Doctor Selected for a Fellowship in the United States for the 4th TOMODACHI Aflac Program
Japanese Doctor Receives Research Grant to Study Pediatric Oncology
The TOMODACHI Initiative (TOMODACHI), a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that invests in the next generation of leaders in the U.S. and Japan, and Aflac (American Family Life Insurance Company) selected Dr. Shogo Kobayashi, a doctor at Fukushima Medical University Hospital, as the fourth doctor to be sent to the United States.
From August 2016 to January 2017, Dr. Kobayashi will study at the Aflac-supported, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia, to observe and share best practices related to the care and treatment of children with cancer. Aflac will be providing a full research grant to Dr. Kobayashi.
Biography of Dr. Shogo Kobayashi
Dr. Kobayashi is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Oncology at the Fukushima Medical University. He joined the Pediatric Department of the Fukushima Medical University Hospital upon graduating from Fukushima Medical University in March 2003. After completing his general pediatric training in April 2008, Dr. Kobayashi has focused on pediatric blood cancer research and treatment practices at the Fukushima University Hospital. From October 2014 until present, the main theme of his research has been haploidentical stem cell transplantation for refractory childhood leukemia. In addition to his work at the pediatric cancer clinic, Dr. Kobayashi has volunteered weekly to provide medical support once a week at Minamisoma, a town severely damaged by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
Recipient’s Comment:
My aim in participating in the TOMODACHI Aflac Program is to engage in the world’s most advanced pediatric cancer care and research, and to identify the key challenges facing pediatric cancer care in Japan, as well as to consider ways in which these challenges can be overcome. After returning to Japan, I would like to make use of my study abroad experience to make the Fukushima Medical University Hospital, which became a regional medical hub during the earthquake and the recovery, into a hospital that can provide high-quality and advanced medical care for patients and their families. Ultimately, I strive to become a person who can contribute to the development of the Japanese childhood cancer care system.
4th TOMODACHI Aflac Program Summary
| Aim | To advance pediatric cancer research and treatment in Japan through exposure to state-of-the-art research in the United States |
| Eligibility | Any doctor (under 40 years old) living in Japan with a background in childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment research. |
| Fellowship Period | August, 2016 – January 2017 |
※ The doctor is selected for the fellowship by the TOMODACHI Aflac Program selection committee (Chairman: Mr. Keizo Horibe) in cooperation with the Japan Society of Pediatric Hematology / Oncology.
※ The program office is located in the Aflac Public Relations Department, Social Public Activities Promotion Division (Shinjuku Mitsui Building, Nishi-Shinjuku 2-1-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 03-5908-6411).
<For inquiries, please contact>
Aflac Public Relations Department, Public Relations Division, Moriwaki / Furuya
TEL: 03-5908-6410
TOMODACHI Initiative, Horita/ Noguchi
TEL: 03-4510-3400
