Aiming to Integrate Clinical Practice and Basic Research in the MD-PhD Program

Aki Kamata, Sixth-Year Student, School of Medicine (as of 2015)

Even before enrolling, I knew I wanted to focus on clinical medicine. I graduated from a private high school in Tokyo, and when I was discussing my future with my high school seniors and at the Juku I attended, they advised me that Keio University School of Medicine would be a good choice if I was interested in clinical practice, so I decided to enroll. At that time, I wasn't really thinking about the MD-PhD Program, and I wasn't very aware of how much scientific research is involved in the medical profession. I just had a vague idea that I wanted to become a doctor.

Since I was recommended this university after saying I wanted to do clinical work, I thought it would only focus on patient-centered care. During my clinical clerkships (in-hospital training), they taught me many things, including how to interact with patients, and I realized that the school is indeed strong in clinical practice. However, I was surprised to find that basic research was even more active. The laboratories are also well-equipped. In my case, there are four classmates from the same high school, and two of them are also in the MD-PhD Program with me. It's reassuring to have people I can consult when I'm really struggling.

A major reason was that I was in the biology club in high school and had been interested in research itself since then. Later, during my second year, when I was thinking about joining some kind of laboratory, I learned in a class that the MD-PhD Program was very appealing because it allows you to rotate through various laboratories and consult with an assigned faculty member. Although I wasn't sure which field of research I wanted to pursue, I decided to apply for the program.

The MD-PhD Program is a nine-year program for training physician-scientists, consisting of six years in the School of Medicine plus three years in the Doctoral Programs at the Graduate School of Medicine. Starting from the third year of medical school, in addition to undergraduate lectures and clerkships, students take courses for the Doctoral Programs at the Graduate School of Medicine and are assigned to a laboratory to conduct research. In other words, you can take special graduate school lectures while still a medical student. Then, upon graduating from the School of Medicine, you enroll in graduate school and earn your degree in three years. Each student is assigned two mentors (faculty members) who regularly check their research progress and with whom they can consult on matters such as laboratory selection and research themes.

At first, everything was new and exciting, and I really enjoyed it. But after a while, my studies became busier, and there were times when I found it difficult to balance lectures, clerkships, and research. During those times, I consulted with Professor Hideyuki Saya, who is one of my mentors, once a month, and managed to get through it. Now I'm much more used to it and feel that I'm able to balance everything well.

In the rotation that starts in the third year, you can spend about three months in each of three different laboratories, and by the end of your fourth year, you can choose the laboratory where you want to conduct your graduate research. After that, you belong to that lab and work on a research theme.

It depends on the progress of my research, but on weekdays, I usually stay at school until around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. To avoid being sedentary, I also try to go swimming about twice a week. In my spare time, I go out for meals with friends.

Well, it is challenging to balance the regular School of Medicine classes, the MD-PhD program courses, and my research. It's true that I go to fewer drinking parties than I did in my earlier years (laughs). But it's fine because the university respects a certain degree of personal freedom. For example, when I want to have fun, like taking a week-long trip during summer vacation, I make sure to enjoy myself to the fullest.

I currently belong to the cutaneous immunology lab in the Department of Dermatology. A major factor was that Professor Masayuki Amagai was actively involved in basic research, and he was a professor I admired, so I first rotated through the dermatology lab. I was very hesitant about choosing a department and consulted my mentors many times. Since I also wanted to be a clinician in the future, I found that many dermatologists are able to balance both basic research and clinical practice. I thought there would surely be an environment where I could conduct research with a certain degree of freedom while also practicing clinically, which made it easy to envision my future. I was also most interested in the field of immunology, so I chose to research cutaneous immunology. For now, I plan to immerse myself in research and gain clinical experience during that time. Dr. Jun Yamagami, a lecturer in my current department, is very active in clinical practice and also provides a lot of guidance on research, so he has become a role model for me.

One thing I've realized since starting my clinical clerkships (in-hospital training) is that Keio University School of Medicine has many kind and dedicated faculty members who provide enthusiastic guidance. I believe it's a well-equipped environment for anyone, whether you want to work in clinical practice in the future or focus on basic research. Also, something I've felt since choosing the MD-PhD Program is that there are many students, even in my own year, who are actively pursuing their interests, whether it's choosing a laboratory or participating in Athletic Association activities. I strongly feel the university's stance of respecting individual freedom.

This is just my personal opinion as I haven't compared it with other universities, but when I was in high school, I envisioned a future in clinical practice, and after being recommended Keio University and enrolling, I feel it was exactly the right choice. Furthermore, I was also able to discover the joy of basic research. My school life is very fulfilling, and I'm truly glad I entered Keio University School of Medicine.

After finishing my six years in the School of Medicine, I will enter graduate school and, at the same time, use the system to complete a two-year initial clinical training. I will be training as a physician while also aiming for my PhD. I will do my best to make my dreams come true.

With the faculty of the Department of Dermatology where I usually conduct my research

With members of my clinical clerkship group for the fifth and sixth years

On a short-term clinical study abroad program at King's College London during my fifth year

The members of my clinical clerkship group are peers who inspire me to work harder