Award Recipients
2024 research fellowship award report
Dr. Wiqas Ahmad, JSGE Research Fellowship Recipient
It was a profound honor to be selected as a recipient of the JSGE Research Fellowship Program. I am deeply grateful to the Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology and the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology for granting me this invaluable opportunity.
I completed a five-month fellowship at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (KPUM) under the supervision of Dr. Yoshida and course director Dr. Konishi. This experience allowed me to acquire advanced skills in Magnifying Endoscopy, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR), Precutting EMR, Underwater EMR, as well as Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and EUS guided FNB.
Dr. Yoshida’s mentorship was instrumental in improving my endoscopic skills and deepening my understanding of research methodologies. We collaborated on a research project that greatly enhanced my academic experience. I also participated in six international hands-on workshops, which significantly advanced my technical expertise.
I am immensely grateful to the EUS team, including Dr. Miyake, Dr. Sogama, and Dr. Doi, as well as the Colorectal ESD team, especially Dr. Inoue and Dr. Kobayashi, for their exceptional teaching and support. Dr. Dohi, Head of the Upper GI ESD team, and Dr. Konishi, Head of the Gastroenterology Division, provided invaluable guidance throughout my fellowship. I also extend my appreciation to the clinical engineers, nursing staff, and administrative team, particularly Ms. Miyazaki, whose assistance ensured a seamless experience.
In addition to clinical work, I attended the Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW) in Kobe, where I gained insights from global leaders in gastroenterology. The inclusive environment at KPUM, complemented by monthly faculty dinners, enriched my understanding of Japanese culture and strengthened professional relationships.
I am committed to using the knowledge and skills gained during this fellowship to establish and expand EUS and EMR services in Pakistan, ultimately improving patient care.
This fellowship has been a transformative journey, and I am deeply thankful to all who contributed to its success.
Dr. Munkhsaruul Bayaraa
It was my great honor and privilege to receive the research fellowship award from JSGE. During my 5 months’ fellowship at Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, I have gained a lot of experience in advanced gastrointestinal endoscopic imaging with white light imaging and imaged enhanced endoscopy using eg. NBI, BLI, LCI and skills in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) under the guidance of Dr Gotoda, Dr Hirasawa, Dr Yoshiyo, Dr Ishiyama, Dr Horiuchi and Dr Yoshimizu, Dr Yamamoto and all the residents of the department.
The main goal of my training was to improve endoscopic diagnosis of early gastric and esophageal cancer and resection of lesions with ESD. I was exposed to many new techniques, ideas and a passion. Department created an incredibly supportive environment, with amazing patience to explain, demonstrate and then supervise me in performing all aspects of endoscopy, including diagnostic pre-ESD examinations using magnification, virtual and dye chromoendoscopy and then endoscopic resection.
Moreover, I have chances to EUS screening and participate with ERCP procedures. I learned a lot of knowledge and techniques of EUS and ERCP from Takashi Sasaki and his team who have excellent talents of teaching through pictures of linear EUS. I have exposed to tremendous procedures of EUS, EUS-FNA, endoscopic drainages of patients having cholangiocarcinoma by inside stents and single and double balloon assisted ERCP.
The JDDW 2024 not only allows fantastic educational updates but also networking opportunities.
I hope, all of those knowledge, education, experience and also this great friendship would lead a path for future collaborations, not only for me but also for my institutions and my country.
I would like to thank Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki for her assistance during all the application process.
Thank you so much.
Dr. Pham Van Duc
My name is Pham Van Duc, and I am a visiting doctor from the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital 19-8 in Hanoi, Vietnam. My professional journey began five years ago when I was selected for the 2020 program scholarship. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the program was postponed and subsequently canceled in 2021.
In 2022, with the pandemic situation improving, I commenced my Ph.D. studies in Korea. Although I thought my aspiration of becoming a JSGE awardee was out of reach, the reopening of the program last year allowed me to reapply with my professor’s endorsement. I am honored to have been selected for the 2024 program scholarship.
