Voices of Our Members
Expanding fields, deepening ties
H.Y.
（Initials notation）
Graduated in 2023
I graduated from Kurume University and am in my third year as a doctor.
I am currently working at Oita Prefectural Hospital. I did my residency in Fukuoka Prefecture for two years.
I am originally from Oita, so I came back to my hometown.
What inspired you to pursue a career in respiratory medicine?
When I graduated from university, I had a vague idea that I wanted to become an internal medicine doctor. Then, when I became a resident and rotated around the respiratory medicine department, I felt that the respiratory medicine department was a broad field, covering topics such as tumors, allergies, interstitial pneumonia, and infectious diseases, and that although it was difficult, it was a rewarding field.
Also, there are not that many respiratory physicians in each hospital, so they are a valuable presence depending on the hospital you work in. As a specialist, I often receive consultations from other departments, and although there is a lot of responsibility, I felt that this was also a rewarding role, which was one of the reasons I decided to become a respiratory physician.
What kind of doctor would you like to become in the future?
Respiratory medicine often involves long-term relationships with one patient, so I try to value communication so I can empathize with the patient’s feelings and build a relationship of trust.
Also, there are still many things I don’t understand, so I often consult with my senior teachers, but they all teach me kindly and carefully.
In the future, I would like to be able to help the teachers I work with with their studies, just as the teachers above me have helped me.
A word for students and resident doctors:
Respiratory medicine is a broad-ranging field and also involves procedures such as bronchoscopy and drains.
I also think the doctors at Oita University’s Department of Respiratory Medicine are friendly and kind.
The respiratory medicine doctors at hospitals outside the prefecture that I have visited have all been similarly good doctors.
Not only is it attractive as a medical field, but I also think respiratory medicine is an attractive working environment.
Come join the Department of Respiratory Medicine and let’s work together!