▲ Kang Chang-ryeol, Professor of Medical Information at Daejeon Institute of Science and Technology

The world is rapidly turning into a new era called 'homo-hundred' - people living 100 years. Science and technology have seen a truly marvelous advancement for the last couple of decades and medical technology in particular is greatly contributing to lengthening our lives. 

There is no doubt that the Korean medical technique also has seen a significant advancement with world class research and development backed up by cutting edge equipment. However, industry experts voice together the need of improvement in the study of medical administration services that is as important as the surgery in the operation room. 

Despite this excellence of Korean medical skills in the global stage, the systematic study on the medical administration in Korea still seems to stay at its infancy. Yet, this does not mean that there are no specialists in the field. 

Kang Chang-ryeol, Professor of Medical Information at Daejeon Institute of Science and Technology, is the one who has walked a single path as a medical administration specialist for the last 40 years. 

He boasts 18 kinds of relevant licenses and certificates and writing 120 books on insurance claim, national insurance, hospital administration, health care information and much more. Also, Kang is the one who founded the Medical Administration Research Cooperative Society. 

58 specialists are proactively engaged in the activities of the Society and they are professors, doctors, nurses and the specialists of the medical field who work in cooperation under the leadership of Kang. In recognition of his contribution to the field, the Ministry of Health and Welfare conferred Kang a ministerial prize in 2013. 

Kang obtained a doctoral degree in public health while working for National Tuberculosis Hospital in Gongju in capacity of a staff of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in August 1989. During this period, he built electronic data base of medical records of tuberculosis patients to be used as reference for treating patients with refractory diseases. 

His contribution to the field of medical administration is vast that we cannot name all of them but some of them are worth mentioning: he took the initiative in the washing hands movement, improved the health and hygiene at university cafeteria through a close monitoring, wrote 'Gungangsem' - The Fount of Health - and handed out 1,000 copies to local residents for free, and made a health calendar for free distribution. 

It is also notable that he served as a judge of Research Tasks at the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and he has been serving as an advisor for epidemiological survey on Lyme disease since 2012. 

If Kang has secured the highest reputation in the field, his fame in fostering talented young medical administration specialists is no less in its recognition. When asked about his educational philosophy, he said humbly "I ask students to have patience, consideration to others, and to be tomatoes. Why tomatoes? Because they are the same inside and outside."

We are not sure whether this might be the reason for nearly 80% of students at the Department of Medical Information got a job after graduation. What is sure is that his philosophy, as the authority in the field, certainly seems to be working effectively. 

Kang says "One's technique surely takes core part in implementing one's duty. More important, however, is the humanity the one has trained hard to secure for quality implementation as a whole."

We can guess his actions from this of his value added stance that he is running a free guest house for missionaries, serving as a suicide prevention committee member, and promoting stop drug abuse and stop smoking and drinking campaigns. 

When asked about his future plan, Kang said "I would like to build a medical administration library and a university for disabled. I welcome those who have books and materials on rare diseases to join the library project, and those who have the same mind and need for a university for disabled in Korea. We can make it happen by working together and make it better and worth." 

Kang added "Do not be afraid of failure. Because, I can say I'm not the best but I always did my best. I do now and I will always."