Bellevue Hosts Infection Prevention Nurses From South Korea For Special Pathogens Training Exchange

Bellevue Hosts Infection Prevention Nurses From South Korea For Special Pathogens Training Exchange

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Advances Global Special Pathogen Preparedness Through International Training Exchange

Dec 18, 2025

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue hosted infection prevention and control (IPC) nurses Su Young Kim and Da Rae Lee from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) for an advanced two-day special pathogens preparedness training. SNUBH, a designated Specialized Infectious Diseases Hospital in the Seoul metropolitan area, selected the nurses for professional development focused on managing high-consequence infectious diseases. Kim and Lee visited Bellevue to deepen their expertise in special pathogens protocols and observe best practices. Bellevue was chosen for its long-standing legacy in infectious disease management and leadership in special pathogen preparedness. Furthermore, Bellevue plays a central role within the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center consortium, a leader in national special pathogen preparedness and response.

"Advanced training opportunities like this strengthen our collective preparedness," said Erfan Karim, MPH, Chief Operating Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. "By welcoming colleagues from around the world, we exchange insights that improve our readiness at home while supporting global efforts to manage emerging infectious disease threats."

During the visit, the nurses participated in briefings and demonstrations led by Bellevue's Special Pathogens Program, including an overview of special pathogen procedures, emergency response workflows, and frontline staff training methods. They observed an SPP drill, joined the subsequent debrief, and toured Bellevue's biocontainment unit and emergency department to see how readiness is embedded throughout hospital operations. The nurses also received an overview of the National Special Pathogen System and Bellevue's responsibilities as a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Education and Training Center.

Nurses Kim and Lee contributed to the exchange by presenting on SNUBH's infection prevention and control and patient-screening protocols, including their high-level isolation unit and approach to managing special pathogen events. They shared lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, helping both teams identify shared priorities across training, operations, and preparedness planning.

"Bellevue Hospital was excited to host our colleagues from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and to share what we've built through our Special Pathogens Program," said Vikramjit Mukherjee, MD, Chief, Critical Care and Chief, Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. "Opportunities like this deepen learning on both sides and strengthen our collective ability to respond safely and effectively to high-consequence infectious disease threats-from New York City to Seoul and everywhere in between."

"We were impressed by the way Bellevue Hospital's team collaborates with external agencies and operates a comprehensive education system for infectious disease preparedness. We sincerely appreciate the support in making our time here meaningful," said Su Young Kim, RN, from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. "The detailed review and debriefing of the drill-grounded in realistic scenarios and practical considerations-were both helpful and insightful. We also found it valuable to learn about differences in personal protective equipment compared to what we use in Korea."

The visit reinforced Bellevue's commitment to advancing special pathogen preparedness and underscores the importance of international collaboration in strengthening global readiness and response for emerging infectious diseases.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Bellevue Public Relations, 212-562-4516;

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America's oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and annually it sees about 103,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information on Bellevue, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more information on the Special Pathogens Program, please visit www.R2RESPTC.org.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.