84th Kitasato Memorial Ceremony Held
Continuing a long-standing tradition, the Keio University School of Medicine and Sanshikai (School of Medicine alumni association) held the 84th Kitasato Memorial Ceremony on Friday, June 12, 2015 at Kitasato Memorial Hall. The ceremony commemorates the death Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato on June 13th, 1931, and is used to present the annual Kitasato and Kitajima Awards.
Through the support of Keio founder Yukichi Fukuzawa, Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato was able to establish the Institute for Infectious Diseases in 1892. Hoping to repay Fukuzawa's great generosity, he went on to lay the foundation for what is now the Keio University School of Medicine and Hospital, appointed as first dean, as well as first hospital director.
This year's ceremony welcomed twelve guests from the Kitasato Institute, including their Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Kiyotaka Fujii. Speeches were given by Keio President Atsushi Seike, School of Medicine Dean Hideyuki Okano, Sanshikai President Junzo Takeda and Kitasato family representative Ichiro Kitasato.
In his first speech as dean, Okano looked back to 1931, reading from Taichi Kitajima’s eulogy for Dr. Kitasato. Kitajima, who succeeded Kitasato as second dean of the School of Medicine, and also served as president of both the Kitasato Institute and the Japan Medical Association. Dedicated to making sure that Keio inherited Kitasato’s spirit, he proclaimed that “as scientists, we must cultivate an indomitable spirit that continuously strives for perfection.”
Following the speeches, the Kitasato and Kitajima Awards were presented by Sanshikai President Junzo Takeda. The Kitasato Award began in 1951 and is given for major contributions to the development of basic or clinical research. The Kitajima Award was added in 1957 and is given for excellence in clinical medicine or clinical research. Both are authoritative academic prizes and highlight internationally recognized work. Following the award ceremony, this year's recipients (listed below) each gave captivating presentations detailing their work.
Kitasato Award
“Clarification of the Stem Cell System in Female Reproductive Organs and its Application to Regenerative Medicine”
Tetsuo Maruyama, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Keio University School of Medicine
Read about one of the ways that Dr. Maruyama is working to help reverse infertility on the
Keio Research Highlights website.
Kitajima Award
“New Developments in Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatments for Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases”
Hiroya Takeuchi, Associate Professor of General and Gastroenterological Surgery
Keio University School of Medicine
Kitajima Award
“Establishment of Novel, Minimally Invasive Treatments Options for Spinal Disorders”
Ken Ishii, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Keio University School of Medicine
For more information on the relationship between Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato and Keio University, please view the Keio University School of Medicine Timeline.
