Etsuko Soeda Laboratory : Transplant Medicine: Life and Human Bonds

At the Etsuko Soeda Laboratory, students dedicate themselves to their studies, focusing on the themes of transplant medicine—a form of advanced medical care—and pediatric nursing, with the goal of becoming nurses with a broad perspective.

Pediatric Nursing, Transplant Nursing, Transitional Care

What distinguishes transplant medicine from other medical fields is that receiving a transplant requires an organ from a donor. This means that transplantation is an emotional form of medicine, built upon human relationships. In other words, for patients suffering from illness, the decision of whether or not to undergo a transplant is a time to reflect not only on their own lives but also on the bonds between people. Patients struggle in solitude, conscious of a death that could come at any moment.

On the other hand, there are the organ donors and their families. The families of brain-dead donors, while facing the sudden death of a loved one, provide organs out of pure goodwill, thinking, "if someone else's life can be saved..." In living-donor transplants, a healthy person donates an organ to save the life of a family member.

In such situations, patients and their families unconsciously put up many barriers to protect themselves. An important role for us as nurses is to peel away these barriers, one by one. This can involve offering kind words, getting angry, scolding, or telling jokes. I believe that soft science underpins these interactions and that there is some kind of mechanism at work in the moments when these barriers come down. The purpose of this seminar is to learn about these mechanisms from literature both in Japan and abroad and to visualize the phenomena we observe.

At Keio University Hospital, we perform kidney, liver, and small intestine organ transplants. The current (2015) liver transplant program was started in 1995 under the leadership of Professor Masaki Kitajima of the Department of General and Gastroenterological surgery, and this year marks its 20th anniversary. The kidney transplant program has a history of about 30 years. Students gain a great deal of knowledge by participating in conferences and study sessions.

Amid the remarkable progress in medical sciences, I hope that our students will grow into compassionate nurses who cultivate the sensitivity to care for patients meticulously and possess the perspective of a guardian goose (dogan * ), serving as a good lookout for their patients.

Yuki Kurihara, 4th-year student, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care (at the time of writing)

In Professor Soeda's seminar, we primarily conduct research on the theme of transplant medicine. In transplant medicine, healthcare professionals are involved with patients and their families not only at the time of surgery but also for a long time afterward. This involvement extends beyond the scope of medical care and has a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families. Therefore, those involved in transplantation, including transplant coordinators, are required to have the ability to provide meticulous care as well as advanced knowledge and skills.

Professor Soeda is not only a cheerful and wonderful person but also an expert transplant coordinator. I intend to continue to devote myself to my studies so that I can provide warm and advanced nursing care to as many patients as possible.