※ This work is a work of fiction. Characters, groups, locations, and events depicted in this work have no relation to reality. Medical knowledge appearing in the work has been reconstructed and adapted for the story.
Chapter 31 - Research Meeting (1)
‘I don’t think these have much to do with me.’
[Sophisticated Suturing Potion (C) – Temporarily improves the user’s suturing technique. (2,000P)]
[Assist Potion (C) – Allows for faster understanding of the lead surgeon’s intentions. Significantly improves surgical assistance capabilities. (2,000P)]
He scanned the new items, but most of them seemed like things that would help surgical residents with their operating skills.
‘What’s this?’
[Presence Potion (D) – A self-luminous effect lasts for a short period. Significantly increases the user’s persuasiveness. (1,000P)]
[Stealth Potion (D) – A concealment effect lasts for a short period. Being there, yet not being there. Makes the user inconspicuous. (1,000P)]
There were also potions like these, whose purposes were completely baffling. He thought about them for a while, but they didn't seem necessary for the time being.
‘For now, the Recovery Potions and Deep Sleep Potions are enough.’
[Resources Held – 109,500P]
As he checked his resource window, the corners of his mouth naturally curled upward. Sihyeon’s working conditions were becoming incomparably better than in the past.
……
“You know there’s a research meeting this afternoon, right? Jinho, find out if we can change the meeting room reservation. To the Grand Conference Room, if possible.”
Kim Min-hong spoke as the morning rounds concluded.
“The Grand Conference Room? How many attendees should we expect?”
“Around 20? No, it might even be 30.”
“As many as 30?” Hwang Jinho asked back.
A research meeting was a place to conduct interim checks on future research schedules or papers in progress. Usually, it was an internal department event with about 10 participants at most.
“The Director of the Research Center and pharmaceutical company officials are scheduled to attend today. Make sure to prepare plenty of refreshments too.”
“Yes, sir! Understood!”
“Oh, the first-years don't really have to attend. You're busy enough seeing patients as it is.”
It was Kim Min-hong’s consideration for the first-years. The year in which one begins working on papers in earnest is the second year or higher. At this stage, first-years were merely at the level of helping senior residents organize data.
“If there’s nothing else, may I attend?”
Unexpectedly, however, Sihyeon raised his hand.
“Jinho will be busy since he’s on duty, so if there’s anything you need done, I’ll do it.”
“Really? Well, that’s great! Come and listen; think of it as getting a preview of what you’ll be doing later.”
Along with patient care, education and research were also the primary duties of a university hospital resident. He hadn't realized it during his time as a junior resident because he had been so busy just working.
If one doesn't teach juniors or write new papers, how would this be any different from a slightly larger private clinic?
‘I need to reduce trial and error.’
He had a general grasp of the major research achievements that would come out over the next few years. If he could pre-identify which research to pursue steadily and which to drop early on, he could save himself unnecessary effort.
……
“How is the recruitment of patients for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy study for Social Phobia going?”
“We currently have about 70 patients. Many patients in the outpatient clinic are hoping to participate.”
The research resident, third-year Kwon Won-ju, answered while flipping through a file.
“It’s actually an extremely common disorder, but many people live without knowing it because they think of it as just having a timid personality. Let’s promote it a bit more so we can recruit more participants.”
“Yes, Chief!”
Professor Lee Gwang-seop spoke while looking around at the audience.
“Is there any new research starting in the pediatric section as well?”
“A study on the accumulation of heavy metals in the bodies of children with ADHD is currently under IRB review.”
Shin Min-seung, a pediatric psychiatry fellow, answered.
‘It’s been a while since I saw him.’
He was a senior who had earned his specialist certification this year and was currently working as a fellow in the pediatric psychiatry department.
Although they occasionally attended general events like case presentation meetings together, their schedules usually didn't overlap, so they only saw each other once in a while.
“I see. It seems like content that could definitely be submitted to an SCI-level journal...”
Lee Gwang-seop’s voice trailed off as he looked up at the wall clock in the meeting room.
[5:46 PM]
All discussions regarding the ongoing research were finished. It was long past the time the people from the research center were supposed to arrive.
