Saint Louis University (SLU) solidified its growing partnership with Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital (CKU ISMH), with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions through their respective heads, SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD and CKU ISMH President and CEO Rev. Fr. Noel Dong-Hyun Go on 07 September 2026 at the Alejandro Roces Boardroom, SLU Main Campus, Baguio City, Philippines.
The signing was witnessed by the SLU Vice Presidents, School Deans, Department Heads of the School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS), SLU-Sacred Heart Medical Center team led by Medical Center Chief Dr. Paul Adlai Quitiquit; and the CKU ISMH Delegation, namely: Prof. Hyeyun Kim, MD, PhD, Director of External Affairs at the Korean Sleep Research Society, Professor in the Department of Neurology, and Director of the Sleep Medicine Research Institute; Mr. Hyo Jun Choi of the CKU Global Affairs and International Cooperation Team; and Mr. Park Jonghyung, CEO and owner of Meninblox Company. Prior to the signing, the CKU ISMH joined the SLU community as they participated in the Morning Rites.
In affirmation of the partnership, Fr. Sales said, “Today marks the coming together of two Catholic institutions, united by a common mission of service, excellence, compassion, and the promotion of human dignity. Our agreement replaces a shared aspiration to strengthen cooperation in healthcare, medical education, research, and professional exchange for the benefit of our institutions and the communities we serve.”
The SLU President added, “At Saint Louis University, we take immense pride in our longstanding tradition of excellence and health services. For generations, our university has prepared healthcare professionals who combine academic competence with ethical leadership, compassionate service, and a deep respect for the dignity of every human person…This academic strength, together with our commitment to research, community engagement, and internationalization, makes this partnership especially meaningful. We see Catholic Kwangdong University International, Saint Mary’s Hospital, not merely as a partner institution, but as a fellow Catholic institution that shares our dedication to excellence in education, healthcare, and service.” The MOU, he said, opens new opportunities for faculty collaboration, student mobility, exchange of best practices and innovative initiatives, meaningful engagement between healthcare professionals, and other areas of cooperation in healthcare, medical services, medical education, and research.
In response, Fr. Dong-Hyun Go said, “It is a profound honor to be here in Baguio City today. I’m especially delighted to form this meaningful partnership with Saint Louis University, a premier institution in the Philippines with such a rich history and prestigious heritage in higher education and healthcare. As a top-tier university, Saint Louis University deserves a partner with a matching commitment to global excellence. In line with this, our hospital has been nominated as a Top 4 finalist worldwide for International Hospital of the year at the prestigious International Travel and Health Insurance Journal (ITIJ) Awards. This global recognition reflects our ongoing evolution from a leading medical institution in Korea into a truly world-class medical center.”
The CKU ISMH President talked about the MOU’s role in opening doors for joint clinical training programs, exchange of specialized nursing protocols, and advanced training in critical care and digital nursing. “Through our Catholic Kwandong University Medical Center Academy which we established last year, we have been actively welcoming and training doctors, nurses and medical technicians from all over the world…May God bless our partnership, Saint Louis University and Sacred Heart Medical Center,” he concluded.
As can be recalled, SLU established collaborations in medical innovations, healthcare leadership, and compassionate service with CKU ISMH during their visit on 19 March 2026.
After the MOU signing, the delegation engaged in a Campus Tour at the Museum of Igorot Cultures and Arts, the Fr. Evarist Verlinden, CICM Building, and Fr. James Desmet, CICM Building, and other University facilities. In the afternoon, the tour would continue at the SLU SHMC after the Sleep Lab Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. A cultural show will then be held at the Fr. Joseph Van Den Daelen, CICM Center for Culture and the Arts followed by a fellowship dinner.
SLU-SHMC Sleep Medicine and Neuro Diagnostic Center officially opens
To inaugurate the SLU-SHMC Sleep Medicine and Neuro Diagnostic Center, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, led by Rev. Fr. Emanuel Enjang Pranatal, CICM, Parochial Vicar and Hospital Chaplain of the SLU Sacred Heart Medical Center (SLU-SHMC). The blessing ceremony, held at the 8th Floor, Immaculate Heart Building, SLU-SHMC, was attended by the SLU Administration, including representatives from SLU-SHMC and the CKU ISMH delegation. The new facility was dedicated in recognition that the work is undertaken in participation with the healing ministry, fostering the Catholic identity as a visible sign of love and mercy.
Ahead of the blessing, an MOU signing ceremony took place to formalize the collaboration between CKU and SLU-SHMC, covering the development and implementation of programs, techniques, and procedures related to polysomnography and sleep laboratory operations, student exchange programs, observership programs, fellowship opportunities, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in telemedicine and digital healthcare.
Afterward, the delegation was led on a tour of the various facilities of SLU-SHMC.
Capping off the day’s momentous events was a cultural show titled “Iyaman Tako: Honoring Filipino Music, Dance, and the Joy of Community” by the SLU Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) Performing Groups held at the Fr. Joseph Van Den Daelen, CICM Center for Culture and the Arts.
A fellowship dinner then ended the day with strengthened ties united by the shared mission of competent and compassionate healthcare and medical education.
