Dear Friends, Family, and Colleagues,
As you may know, engaging students in learning experiences such as field practicum and international health projects are essential factors in educating tomorrow’s public health professionals.
Japan Trip is one of such practical learning experiences offered mainly for students at Harvard School of Public Health and Boston University School of Public Health. In March 2009, a group of students will visit Japan for a week in order to discover the field of public health through hands-on activities, discussions, and behind-the-scenes field trips. For the past three years, we have had a total of more than one hundred participants who described the trip as “one of the most valuable experiences.” Faculty members also value and support this program, recommending the trip to incoming students.
This year, even with the global economic crisis, over forty people (over fifty including Japanese organizers) applied to participate in this valuable learning experience. Although we are excited to receive such interest, we regret that some people already have given up in participating despite their great interest in Japan. The trip can cost up to $2500, which makes it barely affordable for many students. As public health students, we would like to provide the opportunity to visit the nation of healthy long-lived people for as many students as possible regardless of their financial situations.
We would therefore like to request your assistance in providing this educational opportunity to all deserving students. Your gift will help future public health professionals in a very meaningful way. Your support would be greatly appreciated and will be recognized on our reports and website. You are also invited to pre/post trip meetings in Boston and a reception in Tokyo on March 23rd, 2009.
We believe that the trip would be a great learning experience both for volunteers in Japan and participating students who may become leaders in public health field in the future. If you have any question, please contact us. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
HSPH
Student
club of Japan and BUSPH JT Organizing Committee
1.Personal check
You can send your donation with a personal check.
Please Contact us for our address and treasurer name. We will send you detailed information with e-mail.
2.Paypal
You can donate through Paypal with your credit card. However, since we have to pay 4% of the donated money when we withdraw, we would appreciate if you can send us your donation through the other methods.
Click the button below.
3.Bank wire transfer (for residents of Japan）
You may send your donation through Bank wire transfer in Japan.
Please Contact us for our bank name and account number. We will send you detailed information with e-mail.
4.Donation through Harvard University
By using this method, a gift would be receipted as a charitable contribution to Harvard University and it can be tax deductible depending on each donor's circumstances.
[A. Payment by credit card]
i. Please go to secured
"Make a Gift" website of Harvard University.
ii. Please select "Other - Please Specify" from the Gift Designation list and type "HSPH Student Club of Japan / Japan Trip" in the Other Designation box.
iii. Please follow the instructions.
[B. Payment by check]
i. Please make a check payable to "Harvard School of Public Health"
ii. Please write "HSPH Student Club of Japan / Japan Trip" in the memo line of the check OR in an accompanying letter as the gift designation.
iii. Please send the check to the following address:
Randolph W. Billings
Director of Development
Harvard School of Public Health
Office for Resource Development
401 Park Drive, East Atrium, 3rd Fl. 402
Boston, MA 02215
Students and professors at Harvard School of Public Health and Boston University School of Public have an interest toward Japanese medical care and public health care system. Yet, due to the geographic distance and language barrier, these systems are not widely known. We also believe that it is critical for us to understand our role in public health both in Japan and internationally in addition to introducing Japanese health care system to the next leaders of public health. We will stay in Japan for about one week, visiting public health related institutions and exchanging opinions and ideas with Japanese public health workers. This year, we will be focusing on the longevity through various angles and learn about Japanese medical care and public health systems.
Trip detail
<Theme>
Articulate various factors about the world’s longest life expectancy
<Dates>
Saturday, March 22, 2009 – Sunday, March 29, 2009
<Participants>
Students and scholars from Harvard School of Public Health and
Boston University School of
Public Health (58 students including 9 Japanese organizers, as of
24/Dec/08)
<Visiting sites and specific objectives>
» Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare: Discussions with project managers on health and medical care successes and challenges in the national level.
» Hospital visit: Visit a “typical” Japanese hospital and learn about the challenges of urban health care.
» Tsukiji Fish Market: The biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. Learn about food, the distribution system and sanitation in Japan.
» The National Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) Museum: Review the history of patients’ segregation policy and understand the dark history of Japanese public health policy.
» Nakijin village, Okinawa: Meet, talk and play with energetic elders in the village. Harvest organic vegetables, cook and eat with local residents. Visit the rural villages and learn about the World War II history. Lectures and discussion with public health professionals including Craig Wilcox, Ph.D., the author of the Okinawa Program.
» Osaka: Visit infant check-up in health center and find the role of Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Visit Japanese slum and learn how Japanese public health system is dealing with the disparities in health.
» Kyoto: Explore the Japanese historical culture, including the world heritage shrines and temples.
| Date | Location | Activities |
| 3/21 (Sat) | - | Depart Boston |
| 3/22 (Sun) | Tokyo | Arrive Narita - Tokyo |
| 3/23 (Mon) | Hospital visit, Tea ceremony, Ministry of Health, Labour and welfare, Welcome party | |
| 3/24 (Tue) | National Leprosy Museum, School lunch, Fish market, Noh theater | |
| 3/25 (Wed) | Okinawa | Arrive Okinawa, Lecture by professors from Ryukyu University and Oinawa International University: Post war health policy, nutrition epidemiology, social epidemiology |
| 3/26 (Thu) | In small groups (Health clinics visits, agriculture/cooking experience, community health activity), discussions follow | |
| 3/27 (Fri) | Kyoto | |
| 3/28 (Sat) | ||
| 3/29 (Sun) | ― | Arrive Boston |
Japanese students at Harvard School of Public Health and Boston University School of Public Health plan and organize the trip as volunteers. Harvard School of Public Health Japan Club is a Harvard acknowledged student organization and the following four professors advise our activities:
» Ichiro Kawachi (Born in Japan, Dean of Society, Human Development, and Health Department)
» William Hsiao (Internationally recognized health economist)
» Ezra Vogel (Author of Japan as Number One, Harvard University Emeritus)
» Michael Reich (International health expert, Harvard – Takemi program advisor)
Tokihiko Ando (Health policy 1st year) will be a chairperson for Japan
Trip 2009.
We appreciate your support and generosity.
Reference 1: About Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) is one of ten professional graduate schools of Harvard University. In 1922, the school grew out of the Harvard-MIT School for Health Officers, which was the country’s first graduate training program in public health. HSPH is composed of nine academic departments and fifteen research centers. Approximately 2000 people, which consist of 400 faculty members, 900 Master and Doctorate students (of which 250 are international students), and 600 researchers belong to the HSPH community.
Since HSPH was founded, many specialists in the field of medicine, epidemiology, and biostatistics as well as those in economics, law, and policy have collaborated to conduct various landmark research studies in public health. A few examples of such accomplishments are epidemiological investigation regarding cancer, research on the association between obesity and nutrition, and efforts against air pollution-related health problems. With recent works on HIV/AIDS, SARS, and bioterrorism, the school continues to be a global pioneer in research.
Ever since the first Japanese student graduated from HSPH in 1926, over 200 Japanese students have been trained at the school and are actively practicing around the world. Currently, there are about 20 Japanese students enrolled at HSPH.
Reference 2: About Boston University School of Public Health
Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) was established in 1976 as a program in Boston University’s School of Medicine and became an official school of the University in 1979. The school is committed to improve the health of local, national, and international populations, particularly the disadvantaged, underserved and vulnerable, through emphasis on real-world involvement and meaningful partnerships, interdisciplinary efforts and integrated programs, and global health issues and perspectives. Approximately 800 Master and Doctorate students from over 40 countries are being trained at BUSPH through rigorous, well-rounded curriculum enhanced by work experience in a public health environment.
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