Park Kyung-ah of Yonsei University School of Medicine was elected president of an international female doctors’ association.

According to the Korean Medical Women’s Association, Park will be leading the Medical Women’s International Association from next July when the group’s 29th international congress takes place in Seoul. Park will be the first Korean to head the international non-governmental organization.

MWIA was founded in 1919 aimed at aiding female doctors who faced discrimination in the medical field. The association, with members from 90 countries around the world, now advocates for causes such as voluntary medical activities in less-developed countries, vaccinations against human papillomavirus and bans on female circumcision.

“I would like to hold charity activities in North Korea and have North Korean members in the MWIA,” Park said.

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