Meeting the Editorial Board Member of GS: Dr. Kwangsoon Kim

Posted On 2024-05-20 16:36:32


Kwangsoon Kim1, Jin Ye Yeo2

1Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2GS Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company

Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. GS Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: editor@glandsurgery.org

This interview can be cited as: Kim K, Yeo JY. Meeting the Editorial Board Member of GS: Dr. Kwangsoon Kim. Gland Surg. 2024. https://gs.amegroups.org/post/view/meeting-the-editorial-board-member-of-gs-dr-kwangsoon-kim.


Expert Introduction

Dr. Kwangsoon Kim (Figure 1) is an Associate Professor of Endocrinology, and his research focuses on endocrine diseases related to the thyroid and adrenal glands. He has a broad background in endocrinology, with specialized education and expertise in diagnostic and therapeutic research of endocrine diseases, particularly in robotic surgery for endocrine diseases. As a primary investigator or co-investigator in several studies, he has conducted numerous research projects related to robotic surgery for thyroid disorders and established strong collaborations with various professors in the field, laying the groundwork for diverse research endeavors. Additionally, he has successfully managed projects by collaborating with other researchers and producing multiple peer-reviewed papers from each project. Thanks to these previous experiences, he recognizes the importance of frequent communication among project members and the necessity of establishing realistic research plans, timelines, and budgets. The current application logically builds upon his past work. he has been involved in various research projects since 2018 and has collaborated with professors from different fields, conducting numerous studies on robotic surgery to date.

Figure 1 Dr. Kwangsoon Kim


Interview

GS: What motivated you to pursue medicine after your undergraduate studies in engineering, and subsequently specialize in endocrinology?

Dr. Kim: I entered Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), the top engineering university in South Korea, in 1999. With a keen interest in biotechnology, I majored in Biochemical Engineering. At that time, like everyone else, I was fascinated by DNA. During my time at KAIST, I had the opportunity to work for a DNA-related company for a month. This experience, conducting experiments with researchers at that company, made me realize the greatness of DNA. However, despite experiencing many experiments as a biochemical engineering student, there was a lingering sense of regret. That was the lack of connection to clinical practice. This was the reason that drew me back to medical school.

During my internships and surgical residency after medical school graduation, I found myself particularly interested in endocrinology compared to other fields. The reason is that the endocrine system is one of the most important systems in maintaining homeostasis in our bodies. Among the endocrine organs, the thyroid and adrenal glands are my main areas of expertise. Currently, I perform surgical treatments for endocrine-related disorders of the thyroid and adrenal glands.

GS: Could you provide an overview of the current landscape of publications in endocrinology? Were there any articles that impressed you?

Dr. Kim: As an endocrine surgeon, recent publications in endocrinology are pouring out like a flood, especially those related to robotic surgery. Particularly in thyroid surgery, robotic surgery has shown excellent outcomes. As an endocrine surgeon myself, I have been performing robotic thyroid surgery and have published many articles on the topic. Robotic thyroid surgery is being performed in various ways, including transaxillary, bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA), facelift, and transoral methods. Recently, with the emergence of the single-port robotic system, it has been further developed. Among various methods, I perform thyroid surgery using transaxillary robotic surgery. I have performed approximately 1,000 surgeries to date.

Recently, a paper was published about thyroid surgery at Severance Hospital (Seoul, South Korea), where 10,000 thyroid surgeries were performed (1). This article shares experiences from 10,000 cases of robotic thyroid surgery. In conclusion, robotic transaxillary thyroid surgery (RTTS) appears safe and feasible from both surgical and oncological perspectives, and the spectrum of indications suitable for RTTS surgery is progressively expanding.

As someone actively engaged in performing robotic thyroid surgery, this paper serves as a motivating force for me once again.

GS: According to your expertise and experience in diagnostic and therapeutic research of endocrine diseases, what specific areas or aspects of endocrine disease research do you believe have been overlooked or received insufficient attention?

Dr. Kim: Endocrine diseases have seen remarkable advancements in the field of internal medicine. Internal medicine plays an indispensable role in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders. Recently, the realm of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has significantly expanded not only in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders but also in prognosis. With rapid advancements in internal medicine, many articles are being published in journals such as Nature, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

However, as a surgeon, I believe that the surgical aspect of treating endocrine diseases is not receiving sufficient attention. Surgery plays a crucial role in the treatment of endocrine diseases. It is true that the surgical field progresses at a slower pace due to its nature. However, since the introduction of robotic systems in 2007, significant milestones have been achieved in the treatment of endocrine diseases. Many patients have experienced improved quality of life and favorable outcomes after robotic surgery. I believe that more attention is needed in this area.

