A mentor worth learning forever

“The evening of Aug 1st ,2003” is the important watershed moment to change my medical career when I met Prof. Shinichi Uchida in the office of department of Nephrology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) (Now, Science Tokyo).

During the nearly 4-year Ph.D training program (Aug. 2003-March. 2007) mentored by Prof. Uchida, I opened my vision on the translational medical study from bedside to bench and back. In addition to the techniques and knowledge of medical sciences, I also learned Japanese language and culture from people in the lab. Prof. Uchida is also the first mentor who encourages and helps me to show my study achievement in several international congresses. Another unforgettable event is that Prof. Uchida always treated the members of his study group with delicious puffer fish (FUGU) meal near the end of year.

Based on the training and learning experience and help from Prof. Uchida (BBRC, Cell Metabolism, KI..), not only my bench work can continue in Taiwan (JASN, PNAS, NEJM, Nature..) but also the medical student exchange program between TMDU/Science Tokyo and NDMC/NDMU (National Defense Medical Center/ University) starts smoothly and successfully since 2013. At least 2 M6 students can learn with Prof. Uchida for one month and another 6 students learn in other departments every year. Now the exchange program has been extended to M3 students in every March.

As time goes by, Prof. Uchida helps numerus of domestic and foreign students growing up and independent when they back to their institutes/countries. He is a forever crucial, respectable and unforgeable mentor in my mind.

內田先生　ありがとうございました !!!!