Greetings from the Professor

I was appointed as the professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases in May 2019. Originally established as a department focusing on parasitology and tropical medicine, our department has evolved over time. Since April 2013, it has expanded its scope to cover a broader range of infectious diseases, not limited to tropical medicine. We have been working to broaden our focus on various pathogens and infectious diseases, collaborating with numerous internal and external departments, and incorporating new technologies to analyze microbial and host factors. This has helped us advance the development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive methods. Many members of the Department of Infectious Diseases also serve in the Infection Control Department at the hospital. The Infection Control Department was initially established as the Infection Control Office in 1998, later becoming the Infection Control Center in April 2010, and eventually, in May 2019, it took on its current form as the Infection Control Department. The department operates as part of an infection control team consisting of doctors, nurses, clinical laboratory technicians, pharmacists, and administrative staff. Furthermore, in October 2022, the Clinical Infectious Disease Center was established as a clinical division dedicated to infectious diseases. Doctors affiliated with the Department of Infectious Diseases now provide outpatient care at this center. The Department of Infectious Diseases, the Infection Control Department, and the Clinical Infectious Disease Center work closely together, aiming to integrate basic and clinical research. They collaborate with the microbiology section of the clinical laboratory and the pharmacy department, focusing on four main pillars: infectious disease treatment, clinical support, hospital infection control, and education for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In our research, we place great importance on addressing clinical questions and applying the results of our research in actual clinical practice.

In 2020, the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in the 21st century, we have witnessed the emergence of various new and re-emerging infectious diseases that have shaken the world, such as SARS, novel influenza, MERS, SFTS, Zika virus, Ebola, and more recently, Mpox (monkeypox). The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dangers and challenges of infectious diseases, while also showcasing the remarkable advancements in science and technology that allowed us to identify the cause, develop treatments, and implement vaccines in a short period.

In the field of infectious diseases, the emergence of new infectious diseases in the 21st century has further emphasized the importance of infection control and prevention. It has become essential to approach this field comprehensively, covering epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and infection control. Although this field is currently one of the most prominent, there is still a shortage of professionals due to its wide scope. Moving forward, I hope our department can serve as a platform for those interested in infectious diseases, and those who wish to engage in clinical practice or research related to infectious diseases and infection control. We aim to nurture infectious disease specialists and conduct research on infectious diseases and infection control, leveraging the strengths of our department. Please feel free to visit our website.