Mission of the Department of Infectious Diseases,
Keio University School of Medicine
The Department of Infectious Diseases at Keio University School of Medicine is an integrated department that bridges basic and clinical medicine. Our mission is to conduct interdisciplinary research that spans from basic to clinical medicine, while also nurturing the next generation of infectious disease specialists.
Elements Required for
the Next Generation of Infectious Disease Specialists
The six essential competencies required for future infectious disease specialists are: (1) cross-organ diagnostic ability, (2) microbiology, (3) pharmacokinetics, (4) ethics in infectious diseases, (5) preparedness for emerging and re-emerging infections, and (6) crisis management in infectious diseases. These competencies form the core of the training provided by the Clinical Infectious Disease Center at Keio University Hospital.
Infectious diseases are caused by invisible microorganisms and can affect any organ in the body. With advancements in medicine, treatments such as organ transplants, immunosuppressive therapies, and highly invasive procedures have become practical. In addition, the development of airplanes and other modes of transport now allows people to access virtually any part of the globe, increasing the likelihood of previously unimaginable infectious diseases emerging and rapidly spreading. Furthermore, advancements in technology, such as mass spectrometers and genetic testing, have uncovered microorganisms previously unknown to cause infections. The misuse of antimicrobial agents has also led to the global problem of drug resistance. Therefore, it is essential for infectious disease specialists to utilize their knowledge of causative microorganisms, infected hosts, and antimicrobial agents, as well as therapies targeting host immunity, to provide individualized optimal treatment based on the relationship between the microorganism, the host, and the treatment. In addition to this knowledge, infectious disease specialists must be equipped with the ability to apply the latest evidence comprehensively and possess a wealth of experience to provide cross-organ diagnoses.
Since the year 2000, there have been several pandemics or infectious diseases designated by the WHO as PHEICs (Public Health Emergencies of International Concern), such as COVID-19, monkeypox (mpox), Zika virus infection, Ebola virus disease, and novel influenza. We must continue the historical achievements of the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, which has played a significant role in controlling parasitic diseases on a global scale, and prepare for unpredictable emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases with an international and epidemiological perspective. To prevent the spread of infections, it is important not only to provide treatment but also to focus on prevention. It is necessary to manage crises related to infectious diseases, such as infection control within hospitals and outbreak responses.
In Japan, there has been prejudice and discrimination against infectious diseases, such as Hansen’s disease and HIV. We must learn from this history and cultivate perspectives in both public health and human rights and ethics, in addition to clinical infectious disease practice.
Our department embraces these competencies as core to our mission, solving problems with international and interdisciplinary perspectives while engaging with people, society, and governmental organizations, and collaborating with various researchers. This work requires the involvement of not only physicians but also a team that includes a variety of healthcare professionals and governmental agencies. The Department of Infectious Diseases at Keio University School of Medicine will continue to fulfill the mission of the Clinical Infectious Disease Center and the Infection Control Department at Keio University Hospital, nurturing professionals involved in infectious diseases with a research-oriented mindset.