Studying in the Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology at Nagoya University Hospital, a premier medical institution, has been an exceptional experience. I extend my sincere gratitude to JSGE for this opportunity, and especially to Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki and the JSGE secretariat for their guidance and support throughout the application process.
I also wish to express my deepest appreciation to Professors Hiroki Kawashima, Dr. Kenta Yamamoto, and Dr. Takashi Hirose for their unwavering support and mentorship. Their guidance has been instrumental in my professional and personal development. I vividly recall the assignments from Dr. Hirose, which significantly enhanced my understanding and sparked a deeper passion for early GI cancer treatment. In addition, assisting Dr. Kenta Yamamoto in performing TACE (Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization) was an invaluable experience. I am also grateful to Ms. Hikawa Atsuko, the department secretary, for her administrative assistance and kindness.
The warm welcome and support from other doctors, nurses, and medical engineers at Nagoya University Hospital have made my time here invaluable. Additionally, my experience has been enriched by learning about Japanese culture, trying various Japanese foods, and visiting historical sites.
I am committed to applying the knowledge and skills I have gained here to advance healthcare in my home country. I look forward to sharing these experiences with my colleagues and continuing to build these valuable connections.
Not implemented from 2020 to 2023 due to the pandemic.
2019 research fellowship award report
Dr. Cameron KMW Schauer
It was an honour to be selected from New Zealand as a recipient of the JSGE Research Fellowship Program. The goals of my Fellowship were to improve my luminal endoscopy, in particular in-vivo endoscopic diagnosis resection of lesions with ESD. I was fortunate to be placed at the NTT Medical Center under the guidance of Dr Matsuhashi and Dr Ohata. Here I was exposed to many new techniques, ideas and a passion for teaching Endoscopy that in my experience is unmatched. They created an incredibly supportive environment, with amazing patience to explain, demonstrate and then supervise me in performing all aspects of endoscopy, including diagnostic pre-ESD examinations using magnification, virtual and dye chromoendoscopy and then mucosal resection, including EMR-L, EMR-C and ESD.
In addition, they showed me through their action and observation how to improve as a teacher myself. At their institution, teaching is seen as an expectation and taken very seriously. There was a constant and unwavering pursuit of excellence, and I was inspired by their dedication to this craft, astonishing attention to detail, understanding, knowledge and then finally execution of complex procedures.
I am exceptionally grateful to everyone on the team, including my supervisors, Dr Ohata and Dr Muramoto and my mentors, Dr Minato and Dr Konishi who were always friendly and supportive. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and got to know all of the team and other trainees, with Japanese hospitality and teachings of culture and of course delicious Japanese food. Furthermore, we all managed to improve our English and Japanese and intend to keep in touch, with collaborations to come in the future.
I would also like to thank Ms Miyazaki from the JSGE who was so kind and helpful in every aspect of organisation of this Fellowship.
Dr. Didik Prasetyo
I am very grateful and proudly to be an awardee of JSGE Research Fellowship Program Award 2019. I was assigned to Uonuma Kikan Hospital in Urasa, Niigata University. I was greeted warmly by Prof. Takeshi Suda and his team. Prof. Takeshi Suda is my course director, he had taken care of me with warm welcome as a family member.
During 4-month period, from August 1st – Nov 29st . I have learned many gastroenterohepatology cases in Uonuma Kikan Hospital. I furthered my skill of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic techniques under supervision. I learned clinical applications of magnifying endoscopy, H. Pylori Infection and gastric cancer screening from Prof. Yagi. These knowledges improves my skill to detect and treat early gastric cancer which would be necessary for my country. Futhermore, I also being an observer in ESD tehniques for many gastric cancer cases from dr. Hoshi.
Moreover, I have chances to perform ERCP and EUS screening. I learned a lot of knowledges and techniques of EUS from Shinichi Morita, MD., Ph.D and Santoshi Abe, MD who have excellent talents of teaching through pictures. I further my skills on ERCP procedures and learned novel ERCP techniques and devices. I have exposed to tremendous procedures of EUS, EUS-FNA, delicate selective endoscopic drainage of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by inside stents, Endoscopic drainage for wall-off necrosis (WONs) using Axios stent, and endoscopic necrosectomy. All these procedures were accomplished by highly skilled endoscopists with excellent teamwork. In Hepatology procedures, I have learned many procedures such as PTGBD, PTCD, TACE and using sonazoid to detect HCC. Prof. Takeshi Suda teach me very well.
