June 11, 2026
After our session at the Wakabadai Community, we visited with medical students and faculty at the St. Marianna University (SMU) School of Medicine, which is located in the north-east region of Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture. Our visit included a bento lunch with more than 15 SMU medical students, presentations from SMU faculty, and a guided tour of the SMU Hospital.
This visit reinforced for me the power of cultural contact that we have been experiencing throughout our time in Japan. The students we spoke with shared valuable insights on their medical education and how it is different from the US, but we also learned about the many things we share in common, from our interests and hobbies to the shows we enjoy watching. These are the types of experiences that you cannot get in a classroom, and our discussions with the students helped me to understand Japanese culture from a new perspective.
The presentations from SMU faculty highlighted the many ways SMU is advancing the field of medicine to address Japan’s super-aged society. Among the many initiatives, a common theme emerged from their faculty: preventative medicine. Their willingness to embrace technology and use genetic data to one day predict what diseases a person may be susceptible to reflects their desire to help people live long, healthy lives. This is a sentiment I have heard echoed in many of our previous visits, and I feel it speaks to a shared cultural attitude of helping others that I hope to bring with me as I return to the US.
Our session concluded with a tour of the hospital, where even the design of the facilities themselves shows thoughtfulness and consideration of the patients they serve. We saw special rooms that are made to resemble a home more than a hospital; the Emergency Room, which contains dedicated MRI and CT scanners to help improve patient care; the pharmacy, with over 90 pharmacists on staff to ensure patient medications are handled properly; and a multi-purpose rehabilitation center with staff to assist in both physical and cognitive recovery.
This program has developed a valuable partnership with SMU, as evidenced by their generosity and hospitality in hosting us for a visit. Additionally, their students are given opportunities to study abroad, and they host international students to learn from other cultural perspectives. These are experiences which strengthen both the student’s learning and the cultural connections between people of different backgrounds, a vision which aligns with our mission through this program. Each site has taught me something new, but as we prepare to go home, this visit has encouraged me to examine myself and reflect on what I can do back home to promote the values that SMU has shared about aging in a way that is meaningful, sustainable, and centered on helping others.
John Mirarchi
University of Maryland School of Medicine