Philips and Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital establish Center of Excellence to advance aortic and vascular care across APAC

With a growing need across APAC for advanced treatment models to address increasingly complex vascular conditions, this initiative showcases how cross-sector collaboration can drive better patient outcomes and knowledge-sharing across borders. The new Center of Excellence provides an opportunity for regional healthcare professionals to access best practices, training, and research rooted in a real-world clinical environment.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the Asia Pacific region, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths annually—more than all communicable diseases combined [1]. Aortic aneurysms and vascular complications are among the most serious of these, requiring highly coordinated, multidisciplinary care. Against this backdrop, the collaboration between Philips Korea and EUMC reflects a shared commitment to improving timely, patient-centric treatment across diverse care settings in the region.

The three organizations will cooperate to:

• Promote regional academic and clinical exchange
• Facilitate joint research on advanced treatment approaches
• Offer hands-on learning opportunities for healthcare professionals
• Support the evolution of locally adapted, patient-centered care models

The MoU signing ceremony took place on June 10, 2025, at EUMC Aorta and Vascular Hospital in Seoul. Attendees included Jesse Damstra, Head of Growth Region for Image Guided Therapy Systems at Philips; Nak-hoon Choi, Country Leader of Philips Korea; and senior executives from Ewha Womans University Medical Center.

“This milestone reflects our long-standing commitment to advancing minimally invasive procedures and supporting clinicians with the tools they need to improve outcomes,” said Jesse Damstra, Head of Growth Region for Image Guided Therapy Systems, Philips. “By partnering with EUMC Aorta and Vascular Hospital, we’re helping to set a new standard of care in the region—one that combines clinical precision with operational efficiency.”

Nak-hoon Choi, Philips Korea Country Leader, said, “Philips brings extensive experience in delivering interventional imaging and integrated solutions tailored to various hospital environments through patient-centered innovation. We will continue to partner with domestic medical institutions, enhancing efficiency and precision in clinical care through advanced technology.”

Dr. Suk-won Song, Director of EUMC Aorta and Vascular Hospital, noted, “Given the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment decisions in aortic diseases, the establishment of the hybrid operating room marks a turning point in patient care. Equipped with Philips’ latest imaging technology, this system is expected to serve as a key foundation for improving the accuracy and efficiency of treatment. Moving forward, we will continue to lead patient-centric precision treatment in collaboration with Philips.”

This Center of Excellence contributes to Philips' broader efforts in APAC to strengthen healthcare systems through innovation, capacity-building, and clinical partnerships. It supports national health goals across the region, including Indonesia’s hospital digitization roadmap [2], Australia’s hospital-in-the-home initiatives [3], and Singapore’s Healthier SG plan [4]—each of which prioritizes integrated care, early detection, and efficient treatment models.

References

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9627928/ 

[2] https://kemkes.go.id/id/layanan/transformasi-kesehatan-indonesia

[3] https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Performance/Pages/hith.aspx 

[4] https://www.healthiersg.gov.sg/