A competent doctor can cure everything

‘It’s already July.’

I glanced briefly at the lush greenery visible through the corridor window.

July 1st. It was my first day transferring from the Department of Gastroenterology to the Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine.

At that time, I was not the only one leaving the Department of Gastroenterology.

Ms. Kang Eun-jung also decided to move to the hospice ward on a different floor of the building starting in July.

“I plan to spend the remaining time receiving palliative care.”

Yesterday, Ms. Eun-jung asked to see me privately to say her goodbyes.

Although she must have known what a hospice ward meant, she seemed very happy and peaceful.

“Thank you so much for helping me reunite with Kyung-soo. I’ll remember this until the day I die.”

She even winked and threw in one of her signature life-risking jokes.

“I’ll come to visit from time to time.”

I could only respond with a faint smile.

And today marked the turn to the Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine.

In some ways, this day is even more significant than the first day I started working at this hospital.

The Department of Korean Rehabilitation Medicine is one of the most popular departments.

It handles everything from simple pain patients to those suffering from sequelae of strokes or trauma.

Although it is still relatively unfamiliar in our country, sports medicine is also part of this department.

Additionally, it actively engages in treatments such as body alignment correction, obesity treatment, and chiropractic care.

‘In other words, it’s one of the specialties with the most potential areas to expand within Korean medicine.’

This is why the Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine has become a major department.

Having a specialization in rehabilitation medicine would be advantageous when I run an Oriental medicine hospital in the future.

Therefore, this department was an important one I had in mind when applying for residency.

Of course, there will be fierce competition for the position.

‘So, I need to make a good impression during my internship in this department.’

It is crucial to be well-regarded by the professors, especially the chief professor, Yeon Jae-wook.

Next, it’s also beneficial to leave a positive impression on the rehabilitation medicine residents.

Professors often consider the opinions of existing residents when selecting new trainees.

They evaluate things like the intern’s abilities and personality.

Our Oriental Medicine hospital operates on a system where interns and residents from each department work under a single professor in pairs.

So, regardless of the number of people in each department, we mainly see the same team’s faces for a month.

And this time, my partner is:

“Doctor? Here we are again. I look forward to working with you for the next month.”

In front of me, a brown-haired man is smiling and extending his hand for a handshake.

It’s Sim Ji-seob, a second-year resident in the Rehabilitation Medicine department.

“I look forward to working with you too.”

I had a strange feeling that I would end up paired with this senior.

Our supervising professor is Yeon Jae-wook.

It’s good since he’s the person we need to impress the most.

‘What a coincidence that it’s Professor Yeon. That’s quite a remarkable coincidence.’

While thinking that to myself, Sim Ji-seob leisurely started speaking.

“Everyone in our department is very interested in you. Especially Professor Yeon.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. He specifically requested that you be assigned as an intern this month. Normally, he doesn’t care who the intern is.”

Hmm. It seems that ending up under Professor Yeon was not just a coincidence.

“So, it seems they’re already calling for you.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, they’re asking if you can be sent to the outpatient clinic as soon as you have time.”

The professor called me to the outpatient clinic right after becoming a resident?

I slightly adjusted my glasses.

“Do you know what it’s about?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Sim Ji-seob shrugged his shoulders and offered a kind smile.

“Hmm, you seem to be overflowing with enthusiasm.”

Enthusiasm…?

With a sense of unease, I went down to the third floor where the Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine’s outpatient clinic is located.

Even though it was still early and the consultations hadn’t officially started, the waiting room was crowded with patients.

“Dr. Seon, you’re here? Please come in right away.”

A booming voice came from the consultation room as the nurse directed me.

It was a voice so loud it could be heard clearly in the waiting room.

“Professor, hello. I’m Seon Joon, the new intern in the Rehabilitation Medicine department starting today.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat.”

Since it was our first meeting, I made sure to greet him formally.

With his broad physique and muscular build, the professor looked more like a bodybuilder than an Oriental medicine professor.

As if his boisterous tone matched his impatient nature, the professor immediately got to the point.

“I called you because… I saw the YouTube video you appeared in!”

“-!!”

I suddenly choked and coughed awkwardly.

The professor patted my back, and his strength was so intense I thought my heart might leap out of my mouth.

“Oh dear? Are you alright?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine.”

Damn, even the professor saw it?

I quickly composed myself to avoid further embarrassment.

“I’ve heard that YouTube videos are a great way to promote things to younger people these days.”

I felt anxious. Really anxious.

What kind of idea might have come to the professor’s mind after watching that video?

“As you know, our Rehabilitation Medicine department also sees many pain patients. But for some reason, due to the department name, patients keep registering under the Acupuncture and Pain Medicine department.”

“……”

“So! We’ve decided to actively promote our Rehabilitation Medicine pain clinic this time.”

“Promotion, you say?”

“Yes. Using YouTube!”

Is he suggesting that I should post promotional content for the Rehabilitation Medicine department on Young-jin’s channel?

I hesitated and spoke awkwardly.

“Professor, I have done a YouTube video before, but it wasn’t on my own channel.”

“I know, I know. And I’m not thinking of asking that YouTuber for anything. That would be quite inconsiderate.”