“They’re quite late. Should I give them a call?” Kim Min-hong asked, sensing the uncomfortable atmosphere.
“Let’s wait a bit longer.”
All the presentations for the research being conducted internally by the psychiatry department were finished. An awkward silence filled the meeting room.
Click.
“Oh my, I’m sorry for being late.”
A middle-aged doctor with a plump build entered the meeting room. Although he said he was sorry, he didn't look particularly apologetic given his awkward smile.
“My conversation with the President went on a bit longer than expected.”
It was Professor Kang Byeong-u, the Director of the Research Center. The research center staff he brought with him filled the meeting room one by one.
“It’s fine. Please, come this way.”
Even though it was a situation where one might feel annoyed, Lee Gwang-seop welcomed him without showing any sign of displeasure.
‘I guess a “Royal” is a “Royal” after all.’
Sihyeon furrowed his brow.
‘Professor Kang Byeong-u...’
Starting from being the youngest professor ever appointed and moving through various key positions within the hospital, he was a man who couldn't be described simply by the word “Royal.”
Until recently, he had been the Chief of Neurosurgery and the Director of the Planning and Coordination Office, but he had moved to this position when the research center was newly established.
It wasn't necessarily that his skills were so outstanding that they were unrivaled. However, if having the right parents could be considered a skill, then he certainly had it—because his father was Kang Tae-jeong, the Chairman of the Sama Group.
“This is the new lead researcher who was recently appointed to our center. She will be working with us on neuroscience research moving forward.”
Kang Byeong-u pointed out one of the people who had followed him in and introduced her to Lee Gwang-seop. It was a young woman wearing a lab coat.
“Ah, so the new researcher is...”
“Hello, Professor.”
“Yes. It’s been a while.”
Unexpectedly, Lee Gwang-seop seemed to already know her.
“I’m Kang Seo-hyeon from the Research Center.”
“Our Seohye—no, Team Leader Kang Seo-hyeon has accumulated various clinical research experiences in the CSK development team. In this new drug study as well, along with the psychiatry doctors...”
Kang Byeong-u introduced Kang Seo-hyeon to the audience. Although her overall vibe was different, Professor Kang Byeong-u’s features could be seen in her face.
“We are currently discussing technology transfers with several companies. We plan to conduct clinical research together with Samadae Hospital.”
Kang Seo-hyeon soon stood at the podium and began flipping through the prepared materials.
“I will go through the details while looking at the slides.”
Complex molecular formulas filled the screen. Affinity for each neurotransmitter receptor. Animal testing data and early clinical results.
Yawn.
Even though they were residents who had studied hard during their med school days, sounds of yawning could be heard from all over.
“...As of now, the schizophrenia treatment ASP-9022 and the antidepressant AD-2608 are the most promising candidate substances.”
After viewing the last slide, Kang Seo-hyeon spoke.
“Both drugs seem to have significant potential. What is your opinion, Chief? Would it be feasible?”
“While it’s true they are promising candidates, wouldn’t it be difficult to conduct both studies simultaneously?”
Lee Gwang-seop showed a troubled expression at her question.
“Haha, the research design is already somewhat laid out, so we just need to execute it. Aren’t you playing it a bit too safe, Chief?”
Soon, Kang Byeong-u began to pressure him, taking his daughter’s side.
“You also need to think about our Seohye—no, our Research Center’s performance...”
“......”
A moment. A heavy silence flowed.
“It’s not that simple,” Lee Gwang-seop said.
“It requires too many resources. It’s realistically difficult.”
A firm refusal. It was a side of him that wasn’t usually seen. Since he hadn’t attended this meeting in the past, it was a first-time sight for Sihyeon as well.
“Resources? It’s not like psychiatric evaluations cost money... Isn’t that evaluation just a matter of doing interviews?”
“That is exactly the point I’m making. A psychiatric interview is ultimately something a ‘person’ does. Everything from the process of screening whether a subject is suitable for the study to prescribing the medication and monitoring the treatment response.”
Lee Gwang-seop looked at the faces of the residents.
