Expert’s Eyes

　People's health is affected by the society as seen in lifestyle-related diseases. For that reason, practical activities related to the maintenance, promotion, and protection of people's health and its related fields in relation to the social system are important, and thus, the field of "public health" exists. Health issues affecting people's health are also related to infectious diseases, lifestyle-related diseases, food politics, child policies, and disaster/social security systems in recent years. In this field, therefore, the interrelationship between practice and research is very important.

Remarkable File

　The Kansai region faces many national public health problems. However, no system has been established to clarify the actual state of public health and solve the problems by working together with the local communities. For many years, I have been involved in various public health issues within Osaka prefecture, and I am currently serving as either a member or the chairperson in different local government committees.
　Five of my activities evaluated so far are listed below.

・I received the Research Encouragement Prize from the Japan Society of Public Health for surveying and analyzing the health status of residents in Kobe City and the emergency temporary housings. ・I received the Research Encouragement Prize from the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis for analyzing the trends and structure of incidence of tuberculosis in Osaka City, of which the incidence of tuberculosis is the highest in Japan. ・A large outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O-157 food poisoning occurred in Sakai City in 1996, and it became a turning point for food safety and measures against infectious diseases. I supported the task force of Sakai City for one year, and surveyed and analyzed the complete picture with the support team, and the support team received a letter of gratitude from the mayor of Sakai City. ・I received a letter of gratitude for my contributions to the countermeasures against tuberculosis within Osaka City and as a member of the council for diagnosis of tuberculosis. ・I have been supporting the public health activities of many municipalities within Osaka Prefecture. Recently, I received a commendation for working for and contributing to the public health of citizens from Higashiosaka City in 2017.

Brief Personal History

Mar. 1981:
Graduated from the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University Aug. 1981:
Technologist (doctor) of the Public Health Department, Osaka Prefecture Health Division Apr. 1985:
Disease Prevention Manager of Osaka Prefectural Ibaraki Health Center Jul. 1987:
Disease Prevention Manager of Osaka Prefectural Matsubara Health Center Jul. 1988:
Teaching associate of the Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University (Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Course) Sep. 2002:
Received Ph.D. from Osaka University (Medicine) Oct. 2005:
Assistant professor of Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University Dec. 2007:
Specially-appointed professor of Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University (Health Policy Studies) Apr. 2010:
Professor of the Faculty of Societal Safety Sciences, Kansai University