Pregnancy is without a doubt one of the most important phases of a woman’s journey as a mother. It is a memorable period signaling an addition to the family and the emergence of a new life to be taken care of. Despite the significance it holds, pregnancy is noted for the physical and mental hardships it can impose on women. In particular, the delivery process leaves women vulnerable to pregnancy-related complications, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. At the Korea University (KU) Guro hospital, obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) Dr. Cho Geum Joon (‘95, College of Medicine) is continuously toiling to reduce the pain and danger for pregnant women with his novel ideas and brilliant research.

About Dr. Cho Geum Joon

Dr. Cho Geum Joon is currently an OB-GYN at KU’s very own Guro Hospital. He obtained his Ph.D. degree at KU in obstetrics and gynecology, a field specializing in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive organs. In this field, Cho specializes in obstetrics and high-risk pregnancy cases; he currently works at the high-risk pregnancy clinic at the hospital. Moreover, he is renowned for insightful research into pregnancy-related diseases and practical inventions that reduce pregnant women’s pain. In recognition of these academic achievements, Cho received an award from the Gender Equality and Family Committee in 2019 and the KU Best Research Award in 2019 and 2020.

GT: What led you to become an OB-GYN?

Cho: When considering what field to specialize in as a doctor, I prioritized whether I could enjoy my work. My years as a resident taught me that the field of obstetrics was interesting and dynamic. In addition, compared to other areas of medicine, it is not an area that only treats sick patients; pregnant women visit clinics not just to be treated but to seek assistance in the process of giving birth. In contrast with the treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases, aiding the process of giving birth leads to a jovial atmosphere as words of congratulations fill the room. What fascinated me the most was that the process of giving birth is considered a somewhat holy process, with everyone in awe, offering congratulations. I wanted to be part of that atmosphere, so I became an OB-GYN.

GT: What do you think are the highs and lows of being an OB-GYN?

Cho: Being able to help someone give birth to a healthy baby gives me satisfaction. I feel even greater satisfaction when successfully overcoming adverse medical conditions because I can repay the trust that patients have in my skills. On the other hand, what distresses me the most is when I experience devastating results despite my best efforts, including unhealthy babies and maternal death. As an OB-GYN, my emotions are inevitably influenced by the outcomes of the mothers under my care. Therefore, when I am faced with undesirable outcomes, I strictly evaluate the overall process to see if something could have been done better. It seems to be an inherent dilemma for doctors regarding whether the patient could have been granted better treatment under another doctor. As such, even though the treatment process itself is not meaningless, this field of obstetrics seems to place constant pressure on the results, regardless of the process.

GT: Could you inform the readers about your academic research on pregnancy-related diseases?

Cho: One of the biggest obstacles as an OB-GYN is the lack of significant data on the prevalence of pregnancy-related diseases in South Korea. When conducting research about a certain disease, data needs to be collected on it, such as the number of reported cases. However, I often encounter a lack of data for such basic information. Therefore, most of my recent research has focused on amassing data on cases of pregnancy-related diseases and drawing significant conclusions that can help pregnant women in a practical way. Lately, I have been largely assisted by big data technology in carrying out most of the research. The type of research vital to obstetrics right now is not high-end research on new medical breakthroughs, but research seeking to understand diseases by accumulating sufficient data.

For example, I have been able to draw statistical conclusions on gestational diabetes mellitus and gestational hypertension, the two most common complications during pregnancy. With big data technology, I have attempted to uncover the variables that lead to these complications. By analyzing the given data, I have been able to deduce the lifestyles or aggravating factors for pregnant women that lead to these diseases. This research is meaningful in that it directly results in concrete advice for averting pregnancy-related complications.

Apart from medical research designed to generate practical advice, I have aimed to develop useful tools to ease the discomfort of pregnant women. Most importantly, I devised and developed a silicon band that can tie the cervix without causing inflammation and infection in surrounding areas of the body in order to prevent preterm birth. Traditionally, doctors tied the sensitive cervix with a thread, leading to inflammation that could prove fatal. Recently, I have been working with virtual reality (VR) experts to reduce labor pain by displaying soothing images or videos to women in labor via VR technology. Because this is a path walked by few, it is difficult to swiftly adopt these inventions in the clinic, but I will keep striving.

As evident in his interview, Dr. Cho Geum Joon is indeed working diligently to practically and positively impact the patients he treats. “Be the one who has sufficient experiences in diverse spheres,” he advises KU students, “because you often find answers to the most complicated riddles in unexpected places.” His successful experiences of teaming with many experts in a diverse range of fields and borrowing their expertise confirm the value of his advice. Seeing the path he has treaded in his medical profession, it is obvious that Cho has chosen a fulfilling but difficult road. Thankfully, however, it seems Cho’s innovative approach will keep surprising the nation as he brilliantly uses his talent to improve the future of medicine.