About myself

My journey

I’m an associate professor at Institute of Science Tokyo, and both a nurse and a healthcare information technologist. Here’s how I got here.

Where it started

As an undergraduate, I became fascinated by computers and the internet. I taught myself computer science and informatics, often with help from friends in the engineering department. Along the way, I earned two certifications: the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer, a Japanese national IT qualification, and the Healthcare Information Technologist, certified by the Japan Association for Medical Informatics.

Into the community

After graduating, I began my career as a public health nurse in local government, where I saw firsthand how communities care for their residents. This experience raised questions I wanted to answer through research, and it led me to graduate school at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), where I later earned my PhD.

Exploring beyond the lab

As a graduate student, I was curious about how ideas in healthcare could create real change in society. I entered a healthcare business competition and won funding to launch a startup, and I read every business and consulting book I could find.

I also served as CFO of the Japan branch of STeLA (Science and Technology Leadership Association), an organization founded by graduate students from Harvard and MIT. It was a rare and valuable experience, and I met friends there who are still important to me today.

I also had the chance to work alongside business leaders as a staff member at a World Economic Forum (Davos) meeting held in Japan. Everything I saw and heard there, from the discussions to the way professionals carried themselves, was fresh and full of lessons. I met people of all ages and backgrounds making a difference in Japan and around the world. One woman I met there inspired me to dream of working at an international organization.

Going global

That dream, along with my long-standing interest in global health, took me abroad. In Bangladesh, I joined the “One Village One Portal” project at Grameen Communications, which aimed to bring information services to rural villages. I also worked as an intern at the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, where I analyzed eHealth systems in the region. These experiences showed me how powerful well-designed information systems can be for sharing health information across borders.

Where it all connects

Technology, nursing, business, and global health may seem like separate paths, but each of these experiences shaped the research I do today: using data and technology to improve care for older adults. Your path into research doesn’t have to be a straight line, and diverse experiences can become your greatest strength.

If you’re curious about this field, I’d love to hear from you.