Prof. Takeshi Suda guided me during the whole JDDW event in Kobe. We together joined the symposiums and visited nice places in Kobes. I could feel the enthusiasm and ambition of Japanese doctors in research field in JDDW. I think it one of the most It is a prestisious events in gastroenterohepatology field in the world.
These fellowship programme briefly increases my gastroenterohepatology skills and also bring confidence to practice in my country, Indonesia. I hope, All of those knowledge, education, experience and also this great friendship would lead a path for future collaborations, not only for me but also for my institutions and my country, and I am still waiting for next projects from JSGE in the near future. Finally, I would like to thank Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki for her assistance during application process.
Dr. Saurabh Kedia
It is a great privilege and honor for me to be awarded the prestigious JSGE fellowship for the year 2019. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, which nominated my name and my mentor Prof Vineet Ahuja, who supported me for this fellowship. I would also express my sincere thanks to the JSGE board members and my mentors in Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Prof Mamoru Watanabe, Dr Kiichiro Tsuchiya, Dr Shiro Yui, and Dr Ryuchi Okamoto, who were very supportive to me during my stay in Tokyo, and taught me the aspects of regenerative medicine in IBD.
I had a wonderful scientific as well as cultural experience during my training and I am extremely thankful to JSGE for taking excellent care in terms of local stay and the facilities provided. I was guided very well at TMDU in a structured and a meticulous fashion, which facilitated my learning and eased out my apprehensions of a new place, new team and a relatively new science. I had an excellent interaction with the other students working in the lab, and everyone in the department of Gastroenterology at TMDU was very kind and generous to me.
The fellowship also provides an excellent opportunity for building up new collaborations which would provide a unique opportunity to study the similarities and differences of similar diseases in two ethnically different populations, and advance the scientific standards globally.
I also had the opportunity to witness the beauty of Japanese landscape and culture during these three months and have taken back extremely good memories. This program is an excellent initiative by the JSGE as it connects the physicians and scientists of different Asian countries and imparts excellent training to the upcoming gastroenterologists.
2018 research fellowship award report
Dr. Hsing-Chien Wu
I am from Taiwan, and JSGE fellowship program is an unbelievable trip for me. I decided to join the program before I am too old and was very excited to be chosen as the awardee. I have very limited experience of clinical research in pancreatic disease, but I have read many articles regarding pancreatitis from research group of Tohoku University. “It is a very good opportunity to work with authors of articles and talk to them face by face,” I thought. I was lucky that JSGE accepted my proposal to visit Tohoku University Hospital for 5 months.
As a member in pancreaticobiliary group, I am encouraged to join every activities and meeting. I can feel the kindness from the whole hospital. I have exposed to tremendous procedures of EUS, EUS-FNA, ERCP including ERCP in surgically altered anatomy, delicate selective endoscopic drainage of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by inside stents, Endoscopic drainage for wall-off necrosis (WONs) using Axios stent, and endoscopic necrosectomy. All these procedures were accomplished by highly skilled endoscopists with excellent teamwork. I want to thank Professor Masamune and Professor Shimosegawa, who arranged an unforgettable long-stay in Sendai. I would like to thank Dr. Kanno and Dr. Kume for teaching me the endoscopic technique. Especially Dr. Kanno, he spent most of the time sharing the clinical experience with me. I also wanted to say thanks to Dr. Hamada, who is clever and hardworking, for discussion of inspiring ideas in the research field. I will not forget partners including Dr. Kikuta, Dr. Miura, Dr. Takegawa, Dr. Nabeshima, Dr. Hongo, Dr. Matsumoto, and Dr. Tanaka. I’m grateful that the secretary, Miss Abe, helping me to handle some phone calls and bills by Japanese language, since I could not speak Japanese fluently.
