The "Future of Health" Created by Public Health x Sport and Health Sciences—From the Field to Social Implementation | Yuko Oguma, Chair of the Major in Public Health, Sport and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Health Management
Hello, everyone. I am Yuko Oguma, Chair of the Major in Public Health, Sport and Health Sciences at the Graduate School of Health Management. My primary appointment is at the Sports Medicine Research Center located on the Hiyoshi Campus.
I originally started my career as a physician in internal medicine (Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nephrology), treating patients with lifestyle-related diseases and their complications. However, I felt the limitations of medical care that only treats illnesses after they occur, and I stepped into the world of prevention and health promotion to explore "how people can live healthily without getting sick." Later, I obtained an MPH (Master of Public Health) from the Harvard School of Public Health (at the time), and I currently conduct research, education, and social implementation in fields such as physical activity epidemiology and health promotion (while continuing to practice as a physician).
GSHM: A Rare Intellectual Platform
The Graduate School of Health Management (GSHM), where I serve as the Chair of the Major in Public Health, Sport and Health Sciences, is, in short, a very unique graduate school for scientifically studying "health" from multifaceted perspectives and implementing those findings into society.
The fact that two programs—Public Health and Sport and Health Sciences—coexist within the same major is a rare initiative even globally. "Sport and Health Sciences" scientifically studies the mechanisms and effects of physical activity, while "Public Health" spreads those benefits to groups and society as a whole to improve everyone's health. By combining these two, a powerful synergy of theory and practice is born.
Furthermore, within the same major, there is a "Health Care Management" program where students systematically learn about hospital management and medical systems, and we collaborate closely with the adjacent "Major in Nursing." Medical sciences, exercise science, public health, management/administration, and nursing—. Here, we have an environment where you can tackle all health-related challenges in a one-stop manner, from the individual body to hospitals and the entire local community.
Bringing Theory to the Community: The Fujisawa Plus Ten Project
One of the symbolic projects where these strengths of Ken-Mane were demonstrated is "Fujisawa Plus Ten," which we have worked on in collaboration with our local Fujisawa City.
Based on the "Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2013" issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, this initiative delivers the message "Increase physical activity 10 minutes more than now (+10: Plus Ten)" to local residents to change their behavior. People do not move simply by being told to "exercise." It requires the presentation of scientific evidence regarding what level of physical activity brings what kind of health effects, along with epidemiological verification of those effects. It also requires the implementation power to root it in the community as a sustainable social system by working hand-in-hand with the government, local medical institutions, exercise facilities, public health nurses, and citizen volunteers. Evidence born in a university laboratory melts into the street corners of Fujisawa City and the daily lives of its citizens. I feel this is a model case of "government-academic-community collaboration" that was realized precisely because the diverse expertise of GSHM fused together.
In Closing
And in 2026. Currently, a team centered on GSHM is working hard to launch a new cohort study, the Kawasaki Mirai Active Project (K-MAP). I wonder what it will look like 10 years from now.
Creating health is not limited to simply preventing disease. It is the very foundation for people to live vibrant lives true to themselves and to build a sustainable society.
Public health, sport and health sciences, health care management, and nursing. The challenge of GSHM, where researchers and students from different backgrounds engage in heated discussions and jump into the field, will continue.