Professor Choi Jeongsil of Gachon University College of Nursing received the "Nurse of the Year Award" in the Nursing Education category at the 95th Regular Delegates’ General Meeting of the Korean Nurses Association. The event was held on February 26, 2025, at Lotte Hotel Seoul. Professor Choi was honored for her contributions to advancing nursing education and enhancing professional development.

Professor Choi Jeongsil has played a pioneering role as an infection control expert for nearly 30 years since the early stages of infection control in Korea in 1996. As an educator and leader in healthcare institutions, academic societies, nursing colleges, and the community, she has significantly contributed to building a national infection control system. Through preventive education targeting healthcare professionals, nurses, and the general public, she has raised awareness of the importance of infection control and driven practical changes.

At Gachon University and Konyang University, Professor Choi established specialized education courses for infection control nurses. Since 2022, as the chairperson of the Association of Infection Control Nurse Education Institutions, she has led the standardization of educational curricula across 11 institutions nationwide, improving the quality of practical training and managing the professional nurse examination system.

In 2024, she developed and distributed the "Medication and Clinic-Level Infection Control Education Guidelines" and the "Practical Infection Control Guide for Clinics" to healthcare institutions nationwide. Additionally, she introduced updated practical training courses for nurses, promoting the professionalism and expansion of nursing education.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Choi went beyond professional education for healthcare workers and launched lifelong education programs for the general public at Incheon Citizen University. She organized 10 lectures under themes like “Infection in Daily Life: Effective Prevention Methods” and “Infection Prevention! The First Step Toward Healthy Living.” These efforts have contributed to public health awareness and quality of life improvements.

Her dedicated efforts have set a significant milestone in the development of infection control education and practice within the Korean nursing community, greatly contributing to the innovation and sustainable growth of the national healthcare sector.