Our Founding Principles

1Unifying Basic and Clinical Science in Medicine

Keio Medicine
Physician Scientist

In 1917, world-renowned microbiologist Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato was appointed as the first dean of the School of Medicine. The young Kitasato had dedicated his career to making medicine more accessible to the public, founding his own institute of medicine with the help of Keio founder Yukichi Fukuzawa. His gratitude for Fukuzawa's support would lead him to focus his energies into founding Keio's School of Medicine. Throughout the long history since its founding, the School of Medicine has continued to vigorously pursue its ideal of educating physician scientists in an environment that unites basic science and clinical medicine. This is nothing short of the realization of jitsugaku, Yukichi Fukuzawa’s concept of “science” that would help guide Japan through modernization at the turn of the 20th century. Extending into the 21st century, those founding principles remain ever relevant and continue to guide our world-class education and research as we train medical professionals who possess a lifelong commitment to bettering society.

A Leading Teaching and Research University

2Expanding The Possibilities of Medicine

Keio Medicine offers a medical education that draws from the wealth of viewpoints that can only be found at a world-class university. Our IPE (Inter-Professional Education) program improves cooperation and communication between students in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, and the Faculty of Pharmacy, allowing for the development of health care professionals who will utilize Keio’s group approach to patient-centered care. On the research front, the three IPE faculties and the Faculty of Science and Technology are engaged in collaborative research which is leading to engineering successes such as the development of medical robots. We are also tackling the myriad problems facing medicine today from multiple angles through collaborations between various departments and graduate schools such as the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Letters, the Graduate School of Health Management, and the Graduate School of Media and Governance.

Our Unique Medical Network

3Strength In Numbers

With a history stretching back almost 100 years, Keio University School of Medicine is part of an extensive medical science and health care network. In addition to Keio University Hospital and its status as an advanced treatment hospital, we also have a long legacy of outstanding alumni who stay connected through Sanshikai (School of Medicine alumni organization), as well as associations with 100 partner institutions and 35 core teaching hospitals. These numerous links allow Keio to offer a comprehensive medical education, from cutting-edge treatments to local primary care. After graduation, students learn practical skills during residencies at various affiliated hospitals. In addition to Keio’s state-of-the-art research facilities, students can also pursue research throughout Japan or abroad at any of our partner universities and research institutions. Keio University School of Medicine has all of the resources needed to become a world-class researcher or create a future in medicine.

A Wealth of Career Paths

4Find Your Future in Medicine

Keio Medicine is focused on developing doctors imbued with a mind for research (physician scientists). Through our 6-year curriculum, we develop doctors who possess a strong spirit of inquiry and will continue to pursue learning throughout their careers. After completing the undergraduate program and receiving a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, certain students can then advance to Keio’s doctoral program and graduate with a PhD in Medicine in three years as part of the MD-PhD Program. Additionally, there are many graduates who are drawn to research while conducting clinical medicine activities as an undergraduate and enter our doctoral program in the Graduate School to pursue their own research interests. At Keio University School of Medicine, world class researchers are making great gains towards the advancement of medical science; and since the establishment of the master’s program in our Graduate School, there are also a large number of talented individuals who have graduated with degrees outside of the medical field. Additionally, our doctoral program welcomes students who are alumni from a number of other universities. Their collective efforts and diligent research are a major factor for Keio’s excellent achievements. In our Graduate School curriculum, students can earn degrees through partnerships with outstanding institutions like the National Cancer Center and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine of Japan. With graduates who flourish in many fields from government to social activism, and of course in the realm of medical care and research, Keio University School of Medicine takes immense pride in the quality of individuals who pass through its ranks.

Connected Education for a Connected World

5Global Medical Education and Research

Keio University students have always been involved in a wide range of international activities. That global focus is especially important today as medicine continues to advance and internationalize. We recognize the importance of providing truly a global medical education, and are actively engaged in study abroad programs and international exchange. Through our International Clinical Clerkship elective program, 1 in 3 fifth year students are able to conduct clinical training at one of our partner institution’s hospitals. Students are also encouraged to participate in our other international exchange programs, including the Summer Research School Program (jointly held with Peking University, Karolinska Institutet, and Kings College London), the Laos Study Tour IPE Program, and various other study abroad and international research programs. Our students are also involved in international exchange through extracurricular activities as well. Committed to developing truly global researchers, the Graduate School is actively engaged in exchange with many schools including Harvard University, Peking University, and King’s College London. This fruits of this approach have been well documented in prestigious publications such as Nature, who in in 2015 published the Keio University Medical Science Reprint Collection.