Prof. Sohei Satoi, Kansai Medical University
“We strongly believe that the study of medicine should be shared beyond the limits of national boundaries. This agreement will help to improve healthcare in both countries by teaching the latest techniques to the next generation of surgeons. We look forward to strengthening the ties between our two countries and we will do our utmost to provide support, because medicine has no national boundaries: from Hirakata to the World, from the World to Hirakata”, stated Dr. K. Tomoda, President of the Kansai Medical University after the two Lithuanian and Japanese universities signed an agreement, creating an exchange program for young surgeons.
COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the plans to implement the exchange program. However, Vilnius University and Kansai Medical University (Japan) still have found a way to collaborate. This year, every two weeks students of both of the mentioned countries’ have been invited to take part in the meetings of the Lithuanian-Japanese project.
How can these meetings benefit Japanese students? What challenges do they face? Finally, are there any plans to organize student exchanges between Vilnius University and Kansai Medical University in the future? These and other questions were answered by Kansai Medical University Prof. Sohei Satoi.
An opportunity to learn in English
“Most of Japanese medical students don’t have a chance to talk with foreign people as Japan is in “geographic isolation”. What is more, we do not have any medicine study program taught in English and all the texts comes in Japanese as well. It is a big problem,” Prof. Sohei Satoi said. According to him, that is why the Lithuanian-Japanese initiative’s lectures might be difficult to understand for Japanese medicine students.
On the other hand, it is a great opportunity for students to recognize the level of their English listening comprehension as well as speaking skills. Realizing that there is room for improvement can motivate students to learn English. “It is getting more and more important to understand what is going on in your field in the world. Especially to the younger generation,” Prof. Sohei Satoi stated.
Furthermore, challenges provide opportunities to improve the initiative. “I think that after 6 months or one year later our lecture program will be changed a lot. It will become simpler and more efficient for students,” he added. Students and their feedback on lectures also help to bring these changes.
Looking forward to start an exchange program
Besides that, Lithuanian-Japanese initiative has established several programs – international lectures program, international journal club and also clinical congress of surgery – they are planning to restart students’ exchange program.
“As soon as the pandemic situation stabilizes, we will invite students to apply for the exchange program. Also, we have recently prepared international PhD program which will be financially supported travel expenses, tuition and accommodation fees as well as expense for daily life (under construction). This program starts from the following year and welcomes a few selected students in a year who would like to take PhD degree in Kansai Medical University,” Prof. Sohei Satoi said.
He concluded by saying that he is very happy to build international collaboration between Japan and Lithuania: “At the time we have three different kinds of collaboration between Lithuania and Japan: among medical students, post-graduate students and medical staff. We might increase it together in the future”.
What is Lithuanian-Japanese initiative?
Every two weeks students are invited to take part in the meetings of the Lithuanian-Japanese project implemented by Prof. Kęstutis Strupas and Dr. Aistė Kielaitė-Gulla with their colleague Prof. Sohei Satoi, Dr Daisuke Hashimoto and other surgeons from Kansai Medical University (Japan).
Remote lectures on pancreatic, hepatic, colorectal and gastric as well as paediatric surgery of Japanese and Lithuanian academic surgeons are offered during these meetings. Furthermore, lectures are illustrated with 3D visual aids and video fragments of the surgeries. Students have an opportunity to ask questions and to discuss the selected topics as well as to integrate the achievements of scientific research.
Looking forward to join the initiative “From Cell Biology to Surgery and Beyond”? Contact Dr. Aistė Kielaitė-Gulla or Prof. Kęstutis Strupas.
Let's meet on the 17 th of January, 9.00 a. m. (lecture by Prof. Madoka Hamada) and on the 31st of January, 9 a. m. (lecture by Prof. Tomas Poškus).
ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89288825557?pwd=d2hjN0cvbC96eEhPSTM5OTEzVXRMUT09