Evidence-Based Guidelines for Korean Medicine in Cancer-related Symptom Management

This workshop provides a structured and practical exploration of Korean medicine interventions for managing cancer-related symptoms—including fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, pain, neuropathy, neurophysiological dysfunction, and post-operative ileus—grounded in the Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines, and incorporates interactive components such as acupuncture point localization, case-based discussions, and peer learning to enhance clinical competence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the evidence base supporting Korean medicine interventions—including acupuncture and herbal medicine—for managing cancer-related symptoms
2. Identify and locate key acupuncture points relevant to cancer-related symptoms
3. Demonstrate familiarity with specific herbal formulas used in integrative oncology and understand their indications and safety profiles

Target Audience:

This workshop is intended for integrative oncology professionals, healthcare providers, and traditional medicine practitioners seeking to enhance their clinical skills and knowledge in evidence-based Korean medicine interventions for cancer-related symptom management.

Facilitators:

Dr. Choi Seung-Hoon, a distinguished leader in Korean and traditional medicine, has made significant advancements in the fields of oncology and integrative medicine. A graduate of Kyung Hee University, Dr. Choi served as both a professor and dean at the College of Korean Medicine.

30 years ago, Dr. Choi pioneered the introduction of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) oncology in Korea, authored “Eastern Oncology,” the nation’s inaugural book on traditional oncology, and founded the Korean Association of Traditional Oncology (KATO). In 2024, he established the Massachusetts Integrative Medicine Center in the United States to advance integrative medical services.

Dr. Choi’s academic endeavors have catalyzed significant progress in evidence-based traditional medicine and oncology, fostering a broader global understanding. His career is marked by a steadfast commitment to the globalization of traditional medicine, exemplifying a harmonious integration of scientific, cultural, and humanitarian values.

Dr. Libin Jia is a Program Director at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), specializing in integrative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and natural product research. He has published more than sixty peer-reviewed papers and played a key role in creating the Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plant Library at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Jia has also contributed to international initiatives such as APEC guidelines on integrative medicine for COVID-19 care, and has been active in promoting acupuncture education and evidence-based clinical practice.

Dr. Seong Woo Yoon is a chief professor of the department of clinical oncology, college of Korean medicine, Kyung Hee university, and a director of Korean medicine cancer clinic, Kyung Hee university hospital at Gangdong. Dr. Yoon was the president of Korean association of traditional oncology and a visiting professor of the division of cancer medicine in M.D. Anderson cancer center. Dr. Yoon has published more than 90 research articles and multiple books in the area of integrative oncology. Dr. Yoon was the primary investigator of the Korean medicine clinical practice guideline for cancer-related symptoms and now is conducting the Korean medicine cancer research center.

Dr. Hwaseung Yoo is a tenured professor at Daejeon University Korean Medical School and Director of the East West Cancer Center. He developed Wheel Balance Cancer Therapy (WBCT), an integrative cancer treatment combining Korean medicine and conventional therapies. His research focuses on herbal medicine and acupuncture in oncology. He served as a visiting professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center (2012) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2024). Dr. Yoo currently serves as President of the Korean Association of Traditional Oncology (KATO) and Co-President of the Korean Society of Integrative Oncology (KSIO), promoting integrative cancer care in Korea.

Dr. Jihyuk Park is a Doctor of Korean Medicine and licensed acupuncturist based in New York City. He previously served as an integrative oncologist and attending physician at leading integrative cancer centers in Korea. His master’s research explored herbs and natural compounds for cancer treatment in East–West medicine. He holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Medicine with a focus on physical medicine and cancer rehabilitation. In 2015, Dr. Park founded Contemporary Integrative Care Acupuncture in Manhattan, where he operates his private clinic. He also provides acupuncture treatments to cancer patients at the Cancer Center and Hospice of Jamaica Hospital in NYC.

Dr. Myung-Ho Kim is an Assistant Professor at Woosuk University Medical Center and a licensed Doctor of Korean Medicine. He earned his PhD through a physician-scientist program and completed postdoctoral research at Massachusetts General Hospital. His clinical and research interests lie in integrative oncology and geriatric medicine, with a focus on translational research related to MASLD-associated HCC, cancer cachexia, and frailty. Currently, he practices as an integrative oncologist, combining Korean medicine with conventional treatments to optimize care for cancer patients. His work bridges clinical practice and scientific research, aiming to advance evidence-based integrative strategies for managing cancer and chronic diseases.

Dr. Hyun Jung Jung is an Associate Professor at the College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University. She previously served as Director of the Korean Medicine Cancer Center at Daegu Haany University Medical Center and recently was a Visiting Professor at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University. Dr. Jung serves on the executive boards of the Korean Association of Traditional Oncology (KATO) and the Korean Society of Integrative Oncology (KSIO). Clinically, she focuses on symptom management for cancer patients, and her research centers on evidence-based integrative oncology and chronic disease management.

Dr. Sojung Park is an Associate Professor of Korean Medicine Oncology at Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital. Her research focuses on integrative oncology, particularly the development of Korean medicine clinical practice guidelines for lung, gastric, and prostate cancers. She also conducts pharmacokinetic and herb–drug interaction studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining herbal medicine with anticancer agents.

She has led multiple national research projects and published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Park has also shared her work at international conferences, contributing to the development of integrative cancer care.

Dr. Jee Young Lee is an assistant professor in the department of Korean medicine at the Integrative cancer center, CHA Ilsan Medical Center, CHA University of medicine. Dr. Lee is a licensed doctor of Korean medicine and also a certified professional in hospice and palliative care. She earned her PhD in Medicine with a specialization in pathology.

Her clinical and research interests focus on palliative care as well as post-operative management in clinical oncology. She has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, primarily addressing prognosis in patients with advance cancer and integrative care approaches. She is currently conducting multiple national research projects, including designated Korean medicine research center studies on post-operative complications in patients with cancer, clinical practice guidelines of Korean medicine in palliative care, and chemotherapeutic complications in patients with breast cancer.

In addition to her academic work, her personal interests for integrative medicine in palliative care made her hold credentials from the international federation of aromatherapies (IFA), a diploma in professional essential oil therapy (PEOT), and certification as a Level 1 art therapy counselor.

Dr. Eun Hye Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine at Gachon University. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Oncology from Kyung Hee University and is a board-certified specialist in Korean Internal Medicine as well as an accredited physician in Integrative Oncology Care recognized by the Korean Society for Integrative Oncology. Her research focuses on the safety and efficacy of traditional Korean medicine and integrative oncology interventions for cancer-related symptoms. Dr. Kim contributed to the development of the Korean medicine clinical practice guideline for cancer-related symptoms, the clinical pathway for cancer-related fatigue, and clinical practice guideline for geriatrics and palliative care.  She has also authored a scholarly monograph on the role of Korean medicine in hospice and palliative medicine, highlighting integrative approaches for improving quality of life in patients with advanced or end-of-life cancer.