“If the human mind could be evaluated with testing equipment, we could just run the machines 24 hours a day, but psychiatric interviews can’t be done like that, can they?”
“Hmm.”
Kang Byeong-u wore a displeased expression.
‘He’s not wrong, but...’
Certainly, the current psychiatry staff was insufficient to evaluate all the research subjects.
‘I need performance results. If only to be recognized by the board.’
The two seemingly promising drugs shimmered before his eyes. If they succeeded in developing a new drug through collaboration with a domestic company, it would help his standing as the center director and also benefit the career of his daughter, Kang Seo-hyeon, who had recently joined.
“Still, can’t we make it work somehow? What if we request personnel from the branch hospital? This matter is something my father—no, the Chairman—is also watching with interest.”
“The, the Chairman?” Lee Gwang-seop asked back, even stammering.
“That’s right. Because he considers the bio-industry to be a future growth engine.”
“Hmm.”
Lee Gwang-seop groaned inwardly.
Who was Kang Tae-jeong? Wasn’t he the man who grew Sama, which was nothing more than a medium-sized enterprise, into the Sama Group that now competes for the top spot in the business world?
If Kang Byeong-u’s words were true, it was obvious that all sorts of pressure would come, by any means necessary, until proper results were achieved.
“And I wasn’t going to mention this, but do you know what I discussed with the President before coming here? I heard that it would be best to downsize the closed ward and maintain it with only a minimum number of beds.”
“What on earth...”
At the sudden mention of the ward, Lee Gwang-seop’s eyebrows twitched.
“You’re aware of the current mood on the board to reduce facilities with large deficits, right?”
“Yes, I heard a glimpse of it during the department heads’ meeting.”
“The downsizing of the ICU and the emergency room was discussed first, but I heard they are leaning toward including the psychiatric closed ward in that as well.”
“How can we treat aggressive patients and those at high risk of suicide without a ward? Are you telling me to transfer all high-risk patients to other hospitals!”
Lee Gwang-seop raised his voice for the first time.
“It’s not my opinion; it’s what the higher-ups think. And honestly, a hospital isn’t a charity, is it? We have to scale back unprofitable businesses and grow the fields that perform well.”
“How can you even think like that...”
“The psychiatric closed ward alone loses hundreds of millions every year... Replacing it with a health check-up center or a VIP ward would be much better from a management perspective, wouldn’t it?”
“......”
The residents in the meeting room began to buzz with unease. If the ward were downsized, their clinical experience with inpatient treatment would be drastically reduced. While it might make their immediate work easier, it was a clear loss in the long run.
“However, if you help us, Chief, I will also do my best to help the Department of Psychiatry,” Kang Byeong-u said, his tone a mix of coaxing and placating.
He added that he would suggest maintaining the closed ward and securing more outpatient space during the next board meeting. He said he would “help,” but it was nothing short of a threat: if they didn’t cooperate with the new drug research, he would dismantle the psychiatric ward.
“I think I’ll have to ‘consult’ with the members of the department first. The residents are already working over 80 hours a week, so taking on new tasks is...”
The 80-hour work week law for medical residents. It was a law designed to limit weekly working hours to prevent residents from being overworked, but it was a law that most hospitals ignored.
Lee Gwang-seop cited the welfare of the residents as a reason for his polite refusal.
“Hah, 80 hours? Isn’t a resident called a ‘resident’ because they practically live in the hospital? How can anyone be trained while following all those rules?”
Kang Byeong-u clicked his tongue dismissively. His perspective on residency training seemed stuck in the same place it was thirty years ago when he was an intern.
“Our Chief is so gentle and sympathetic that he seems overflowing with consideration for his department members. Let’s not wait to consult them later; since we’ve brought it up, let’s ask right here.”
Kang Byeong-u scanned the residents.
“Are there any juniors attending here? Who is the first-year?”
“I am the first-year, Cheon Sihyeon.”
Sihyeon quietly raised his hand.
“Right. The busy first-year doctor. Is it really impossible to work with our team? What do you think of this research?”
Every eye in the meeting room turned toward Sihyeon.