“……?”

What exactly does Professor Yeon have in mind?

Soon, the professor confidently laid out his plan.

“Our Hanbit University Hospital also has its own YouTube channel, doesn’t it? Where professors take turns explaining health tips or the hospital’s PR team posts introduction videos. Apparently, thanks to the Hanbit University name, that channel is quite popular.”

“Professor, so what exactly do you want me to do…?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’d like you to appear in a video and introduce our Rehabilitation Medicine department.”

I’m in trouble.

I recalled the nightmare of being scolded by Park Young-jin while filming.

I needed to decline the offer gracefully so as not to upset the professor.

“Professor, I’m truly honored by this offer, but as an intern, is it really appropriate for me to appear in a promotional video for the Rehabilitation Medicine department?”

However, the professor remained unmoved.

Instead of backing down, he chuckled heartily and patted my shoulder.

“Yes, you’re a Rehabilitation Medicine intern. What’s the problem? And I heard the reaction to your recent YouTube appearance was positive. Since we’re making a promotional video, we should have a hot star like you to make it effective!”

I couldn’t think of any more excuses.

Moreover, if the professor were someone I wasn’t particularly interested in, I might have refused more forcefully, even if it meant making an enemy.

‘How can I refuse the main professor of the Rehabilitation Medicine department?’

In the end, I had no choice but to agree reluctantly.

“I’ll… do my best.”

* * *

And a few days later.

It was the day for filming the YouTube video to promote the Rehabilitation Medicine department.

The shoot was scheduled to take place just before lunchtime, during a lull when there were fewer patients.

‘So this day has finally come.’

I sighed despondently inside the Rehabilitation Medicine outpatient room.

I hoped for some kind of natural disaster on the filming day.

Or maybe that the professor would change his mind.

But neither of those things happened.

‘I hope the professor doesn’t get so angry at my poor acting that he kicks me out of the department.’

At that moment, there was a commotion outside, and soon the professor and three men entered.

Wearing ID badges from the promotional team, they carried various equipment like cameras and tripods.

“Ah, Dr. Seon! You’re here already?”

They seemed very friendly, as if hiring was based on sociability.

“Hello~. We’re from the promotional team!”

“Oh my, you’re the Rehabilitation Medicine doctor who will be featured today? You look so handsome! Now I understand why the professor was so confident!”

The man who appeared to be the highest-ranking among them took my hand and shook it vigorously up and down.

I glanced at his ID badge, and indeed, it said he was the head of the promotional team.

“We also watched the YouTube video you appeared in! We hope you can be as good today as you were then!”

“Oh, yes…. I heard it was just a simple video shoot, but three of you have come.”

And even the head of the team is here?

When I looked around at the fancy equipment, the head of the promotional team smacked his lips.

“Actually, the hospital’s YouTube viewership has been declining lately, and we’re in a bit of a crisis. We’ve done all the content we can, so we need something fresh and exciting. That’s why we’ve sent our elite members for today’s shoot. Haha!”

Everyone except me was smiling cheerfully.

I was also laughing, though it was more of a nervous chuckle, wondering how long these smiles would last.

And then….

“Ah, Doctor, when you walk, your arms and legs are moving in the same direction.”

“Haha! Looks like the doctor is really nervous~!”

As expected, once filming started, everyone on set began sweating profusely.

After several takes and multiple NG calls, the promotional team eventually had to stop filming altogether and go into an emergency meeting.

“What should we do?”

“This can’t be fixed with editing.”

“Ah! How about going with a robot concept instead? …No, that won’t work. Sigh.”

Professor Yeon, who had recommended me to the promotional team, was equally flustered.

Noticing the awkward situation, he started making excuses to the staff.

“I saw on YouTube that Dr. Seon communicates naturally with others, but solo appearances seem to be a bit awkward?”

Having moved past the stage of being on pins and needles, I was now in a state of resignation, thinking “Whatever happens, happens.”

At that moment, I overheard a conversation outside between a man and a nurse.

“Excuse me. Has the consultation ended?”

“Yes, it’s almost lunchtime. Sorry, but could you come back in an hour?”

“Oh dear. I got delayed because of traffic…”

Hearing this, Professor Yeon suddenly snapped his fingers with a loud crack.

“How about filming Dr. Seon treating that patient? Nurse Kim! Please bring that patient in here. Quickly!”

And the situation rapidly changed…

I suddenly found myself sitting at the consultation desk, ready to see a new patient for the first time.

“Phew.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

It was actually better. Consulting patients was far more natural for me than acting.

Of course, seeing patients in front of Professor Yeon and the camera was also stressful, but it was a hundred times better than talking to thin air alone.

“Hello, sir. What brings you here today?”

Park Seok-jin (26/M).

This was the patient information displayed on the electronic chart on the computer screen.

A man in his twenties with thick glasses, freckles on his cheeks, and a slight build.

However, the patient’s expression was strange.

He had a look of unexpected familiarity, as if he was pleased to see someone he knew.

‘?’

Did I know this person?

Even after quickly searching my memory, it was clear that this man was a stranger to me.

Amidst my slight confusion, the man spoke up.

“Doctor, do you not remember me?”

…Who are you?