GS: You have led several projects related to robotic surgery for endocrine disease. What are some significant conclusions and insights you have gained from these projects?

Dr. Kim: I have conducted numerous research studies related to robotic surgery for endocrine diseases. The following are articles that I have published as the first author or corresponding author:

I. Robotic transaxillary hemithyroidectomy using the da Vinci SP robotic system: initial experience with ten consecutive cases (2)
II. Comparison of surgical outcomes between robotic trans-axillary and conventional open thyroidectomy in pediatric thyroid cancer (3)
III. Robotic Adrenalectomy Using the da Vinci SP Robotic System: Techincal Feasibility Comparison with Single-Port Access Using the da Vinci Multi-arm Robotic System (4)
IV. Re-do Operation Using a Robotic System due to Locoregional Recurrence after Initial Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Cancer (5)
V. Clinical application of pectoralis nerve block II for flap dissection-related pain control after robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy: A preliminary retrospective cohort study (6)
VI. Safety and Feasibility of Single-Port Trans-Axillary Robotic Thyroidectomy: Experience through Consecutive 100 Cases (7)
VII. The Learning Curve for Single-Port Transaxillary Robotic Thyroidectomy (SP-TART): Experience through initial 50 cases of lobectomy (8)
VIII. Safety and surgical outcomes of single-port trans-axillary robot-assisted thyroidectomy: Experience from a consecutive series of 300 patients (9)

In addition to these, I am currently involved in various other research projects related to robotic surgery, including those focusing on endocrine diseases. Through this research, I aim to demonstrate that robotic surgery for endocrine diseases is not only safe but also feasible. While open surgery or laparoscopic surgery remains the gold standard for the treatment of endocrine diseases, I believe that with the accumulation of more robotic-related research, robotic surgery will become the gold standard in the treatment of endocrine diseases in the near future. I am committed to focusing my efforts on this endeavor.

GS: Moving forward, what do you think should be the direction of endocrine disease and/or robotic surgery research? Could you share the ongoing projects you are currently involved in?

Dr. Kim: As society modernizes and advances, the diagnosis of endocrine diseases is increasing. Through various healthcare systems, endocrine diseases are being detected early. I believe that future research in endocrinology should focus on treatment. While advancements in diagnosis have led to an increase in the number of patients with endocrine diseases, progress in treatment has been slower. I think more research is needed in treatment.

Robotic surgery is crucial in treatment. Patients are getting younger, living longer, and placing greater importance on their quality of life. Therefore, considering the quality of life of patients in surgery is the duty of a surgeon. For this reason, the importance of robotic surgery is increasing. Future research should focus on robotic surgery studies related to the quality of life of patients. In this regard, my fifth study from question four focuses on pain-related research that affects the quality of life of patients. Based on this study, I conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and it is currently being submitted to another journal. Additionally, I continue to conduct research related to pain. While these studies may be challenging to disclose, they will soon be available in various conferences or journals.

GS: How do you manage your collaboration with other researchers? What were some significant challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?

Dr. Kim: Collaboration is a crucial aspect of research activities, and effectively managing collaboration is key.

I. Enhance Communication: Smooth communication among researchers is essential. Regularly communicate and share opinions via email, phone, online meetings, etc.
II. Set Goals and Define Roles: Before collaboration, establish clear goals and define each researcher's role. Consider everyone's strengths and expertise, delegate tasks accordingly, and ensure a clear understanding of roles.
III. Set Schedule and Milestones: Set project schedules and important milestones to track and manage project progress. Share the schedule for each milestone achievement with collaborators to ensure everyone understands and adheres to the goals.
IV. Problem-Solving Procedure: Establish problem-solving procedures to anticipate and address issues that may arise during collaboration. Prepare ways to resolve conflicts or unexpected situations promptly and lead the process to reach agreements among collaborators.
V. Share Information: Appropriately share necessary information and data for the research and maintain open communication. Quickly share important data or results to allow collaborators to respond timely to the project's needs.
VI. Acknowledgment and Appreciation: Recognize and express gratitude for the achievements of collaboration. Formally acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and contributions of collaborators, maintaining a positive atmosphere among team members to foster effective collaboration.

I continue to maintain these methods consistently. Currently, there are no significant difficulties through these methods. By implementing these methods, we can effectively manage collaboration with other researchers and jointly achieve successful research outcomes.

GS: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of GS?

