London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Each person has their own reason for wanting to study public health. However, I believe that the desire to improve ourselves or make a change is something shared by everyone who reads this blog. I’m a first-year student at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), studying Public Health by Distance Learning. My daily challenge is balancing my studies with my life as a surgeon, husband, and father. But I never see this as a burden – it's enjoyable, as I’m constantly updating and improving my knowledge.

Before enrolling at LSHTM, I worked at a private hospital in Japan after nine years in basic science research. While performing surgeries gave me a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem, I also felt a sense of stagnation. Treating patients as a healthcare provider is important, but I found my knowledge and interests had become too specialised and narrow. Writing clinical papers gave me some satisfaction, but I often encountered barriers and “moving goalposts” when trying to access clinical or academic databases. It was then that I decided to apply for a Public Health course, hoping to change something and advance my career.

Choosing a Public Health course and comparing different options was tough work. Many universities provide attractive courses, but for me, the ability to study by distance learning was crucial for balancing my work, family life, and studies. That’s why I chose LSHTM, a globally respected university with an established distance learning programme. Honestly, the relatively affordable tuition fee was also attractive.

So far, I am very satisfied with my studies at LSHTM. The chaotic experience of the COVID-19 pandemic is also reflected in the content. The programme team is responsive, and while the frequent updates in the chatbox can sometimes feel overwhelming, I’d much rather have too much information than none at all.

My current interest is in surgical technology exchange, particularly regarding basic ones. While browsing surgical articles, I noticed that mortality rates for fundamental surgeries vary widely between countries. In Japan, the main focus in surgical conferences is on cutting-edge technologies, like robotic surgery. However, I believe that Japan’s relatively low perioperative mortality rates could contribute more to the world by sharing knowledge on basic surgical techniques. I’m also interested in accelerating human resource exchange in this field and exploring ways to connect myself to these goals.

I hope my experience can offer some insight as you plan your own path. I look forward to connecting with you, either at LSHTM or elsewhere in the public health field.

• Contact Kenji via our student and alumni ambassadors page.
• Study anywhere in the world with LSHTM, discover Public Health by Distance Learning.