Dr. Kikuta guided me during the whole JDDW event in Kobe. We together joined the symposiums and visited the posters. I could feel the enthusiasm and ambition of Japanese doctors in research field in JDDW. It is a high-class meeting. We enjoyed the dinner party in the 神戶どうぶつ王国 with Professor Shimosegawa and his friends, mostly are distinguished professors in Japan. It’s an amazing experience for me.
I have already experienced the spirits of Japanese gastroenterology and endoscopy and made some friends in Japan. I hope that I can be good enough to cooperate with Japanese friends to advance the clinical research in the field of gastroenterology and pancreas in the near future.
Dr. Lancharat Chuncharunee
It is my great opportunity to be an awardee of JSGE Research Fellowship Program Award 2018. I was assigned to Kyoto Perfectural University of Medicine (KPUM). Dr.Konishi, my course director, had taken care of me with warm welcome as a family member.
During 4-month period, I furthered my skill of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic techniques under supervision of renowned experts in KPUM. I learned clinical applications of magnifying endoscopy, novel techniques and devices for ESD from Dr.Dohi, Dr.Inoue and Dr.Yoshida. Moreover, I have a chance to perform ESD with assistance from my mentors. These knowledges improves my skill to detect and treat early gastric cancer and colon cancer which would be necessary for my country. I learned a lot of knowledges and techniques of EUS from Dr.Sogame and Dr.Yasuda who have excellent talents of teaching through pictures and their words. I performed EUS, EUS-FNA, CH-EUS under their supervision. I further my skills on ERCP procedures and learned novel ERCP techniques and devices from Dr.Konishi and Dr.Kamada.
With the assistance of my kind GI fellows and GI staffs team in KPUM, I benefited greatly on my skills and my confidence to practice in Thailand. These knowledge and inspiration will pass to following generations of gastroenterologists in my country. I get acquainted with new Japanese friends and Sensei. This friendship will bring collaboration between our countries in the future.
Finally, I would like to thank Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki for her assistance during application process.
Dr. Phuc Vinh La
I am La Vinh Phuc, an endoscopist in Can Tho University Hospital. This is a great honours for me to receive the Research Fellowship Program Award of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.
I spent nearly 5 magic months at Kindai University Hospital. With the Certificate of Permission of Advanced Clinical Training and under the guidance of many top experts with cutting-edge knowledge and skills here, my knowledge and skills changed dramatically. Now, I can peform endoscopic screening, ESD, EUS, and ERCP better, smoother and safer.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to professor Tooru Shimosegawa – President of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, professor Keiichi Kubota – Director and Chairman of the Asian – Liason Committee, Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki- the Secretariat of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology who organized this wonderful program.
I would like to thank to professor Ta Long – President of the Viet Nam Association of Gastroenterology, Ms. Cao Thi Hoa – the Secretariat of the Viet Nam Association of Gastroenterology for nominating me as a candidate for JSGE Research Fellowship Program Award 2018.
I am deeply grateful to Kindai University Hospital, especially professor Hiroshi Kashida – Course Director, professor Naoko Tsuji, Dr. Shigenaga Matsui, Dr. Toshiharu Sakurai, Dr. Yoriaki Komeda, Dr. Tomoyuki Nagai, Dr. Toshiki Okamoto and Dr. Mitsunari Yamada from gastrointestinal team, Dr. Mamoru Takenaka, Dr. Kentaro Yamao, Dr. Shunsuke Omoto, Dr. Kosuke Minaga, Dr. Ken Kamata, and Dr. Atsushi Nakai from pancreatobiliary team as my special instructors, who explained everything to me carefully and gave me many change to practice advanced endoscopy.
I would like to thank to Dr. Yasushi Sano, Dr. Mineo Iwatate, Dr. Daizen Hirata and colleagues from Sano hospital who encouraged and taught me how to perform colonoscopy and ESD easier, faster and safer.
With this knowledge and skills, I wish I could help more Vietnamese patients and doctors, for a better health care system in Vietnam.