We have been holding a series of events called “Find-Your-Role-Model” Session to provide students with opportunities to interact with TMDU alumni and worldwide leaders in health sciences. Through this roundtable-type, relaxed atmosphere event, we hope students will be able to find their role models in order to facilitate their career development in becoming future global leaders.

We will host Dr. Mitsuo Isono, a senior adviser of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). After receiving his MD and Ph.D. from the School of Medicine at Tohoku University, he worked as an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Oita Medical University. Since 2007, he has been working for many years as a senior advisor at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), contributing to activities in the field of international cooperation. His main areas of expertise are development assistance in the field of health and medical care, infectious disease control, and public health in general. He has worked in approximately 40 countries, mainly focusing on infectious diseases and clinical medicine, including project formulation and evaluation, especially as a project leader for tuberculosis control in Afghanistan, where he has been engaged in field activities for approximately 15 years.

This session will be carried out in a round-table discussion format, and will cover the following points.

Everyone is welcome to join us in a hearty discussion.

Topics

1）Personal Background / Mindset

His career vision and its origin, decision-making processes for changing careers paths, what he learned in JICA.

2）Current activities

Daily life as a senior adviser at JICA and differences between that and being an expert for technical cooperation.

3）Experience on the ground (LMIC)

What he has experienced/sensed throughout various projects at JICA/in Afghanistan and other developing countries.

4）Advice for students / young professionals

Advice for students thinking of engaging in international cooperation and/or global health, what preparation can be done at an early stage in their career.