Voices of Our Members
An environment where it’s easy to seek advice when in doubt
H.S.
（Initials notation）
Graduated in 2022
I have joined the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Oita University Hospital for the 2024 academic year.
I am currently in my third year as a doctor. I first came to Oita Prefecture when I entered university, and this marks my ninth year here. Starting this year, I am working as a specialty resident at the Respiratory Medicine Department of Oita Prefectural Hospital, where I received training during my initial clinical internship. I am currently learning from scratch, covering everything from outpatient care to ward management.
What inspired you to pursue a career in respiratory medicine?
During my clinical rotations as a student, I vaguely felt that internal medicine might be a better fit for me than surgery. When I became an initial clinical resident, I had the opportunity to rotate through various departments, including respiratory medicine, and experience the field as part of the medical team.
Respiratory medicine covers a wide range of conditions, from chronic diseases like lung cancer and interstitial pneumonia to respiratory infections.
While it is an internal medicine specialty, I also found the procedural aspects, such as endotracheal intubation, bronchoscopy, and chest tube placement, to be interesting. Additionally, the department has many doctors who are close in age, creating an environment where it’s easy to seek advice when I have concerns. This supportive atmosphere was also a significant factor in my decision to choose respiratory medicine.
What kind of doctor would you like to become in the future?
Currently, I am focusing on clinical practice and continuing to improve my skills, but at the same time, under the guidance of Professor Komiya and many other doctors, I have also started engaging in clinical research.
While I am, of course, dedicated to providing care in the clinical setting, I also hope to make a small but meaningful contribution to the future of healthcare.
A word for students and resident doctors:
In actual clinical practice, we often rely on the cooperation of doctors from other departments. For those of you who already have a specialty in mind, I encourage you to pursue it with determination—I’m cheering for you. Respiratory medicine encompasses a wide range of conditions, from emergency cases to chronic diseases, and includes surgical procedures as well.
I believe you can find something that suits you. For those who haven’t yet decided on a specialty, I recommend visiting the department to get a feel for the atmosphere of the staff.