A medical volunteer organization composed of Samsung Medical Center employees and their families has spent more than 30 years reaching medically underserved communities across South Korea and abroad. Using their personal vacation time and covering all expenses out of pocket, team members recently completed a mission in Sri Lanka’s mountainous interior, treating 1,494 local residents.
Samsung Medical Center announced on August 6 that the One Family Medical Volunteer Association completed its 25th overseas medical mission in Badulla, in south-central Sri Lanka, from July 20 to 27.
The 52-member delegation included hospital medical staff, employee family members, and medical students from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine. The mission was supported by international relief NGO Hope Friend Kia Daechak, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, and the Badulla provincial government.
Bringing Care to a Remote Mountainous Region
Badulla is a mountainous district situated more than five hours by car from Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital. Due to its geographic isolation and limited transportation, residents encounter significant barriers to accessing timely medical care.
While the World Bank notes that Sri Lanka’s health system provides broad coverage with strong maternal and child health metrics, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlights persistent regional disparities, particularly in rural and plantation areas. Uva Province, which includes Badulla, is a primary focus of ADB-funded initiatives aimed at strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure.
The volunteer team established clinics spanning nine specialties: internal medicine, family medicine, anesthesiology and pain medicine, ophthalmology, radiology, pediatrics, pediatric surgery, rehabilitation medicine, and dentistry. In addition to diagnostic testing and pain treatments, the team provided vision exams and prescribed custom eyeglasses. In total, 1,494 residents received care, including 1,258 adults and 236 children.
Pediatric Screenings and Community Engagement
The team also visited five local elementary schools to perform health screenings for approximately 1,000 students and teach proper oral hygiene. To foster community connections, volunteers organized interactive activities, including pinwheel-making and a local sports day.
Medical students from Sungkyunkwan University and Sri Lanka worked alongside hospital physicians to assist with patient care, with additional operational support provided by local doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
"While most international medical volunteer groups operate in or near Colombo, the Samsung Medical Center team traveled deep into Badulla, one of the country's most healthcare-deprived regions," said an official from Hope Friend Kia Daechak. "Their comprehensive approach—combining direct medical treatments with student health screenings—delivered substantial support to the local community."
Three Decades of Voluntary Global Service
Founded as an internal hospital club in 1994 alongside the opening of Samsung Medical Center, the One Family Medical Volunteer Association operates entirely through voluntary participation, with members using personal paid leave and self-funding all mission expenses.
Over the past three decades, the association has treated approximately 35,000 patients across 22 domestic facilities in South Korea and 40,000 patients across 16 countries internationally. Beyond direct clinical care, the group regularly conducts student health screenings, trains local healthcare personnel, and sponsors critically ill overseas patients to receive advanced treatment in South Korea.
In December 2025, the association was awarded the group prize at the 24th Korea-U.S. Cham Medical Award in recognition of its sustained contributions to vulnerable populations globally.
"For over 30 years, our association has been guided by the conviction that medical professionals should share their expertise where the need is greatest," said Hwang Ji-hye, chair of the One Family Medical Volunteer Association and professor of rehabilitation medicine at Samsung Medical Center. "We remain committed to delivering compassionate care and professional service wherever medical aid is needed, both at home and abroad."
