Biography
Educational Background: Dr. Kwangsung Park received his medical degree (1983) and PhD (1993) at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea. He completed a urology residency at Chonnam National University Hospital and a fellowship in sexual dysfunction at the Boston University School of Medicine (1995-1997).
Professional Background: Dr. Park is a professor of Urology at Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. He served as a president of the Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology, a president of the Korean Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, and a president of the Korean Association of Sexual Health. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine of Korea, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH).
Scientific Production: Dr. Park has performed both basic and clinical research in sexual medicine. In the William P. Didush Center for Urology History in AUA, Dr. Park’s research in female sexual dysfunction was mentioned as follows: “He was the first to show that a women’s problem could be physiological.” In recognition of that study, he received the Jean-Paul Ginestie Prize (1996). He investigated the cerebral centers of penile erection using functional MRI and received the Newman-Zigniotti Prize (2000). He has published over 150 articles in peer-reviewed international medical journals and has authored several books on both male and female sexual dysfunctions.
Positions and qualification for leadership: Dr. Park has held various positions in many international societies of sexual medicine
In the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)
- Editor-in-Chief, Sexual Medicine (2015-2020)
- Member at Large of ISSM (2012-2016)
- Co-Chair of Education Committee (2015-2018)
- Co-Chair of Grants & Prizes Committee (2013-2014)
- Scientific co-chair for the ISSM meeting in Seoul, Korea (2010)
- Member of Strategy and Development Committee (2015-2016), Scientific Committee (2017-present), ISSM Consultation and Guideline Committee (2019-present)
In the Asia Pacific Society for Sexual Medicine (APSSM)
- Member at Large of the Executive Committee (2012-2013)
- Chairman of the APSSM Scientific and Research Committee (2004-2013)
- Scientific chairman of the bi-annual meeting of APSSM in Jeju, Korea (2007)
- Program co-director of APSSM Sexual Medicine Education Intensive Course (2013-2015)
In the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)
- Director at Large, board member (2017-present)
- Member of Ad Hoc Research Grants Committee (2016-present)
- Member of Scientific Committee (2019-present)
Statement/motivation of why I am applying for Secretary General
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the efforts of medical practitioners and health providers fighting the global pandemic of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges to people, societies, and health care systems around the world.
At this challenging time, I am humbly running for the position of the Secretary General of the ISSM. I have been an active member of the society since 1996. In the early stages of my career, I focused on both basic and clinical research in male and female sexual dysfunction. As a result, I was honored to receive more than 10 international and domestic research awards. I have served as chair of the Scientific and Research Committee and as a Member-at-Large in the APSSM. Since 2010, I have taken various positions in the ISSM, such as the scientific co-chair for the ISSM meeting in Seoul, co-chair of the Grants & Prizes Committee, and co-chair of the Education Committee. I also had the honor of serving as the Member-at-Large of ISSM and the Director-at-Large of ISSWSH. I also have been serving as the Editor-in-Chief of Sexual Medicine, an open access journal of the ISSM since 2015.
While serving as Editor-in-Chief of Sexual Medicine, I’ve been fortunate to communicate with many renowned international scholars with diverse cultural backgrounds. I believe that these experiences will be very helpful for performing the role of Secretary General.
The ISSM has more than 2,500 members in 93 different countries and has 7 regional or affiliated societies. However, we still need members and societies in all 194 member countries of WHO. We have excellent education and training programs such as ISSM University and the ESSM School of Sexual Medicine for professionals and scholars. In our time of social distancing, I would like to increase our membership by promoting both online and offline education programs.
As an education program co-chair of the APSSM, I gained experience with educating members of the regional societies, especially in developing countries, which resulted in increased membership and member states. At that time, I realized that education grants like the Zorgniotti fund of ISSM play a great role in running the program successfully.
With my experiences, I would like to support all the regional or affiliated societies of ESSM, MESSM, SASSM, SLAMS, SMSNA, APSSM, and ISSWSH in planning and establishing programs for physicians and practitioners world-wide.
I am willing to contribute my experiences and enthusiasm to accomplish the vision of the ISSM that ‘Every human being has the right to a healthy and satisfying sexual life.’ I hope to serve all members and promote global sexual health.