Dr. Espinosa

It is with great gratitude that I thank the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology; and Prof. Kentaro Sugano(President JSGE), Prof. Tooru Shimosegawa(Chair International Committee) and all its officers for giving me this rare opportunity to train in Japan. I would like also to express the same gratitude to Prof. Kazuhiko Koike and Dr. Haruhiko Yoshida for making my stay at the Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo a very meaningful one.

I had the privilege to train under Dr. Hiroyuki "GLI" Isayama, who is a world-renowned gastroenterologist in the field of Pancreatobiliary intervention. He and his colleagues taught me many techniques in this field such as ERCP; transabdominal and intraductal US; ESWL and PTGBD. They had shown me the value of determination to work hard…Yarushikanai! Moreover, Dr. Mitsuhiro Fujishiro and his team especially Dr. Yoshihiro Isomura had also helped me in studying the use of magnifying endoscopy and chromoendoscopy. To all of you thank you very much!

Apart from work, I had enjoyed the warm friendship and hospitality of the Japanese especially all the doctors and staff at the hospital. They were all very helpful and accommodating. During the holidays, I enjoyed sightseeing some of the most beautiful places in the world here in Japan. I will cherish all these memories.

Lastly, I hope this activity will continue in the future. This endeavor will surely benefit Asian nations, especially the third world countries, in the advancement of knowledge and skills in Gastroenterology. I wish the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology more blessings and success!

It is my great honor to be the recipient of the 2011 JSGE Research Fellowship Award. I felt that it was truly a lifetime opportunity to be able to stay in Japan and advance my knowledge and skills during the 4-month training period along with prospects of hands-on experience.

I was privileged to be attached with Dr Terumi Kamisawa, an internationally acclaimed expert and researcher in autoimmune pancreatitis and IgG4 related systemic disease. I learnt Japanese protocols in management and pancreatic pathology besides many types of pancreatobiliary procedures. I was also fortunate to be attached with Dr Takao Itoi from Tokyo Medical University. I was able to learn about several established and evolving pancreatobiliary interventions especially therapeutic ERCP and EUS procedures. I had a comprehensive exposure to EUS guided FNA techniques. I was able to see EUS-guided biliary drainage, endoscopic biliary access using ultra-slim endoscopes, choledochoscopy besides many other complex procedures. Intraductal US, contrast-enhanced EUS and EUS elastography were exciting new learning experiences.

The Japanese approach to early diagnosis of malignancy using chromoendoscopy and image enhanced endoscopy; especially NBI along with magnification endoscopy; and the use of endocytoscopy was an eye-opener. In addition, I learnt about techniques in EMR and ESD where Japan continues to be far ahead of the rest of the world. I also got exposed to balloon-assisted enteroscopy techniques. Attending various meetings including the 97th annual JSGE conference was also a part of the learning process.

The experience of living in Japan and learning Japanese language, culture and traditions was also memorable. I was lucky to be able to travel and see many places and also witness many festivals during my stay. Japan is truly a beautiful country and a visit here can really be a life-changing experience. I shall cherish my new friendships in Japan.

It has been a privilege for me to be awarded with the JSGE fellowship for the year 2011. I was warmly welcomed by Prof. Masatoshi Kudo, Head of Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka and was given the opportunity to be under the tutelage of Prof. Hisroshi Kashida and Dr. Shigenaga Matsui. It has been eye opening experience to observe detailed diagnostic gastroscopy and colonoscopy, and various therapeutic intervention of upper and lower endoscopy particularly ESD and EMR. I had the chance to perform stomach ESD/EMR after obtaining the advanced clinical training certificate. There were various novel therapeutic and interventional procedures as well as on-going research activities on endoscopy being performed.

I was also involved in the 2nd APPLE meeting and the JSGE Osaka Regional Meeting both of which Prof. Kudo and the team were the committee members.

Being in Osaka, I had the chance to go to many major cities in Kansai and visit a few of its local attractions. Japan's rich and unique culture made it an unforgettable and fulfilled stay.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of JSGE and the international selection committee members for giving me this opportunity of a life time to be exposed to one of the advanced countries in the field of endoscopy.

Japan was the country, which I wanted to visit for several months. I have been quite interested in Meiji restoration, the only successful modernization in Asian countries before World War II. I am also interested in pioneers in Japanese history including Sakamoto Ryoma. Moreover, I have trained myself in Kendo for several years with my blade, soul cutter (斬魂). Finally, as an interventional endoscopist, I essentially needed to watch procedures and learn much knowledge from Japan.

When I grasped an opportunity to participate in this program, I was excited and planned what I needed to do for three months. In the medical view, I should absorb knowledge about ESD and biology of gastrointestinal cancers with the guide of an eminent scholar, Dr Gotoda. In the view of sociology, I needed to investigate and understand the social phenomena of Japan, which were anticipated by many futurologist including Elvin Toffler, Daniel Pink, Richard Watson, etc. Finally, I wanted to establish the basis of intelligent human network with respectful Japanese scholars and young investigators. Intelligent network is my old dream that I would like to complete someday.

Obtaining the capability to perform ESD and absorbing knowledge about cancers were not so difficult due to the delicate guide of Dr Gotoda and the help from Dr Ikehara. I would like to appreciate for their kindness and international mind again. For understanding Japan and comparing the reality with what I read from books, I sometimes visited Waseda University and Keio University to meet students as old proverb saying if you would like to know the future of a nation, you need to go to the university. I watched and talked over several issue with university students. It was quite exciting experience; I enjoyed such a talking really much. I also focused on my last mission in this training period, base of network with Japanese doctors and think that I achieved at least a small base for future communication.

Personally, I am quite satisfied with this training. I achieved three purposes, which I planned. I have performed seven ESDs so far successfully. I hope this system prosperous more and more in the future and will support relationship between Japanese and Korean scholars for mutual prosperity. I would like to thank you to JSGE in my soul of souls.