKU ISMH in Gangwon-do, South Korea, further sealed the partnership between SLU Sacred Heart Medical Center (SLU SHMC) and CKU lSMH in joint healthcare initiatives. Among the witnesses to the signing were SLU SHMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Paul Adlai Quitiquit and Campus Planning, Maintenance & Security Department Director, Mr. Jeffrey James Gamit.
SLU will engage in various benchmarking activities while in Gangwon-do, South Korea.
The MOU emphasized international cooperation, promoting the shared mission of innovating medical education, clinical training, research, and global health initiatives, while also strengthening the commitment to serve the poor and marginalized.
“As an international hospital, we believe that global collaboration is essential to advancing healthcare and nurturing future medical leaders. Through this partnership, we look forward to building a strong and lasting relationship that benefits our students, healthcare professionals, and most importantly, the patients we serve. May this partnership grow into a meaningful journey of collaboration and healing,” Rev. Fr. Go announced on his social media feed highlighting the shared mission of SLU-SHMC and CKU ISMH in education, healing, and service.
Meanwhile, SLU, through its SHMC, remains firm with its commitment to continue innovating the facilities and services of the Medical Center in pursuit of its core mission to provide compassionate healthcare not only to Louisians, but to the public in general.
Aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the MOU signing strengthens SLU’s ongoing global healthcare engagements, such as prior agreements and partnerships with international medical centers and facilities like the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, as well as Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium and Bang Chalong Health Promotion Hospital, Thailand for medical internship student exchanges. (Photos by RFGBS)
