School of Medicine

Department of Medicine

Cultivating skilled healthcare professionals who will contribute to the welfare of humankind

Renowned microbiologist Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato, the first Dean of the School of Medicine, believed in making medical practice accessible to the populace, and he helped to establish the School to show his gratitude to Keio founder Yukichi Fukuzawa, from whom he had once received great support. The School of Medicine, which has an 89-year history, aims to foster professionals with an independent mindset, good personality, profound intelligence, and the ability to make decisions based on strict ethical standards. It is dedicated to educate students who in turn will dedicate themselves to improving human welfare through lifelong study and the practice of medical science.

The Early Exposure Program (EEP) helps students consider the roles of doctors and medical care through practical experience

The academic program of the School of Medicine requires six consecutive years of study. From the first year, the EEP gives students practical experience in actual medical settings: they serve as apprentice careworkers at medical institutes for the elderly, severely-retarded children and people undergoing rehabilitation. By facing real issues and challenges in medical care, students quickly become prepared for their medical studies (which often include rigid training) and begin to build morale for their professional career.

A unique curriculum for cultivating clinicians skilled in fundamental research

One of the department's traditional education concepts is to lay the foundation for those who aspire to become clinicians, so the courses include much clinical practice. The School has established Japan's first Field Studies Laboratory, where students conduct research on their own projects at the laboratory of a leading researcher. Several students of this course have published research results in domestic and foreign medical journals. In this and other ways, the School of Medicine cultivates creative problem-solving skills required for pioneering research in medical science.