Sahmyook University’s Nursing College celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ceremony held Oct. 10 at the Johann Hall on campus. The event, themed “50 Years of Sahmyook Nursing, Soaring into the Next 100 Years,” commemorated the college’s development and achievements.

More than 400 participants attended, including Sahmyook University President Je Hae-jong, Nursing College Dean Shin Sung-rye, founding dean Honorary Professor Ko Myung-sook, faculty members, alumni, and current students, all gathering to celebrate the college’s half-century history.

The Nursing Department was established in 1973 after receiving approval from the Ministry of Education. It was the first coeducational nursing program in South Korea. Since then, the program has introduced a master’s degree in 1995 and a doctoral program in 2011. In 2019, it was upgraded to a full Nursing College, encompassing undergraduate, RN-BSN (nursing bachelor’s degree transfer program), graduate, and clinical graduate schools, establishing itself as a leader in training professional nurses.

As of February 2024, the Nursing College has produced a total of 3,212 graduates, including 2,150 from the undergraduate program, 758 from the RN-BSN program, 109 master’s degree holders, 28 doctoral graduates, and 167 from the clinical graduate school. These alumni demonstrate outstanding nursing capabilities both domestically and internationally, enhancing the university’s reputation.

The Nursing College has consistently received recognition for the excellence of its curriculum. Since the first accreditation evaluation by the Korean Nursing Education Evaluation Institute in 2006, it has maintained the highest level of accreditation through the fourth evaluation in 2023. The college has also improved its practical training environment through the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s nursing college practice education support project. The Basic Life Support (BLS) Center is certified as a CPR training site, promoting life-respecting practices in the community.

In her speech, Dean Shin Sung-rye said, “The Nursing College will continue to enhance the quality of education to foster nursing talents equipped with both character and creativity, and to produce professional nurses that meet social demands. We hope for continued interest and support so that the Nursing College can keep producing professional healthcare providers who contribute to society, humanity, and the church.”

During the ceremony, the college awarded the “Proud Alumni Award” to Lee Kyung-soon (Class of ’75), Choi Eun-joo (Class of ’82), Jeon Eun-mi (Class of ’83), and Jeong Hae-ok (Class of ’00). Lee, an honorary professor, donated 100 million KRW for scholarship funds. Choi, serving as the vice president of Sahmyook Seoul Hospital, has contributed to medical advancements through her leadership.

Jeon serves as the director of the Fort Washington Medical Center, part of the largest hospital group in Washington, D.C., Adventist Healthcare, where she has elevated the status of her alma mater. Jeong has been dedicated to medical missions in the Palakkad region of West Bengal, India, since 2011, and, along with her husband, Pastor Bae Jin-seong (Theology Class of ’96), has laid the groundwork for a training center for 1,000 missionaries in India.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary, faculty and alumni established the “Sahmyook Nursing Leaders Scholarship Fund,” adding further significance to the celebration.