Greetings! I am Lee Jin-woo, the 25^th President of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS).

I am honored to assume the role of the 25^th President of KAMS, a prestigious medical organization in Korea. Since its founding in 1966 as the "Sub-specialty Society Council" with 34 member societies, KAMS has expanded over the past 58 years to encompass 194 member societies, establishing itself as the foremost medical academic organization in Korea.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the past presidents and board members who have tirelessly contributed to the growth of KAMS, as well as to the representatives of member societies who have aligned their goals with those of KAMS.

KAMS will celebrate its 60^th anniversary in two years. Since its inception, KAMS has played a pivotal role in advancing medicine and improving public health by nurturing and supporting its member societies in line with its founding mission. I am committed to upholding the legacy of my predecessors, ensuring that KAMS maintains its esteemed position within the medical community and in broader national and social contexts.

During the past three years, under the leadership of former President Choung Ji-Tae, KAMS persevered in its unique projects for the advancement of medical science, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It successfully attracted new research initiatives commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, providing our member societies with opportunities to showcase their research expertise.

Former President Choung Ji-Tae also articulated KAMS's position on sensitive medical policy issues, such as the "Nursing Act," "Medical License Revocation Act," and the "Expansion of Medical Personnel." This clear stance has been instrumental in unifying the medical community and fostering solidarity among medical professionals, reinforcing KAMS's role as the cornerstone of the Korean medical academic community.

I am grateful for the steadfast direction KAMS has maintained, even in challenging times, and for the foundation laid by the previous executive team, which enables us to continue effectively leading the medical society.

I plan to continue the excellent traditions and ongoing academic projects established by previous presidents and focus on a few key projects to advance our affairs.

First, I will enhance communication with member societies to address their operational challenges and needs, and play a proactive mediating role to resolve issues when conflicts arise between societies. To achieve this, I will strengthen the organizational structure of KAMS to establish a comprehensive support system for societies. I will also create functional organizations to broaden the involvement of member societies and reinforce the development and unity of policies.

Leveraging the academic credibility of KAMS and the expertise of its member societies, I aim to build a foundation for active participation in research on medical policy and system studies, the enhancement of national competitiveness in the medical field, and advanced medical technology research. In April this year, we will inaugurate a translational medicine research center sponsored by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Additionally, critical research projects on topics such as medical devices and healthcare terminology will be undertaken.

Legal disputes related to medical practice, shortages of essential medical personnel, and various issues concerning the expansion of medical personnel have become social and national concerns. To address these issues, I will fortify communication with the media, government, National Assembly, and legal circles, and strive to regularize and normalize channels for conveying KAMS's perspective and alternatives through mutual understanding. To ensure more sustainable policy discovery and implementation, I have established a policy director for essential and regional medical care.

To facilitate the smooth execution of these projects, I will endeavor to enhance the financial resources of KAMS. Currently, the budget for unique projects constitutes only 24% of the total budget, which is primarily reliant on grants from external organizations and membership fees. The financial independence of KAMS is somewhat vulnerable in conducting active academic promotion and society support projects. I will tackle this issue by establishing a “Financial Committee for the Advancement of KAMS,” expanding donations, and actively exploring new revenue-generating projects.

In addition, I will focus on postgraduate medical education, the specialist system, medical policies including insurance systems, and the medical education system, and deepen our ties with medical-related organizations such as the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Hospital Association.

Respected members of KAMS,

Our medical community is currently navigating challenging circumstances. There are movements to hastily push forward issues such as the expansion of the physician workforce for reasons other than their core purpose, following populist trends. If we fail to address these issues, the advanced medical system we have built and the tradition and pride of medicine accumulated by our predecessors will collapse, with the repercussions ultimately affecting the public. Our medical community has a history of wisely overcoming numerous challenges and external threats to reach our current standing. I am confident that there is no obstacle we cannot surmount by uniting your will and wisdom to overcome these issues.

The 25^th executive team of KAMS is committed to steadfastly fulfilling the duties that KAMS should rightfully perform, recognizing the founding purpose of KAMS and the spirit of the times. We will prioritize the tasks that need immediate attention and place greater emphasis on executing our chosen initiatives.

I look forward to your continued cooperation and empathy over the next three years. Thank you.