Kiyoshi Kita Dean, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health
Health is precious to every person in the world. This is also true for the earth itself. How can humans make sustainable progress understanding “health” as “science” while valuing “life”? In the current era of globalisation,where numerous factors are intricately correlated with the rapid growth of the 21st century, it is essential to adequately and objectively understand the current situation and swiftly implement measures that provide concrete solutions to global problems.
The School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH) aims to cultivate professionals who can directly contribute to solving global health issues. Despite the global demand for such professionals, Japan has not fully educated and supplied human resources in this field.
Under these circumstances, Nagasaki University established the Master of Tropical Medicine Course within the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2006, focusing on education and research in tropical medicine. Through this course, doctors with clinical experience can systematically learn the theoretical and clinical foundations of tropical medicine, public health, and epidemiology. This programme allows doctors in Japan the opportunity to obtain a master’s degree in tropical medicine in just one year. Alongside this new programme, and considering the importance of tackling health problems internationally from the perspective of “global health,” we established the Master of Public Health Course in the Graduate School of International Health Development in 2008. This course encourages practices that would improve the conditions in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) based on the findings in global health. It offers programmes that provide insights into the environmental and political aspects of local areas, in addition to knowledge of public health and hygiene.
However, it is becoming apparent that an even higher level of education and research is necessary in this rapidly changing world when considering “global health.” The Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak in West Africa in December 2013, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shaken the world, demonstrate the interconnectedness of our planet.
TMGH was newly established in April 2015 by systematically integrating the Master of Tropical Medicine and Public Health courses. All courses are conducted in English to produce an even higher level of global health professionals. To offer truly world-class education and programmes, and integrate education, practice, and research, we have established PhD and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) programmes, as well as short courses such as the Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H). We have been striving to train global health professionals through our collaboration with the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Japan, as well as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the leading institute of the global health field. Our endeavor came to materialise in October 2018 as the “Global Health Elite Programme for Building a Healthier World,” endorsed by “The WISE Programme of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT.)”
TMGH represents a fresh and new kind of graduate school. Both graduate students and staff are multinational and expected to become strong core of Nagasaki University’s goal of “Planetary Health”. Historically, Nagasaki was a “window” to foreign countries during the Edo Period in Japan. Honouring this history together, TMGH aims to establish the true meaning of a “Global Health” at the forefront of supporting global health development worldwide so that a child’s birthplace does not dictate their future.
