Kim Young-hoo, director of Ewha Womans University Medical Center’s Joint Replacement Center, was named the winner of the Hippocrates Award 2011 by the American Biographical Institute, the hospital said Tuesday.

ABI is one of the top three biographical dictionaries. The two others are International Biographical Centre and Marquis Who’s Who. Kim is among 10 doctors who have taken the honor this year, the hospital said. 

Kim was acknowledged for his development of the cementless artificial joint in 1995 and its upgraded product, Proxima, in 2000. His inventions have been adopted in many countries including India, Israel, Australia, Portugal and the Czech Republic. He was also noted for writing up to 10 research papers every year for authoritative academic journals.

The expert in joint replacement surgery has studied and practiced medicine at top-tier institutions including Harvard University and began work at the Ewha hospital in 2003.

“It is an honor to promote Korean medical techniques to the world. I will continue to pave the way for patients to receive artificial joints surgeries with the least pain,” Kim said.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)