My first encounter to tropical medicine and global health was through my carrier in Quarantine Station in Japan (border measure against high consequence infectious diseases at international airports and seaports), which led me to Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene course at TMGH in 2021, followed by admission to Master of Tropical Medicine in 2022.
The days I spent in MTM were ones of the most wonderful in my entire life of more than 50 years. They were so intense for focusing on didactic lectures in total 6 months and for conducting our own research project and writing a dissertation in the rest of course. But because of the intensity I could learn so many new things in quite a short time, which brought me totally new and profound insights to this world and my carrier life.
The course happens in a relatively smaller local city in Japan, however, students, faculties and lecturers gather from all over the world and you learn in totally international environment where you can have wide and deep communications with people having various backgrounds. Admin staff are so considerate to take care of students that you can feel safe even in unfamiliar country for you.
Research project happens alongside the intense didactic lectures. It may not be easy to define your research question from scratch and finalize within a period shorter than 1 year, but the completion of a research project definitely gives you clear ideas of what research is, which further may lead you future challenge in Ph.D course.
We really look forward to seeing you in TMGH and future fields in tropical medicine and global health!
Hi. My name is Aden Kay Celis-Seposo, and I am a medical doctor from the Philippines. After coming to Japan in 2020, I made the decision to pursue a Master’s in Tropical Medicine at TMGH due to its outstanding reputation in the field of tropical medicine and infectious diseases. Having completed the intensive one-year course, I’d like to share my top three impressions about it. Firstly, the MTM course offers a comprehensive range of medical knowledge, delving deeply into every tropical disease with specialized input from various experts in their respective fields. Secondly, the course has significantly improved my research skills, providing thorough lessons in epidemiology and statistics, and enabling me to produce high-quality, publishable research. Lastly, the course effectively prepares students for their future careers, whether it be in clinical, academic, or private settings. Overall, I highly recommend undertaking this master’s course to advance your skills and excel in research while exploring new opportunities beyond your current professional scope as a medical doctor or allied health professional.
The experience on the Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) gave me the opportunity to study again on the Master of Tropical Medicine (MTM) for further studies. My initial motivation was to become a doctor who could contribute to global health.
The MTM is a short, intensive course that is completed in one year (four terms in total). In the autumn term, MPH and MSc students from various nationalities and professional backgrounds study the basics of epidemiology, statistics, international health and hygiene. Tropical medicine is also covered in a comprehensive and specific way, from neglected tropical diseases to infectious diseases that are now not limited to the tropics. In the winter term, students individually begin to consider the content of their master’s research. In the spring term, a wide range of experts and participants gather at DTM&H from all over the world. You can acquire clinical knowledge and spend quality time in actual case studies with hospitals in the Philippines, Nepal and Vietnam. The summer term is the time to finalize the results of your research into a thesis, a valuable period during which you can concentrate on learning and deepening your own research topic and receive guidance from your supervisors and experts in the laboratory.
MTM has lots of attractive points. I was greatly inspired by the excellent colleagues from various professional backgrounds. Needless to say, it is a great experience that I was able to take classes from specialists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and other internationally and domestically well-known experts. In terms of research, I was taught in detail the essential elements of research ethics, conducting experiments and reading and writing papers. I am also endlessly grateful to the administrative staff who warmly supported me throughout my academic life.
I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who would like to broaden their horizons with the experience they have gained so far.
Hi ! This is Augustin Kabongo; I am from DR Congo. I came to Japan as MEXT student through embassy recommendation and joined TMGH in October 2021. Studying the Master of Tropical Medicine in TMGH was exciting. As other students, I got an exceptional international experience that I hope will help me in my future career. For 2021-2022 academic year, classes were interactive with students from over 15 different countries and courses were taught by experts in a well-equipped environment that facilitates learning process and advanced research with full support of the teaching staff. Now more than ever, I feel ready to face global health issues and tropical diseases. And for those who are interested in global health and tropical medicine, I strongly recommend joining TMGH, I strongly recommend joining TMGH.
I’m interested in learning medicine globally and so I tried to join this MTM course and had a chance to learn here in Nagasaki.
As an MTM graduate, I’d like to introduce you about this course. The course consists of 4 terms. During the first two terms, we, MTM students, learn with students belonging to MSH and MSc. All lectures, not only Statistics and Epidemiology, but also Tropical medicines were motivating. I could learn the way of thinking from international students (mostly from Asia and Africa), have discussion, work hard and encourage each other, and also take a rest with chatting among not only medical doctors but also nurses, pharmacists and so on. This was a wonderful opportunity to broaden my outlook and give me a new view of the world. Additionally, I could have a valuable relationship with a lot of students from all over the world beyond just one of a Japanese pediatrician.
During the third term, lectures are more detailed and enlarged our knowledge. Only with MTM students, lots of lectures are based on clinical medicine; there are case presentations from collaborated facilities in Viet Nam and Philippines and lectures presented by LSHTM. Those were really interesting and impressive. Just from my personal pediatric point of view, lectures related to pediatrics were not so many but they were really valuable because I could have a chance to see real measles which I could have not done just in Japan and to know the severe dehydration and malnutrition. These inspired me to see children globally.
During winter and summer terms, we worked on our research and finished writing master’s thesis. It was hard to manage just in one year but somehow I completed all my assignments, thanks to my supervisor and assistant professors. It was a nice experience to complete.
In the summer term, we happily had an opportunity to visit and stay in the Philippines for two weeks and learn tropical medicine by lectures and bedside teaching in an actual tropical area. We were very lucky to join this course in 2018 to 2019 and hope this fieldtrip continues.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to you all; professors, supervisors, students, and staff in TMGH. Thank you for all of your support. I could have a very meaningful and fruitful time with you.
I am Yannick Munyeku, a Medical Doctor working for the DR Congo Ministry of Health. I went to Japan through JICA ABE Initiative as part of the human resources capacity building program. As a TMGH student, I had a rich and diverse experience. Courses were designed and taught to provide to students relevant knowledge to efficiently and comprehensively deal with global health issues across the globe and in developing countries specifically. As a MTM student, I have been able to strengthen and acquire competitive skills in biomedical research, epidemiology and clinical management of Infectious diseases while networking with colleagues, researchers, clinicians and academia from all over the world. I strongly recommend TMGH to health professionals who would like to endlessly work for a safer world where nobody is left behind.
MY name’s Gavicho Lindo Celestino, from Mozambique.After graduated at Faculty of Medicine, I worked as clinician at districtal hospital and simultaneously as administrative manager of the hospital and as clinical director, coordinating clinical activities all over the district with 15 health centers. I entered in Nagasaki University supported by ABE Initiative (African Business and Education for youth Initiative).
As MTM (Master of Tropical Medicine) I experienced four main pillars:
1. View of global medicine
2. As clinician how to conduct clinical cases focused in tropical or infectious disease.
3. Introduction of research, it was first experience and it motivate me to continue doing research as clinician.
4. Laboratory work for diagnosis.
I hope that from this very important experience and learning I achieved I’ll continue to combine clinical and research to meet the needs of health in the community.
Really the Nagasaki University – TMGH, is a Center of Human Building for Tomorrow.
(MINISTRY OF HEALTH, Provincial Directorate of Health in Zambézia- Mozambique)
