Participation in the 2025 KSES – SECEC Exchange Travelling Fellowship Program

It was an honour to visit South Korea as part of the SECEC Asian Travelling Fellowship with Dr. Riccardo Ranieri. Over two weeks, we travelled from Seoul to Gwangju and Busan, meeting exceptional surgeons whose hospitality, openness, and technical mastery left a deep impression on me.

From Prof. Woong-Kyu Jeong’s meticulous arthroscopy at Korea University to Prof. Jae-Cheol Yoo’s structured approach to cuff pathology at Samsung Medical Center, each centre offered unique insights. We were inspired by Prof. Hyun-Seok Song’s integration of 3D printing, Prof. Tae-Kang Lim’s blend of scientific rigour and surgical finesse, and Prof. Seok-Won Chung’s innovation in the field of shoulder surgery. Further south, we learned from Prof. Myung-Sun Kim’s elegant technique in Gwangju, Prof. Sang-Jin Shin’s clarity of thought at Ewha, Prof. Hyun-Chul Cho’s refined muscle advancement technique at Boramae, and Prof. Jin-Young Park’s exemplary efficiency at Neon Orthopaedic Clinic. Our final visit in Busan with Prof. Young-Min Noh, observing a complex revision reverse TSA, was a masterclass in technical skill and precision.

Across all centres, we witnessed the same defining qualities: precision, humility, and a relentless commitment to refinement. These experiences have profoundly shaped my thinking and inspired me to strive for the same level of mastery in my own practice.

Three Lessons That Will Influence My Practice
1. Long-term academic vision (from Prof. Sang-Jin Shin) - His career embodies the value of focused, decades-long research. As he reminded us, “Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in ten.”
2. Adoption of the Yoo–Rhee classification - I will be incorporating this system into my clinical and research practice, as it provides a more complete framework for describing subscapularis tears.
3. Muscle advancement as a transformative technique - Prof. Jo’s antegrade muscle advancement, supported by his specialised instruments, made the technique feel accessible and reproducible. I plan to explore acquiring similar instruments in Europe to integrate this into my management of large, retracted rotator cuff tears.

 


Final Reflections
Beyond the surgical learning, I was deeply moved by the warmth, humility, and generosity of every professor, fellow, and resident we met. I am committed to maintaining strong relationships with the Korean shoulder community and look forward to future collaborations, shared research, and welcoming many of you to the UK.

With sincere gratitude,

Mustafa S. Rashid
Colchester, United Kingdom