Dr. Kim: As an Editorial Board Member of Gland Surgery, my experience has just begun. Gland Surgery is one of the excellent journals in the field of surgery. I have published the following articles in Gland Surgery:

I. Surgical outcomes of minimally invasive thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer: comparison with conventional open thyroidectomy (10)
II. Clinical and pathologic features for predicting malignancy in thyroid follicular neoplasm (11)
III. Measurement of Thyroglobulin Level in Lateral Neck Lymph Node Fine Needle Aspiration Washout Fluid in Papillary Thyroid Cancer (12)
IV. Comparison of the clinicopathological features and oncologic outcomes of the classic papillary thyroid carcinoma with tall cell features and tall cell variant (13)

I am extremely proud of this excellent journal as an editorial board member, and I look forward to what lies ahead.

GS: As an Editorial Board Member, what are your expectations for GS?

Dr. Kim: As an Editorial Board Member of Gland Surgery, I expect Gland Surgery to continue to progress further. While it is already one of the excellent journals in the field of surgery, I believe there is ample room for even more development. This is because it showcases the latest insights in the field of surgery most extensively and rapidly, something that other journals often fail to do.

Additionally, I hope that Gland Surgery will showcase a more diverse range of surgical perspectives. There is a common misconception that surgery is solely about performing operations. In reality, surgery involves conducting various research through surgical interventions. In this regard, I hope Gland Surgery becomes a pivotal platform.


Reference

  1. Kim JK, Lee CR, Kang SW, Jeong JJ, Nam KH, Chung WY. Expansion of thyroid surgical territory through 10,000 cases under the da Vinci robotic knife. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):7555. Published 2024 Mar 30. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-57163-2

  2. Kim K, Kang SW, Kim JK, et al. Robotic Transaxillary Hemithyroidectomy Using the da Vinci SP Robotic System: Initial Experience With 10 Consecutive Cases. Surg Innov. 2020;27(3):256-264. doi:10.1177/1553350620909279
  3. Lee IA, Kim K, Kim JK, et al. Comparison of Surgical Outcomes between Robotic Transaxillary and Conventional Open Thyroidectomy in Pediatric Thyroid Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(13):3293. doi:10.3390/cancers13133293
  4. Lee IA, Kim JK, Kim K, et al. Robotic Adrenalectomy Using the da Vinci SP Robotic System: Technical Feasibility Comparison with Single-Port Access Using the da Vinci Multi-arm Robotic System. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022;29(5):3085-3092. doi:10.1245/s10434-021-11208-2
  5. Kim DG, Kim K, Lee JE, et al. Re-do Operation Using a Robotic System due to Locoregional Recurrence after Initial Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Cancer. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):11531. Published 2022 Jul 7. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-15908-x
  6. Chae MS, Park Y, Shim JW, et al. Clinical Application of Pectoralis Nerve Block II for Flap Dissection-Related Pain Control after Robot-Assisted Transaxillary Thyroidectomy: A Preliminary Retrospective Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(17):4097. doi:10.3390/cancers14174097
  7. Kang IK, Park J, Bae JS, et al. Safety and Feasibility of Single-Port Trans-Axillary Robotic Thyroidectomy: Experience through Consecutive 100 Cases. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(10):1486. doi:10.3390/medicina58101486
  8. Park J, Kang LK, Kim K, et al. The learning curve for single-port transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy (SP-TART): experience through initial 50 cases of lobectomy. Updates Surg. 2023;75(3):691-700. doi:10.1007/s13304-022-01445-9
  9. An S, Park J, Kim K, et al. Safety and surgical outcomes of single-port trans-axillary robot-assisted thyroidectomy: Experience from a consecutive series of 300 patients. J Robot Surg. 2024;18(1):13. doi:10.1007/s11701-023-01810-9
  10. Kim K, Kang SW, Kim JK, et al. Surgical outcomes of minimally invasive thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer: comparison with conventional open thyroidectomy. Gland Surg. 2020;9(5):1172-1181. doi:10.21037/gs-20-512
  11. Kim K, Jung CK, Lim DJ, et al. Clinical and pathologic features for predicting malignancy in thyroid follicular neoplasms. Gland Surg. 2021;10(1):50-58. doi:10.21037/gs-20-500
  12. Kim K, Bae JS, Kim JS. Measurement of thyroglobulin level in lateral neck lymph node fine needle aspiration washout fluid in papillary thyroid cancer. Gland Surg. 2021;10(9):2686-2694. doi:10.21037/gs-21-366
  13. Kim K, Jung CK, Lim DJ, et al. Comparison of the clinicopathological features and oncologic outcomes of the classic papillary thyroid carcinoma with tall cell features and tall cell variant. Gland Surg. 2022;11(1):56-66. doi:10.21037/gs-21-678