Award Recipients
2025 research fellowship award report
Dr. Vernon Ang Chuabio
Participating in the fellowship program has been a tremendous honor. I would like to thank the JSGE for the wonderful opportunity and the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology for the support.
I spent four months with the pancreatobiliary team of the gastroenterology division at Kobe University Hospital. Being a referral center, the hospital handles numerous complex cases, including hilar strictures, chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic duct stones, and surgically altered anatomy. I was able to enrich my knowledge on biliary anatomy and approach to ERCP stenting, as well as EUS features of certain pancreatic lesions. Several cases involving pancreatic CIS workup and endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary adenoma reflect Japan’s excellent endoscopic screening mechanism. It was also interesting to witness practices done differently in Japan, like ERCP cannulation technique and approach to pancreatic cystic lesions. Furthermore, opportunities for hands-on training were definitely helpful, especially in learning EUS scanning and interpretation. From a more systemic perspective, the endoscopy unit was well-equipped and had an ergonomic setup, with very efficient nurses and staff. Working on a research project with my sensei made me realize the importance of having a comprehensive electronic record and documentation system in facilitating research productivity. Overall, it was a high-yield experience and good foundation for further training. I express gratitude to all my sensei for patiently teaching and guiding me throughout my stay.
Immersing in Japan was such a joy given the safe and clean public spaces, pedestrian-friendly environment, efficient public transportation, and appealing culture. I learned to read hiragana, katakana, some kanji, and to speak basic Japanese expressions. The people are well-groomed, with a unique form of politeness imbued with discipline. With Japan’s distinctive charm, it was hard to bid farewell. I’ll always be glad to share my learnings both inside and outside the hospital to colleagues back home.
Dr. Hardesh Singh Dhillon
I am a gastroenterologist from Victoria, Australia, with early exposure to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) during my advanced endoscopy training. Wanting to build on this foundation, I applied for the JSGE Research Fellowship Program and was fortunate to be nominated by GESA and selected by JSGE. Based on my strong interest in image-enhanced endoscopy and ESD, I was matched with Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (KPUM), a renowned high-volume ESD centre, where I undertook a four-month hands-on fellowship.
Training at KPUM was intense, structured, and deeply rewarding. Being involved in such a high volume of ESD cases and gaining hands-on experience across both the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, sharpened not only my technical skills but also my confidence and procedural judgement. The department’s strong emphasis on research was something I genuinely valued. Being welcomed into ongoing projects broadened my understanding of the ESD research landscape and how it informs everyday practice. Having the chance to lead a project during my time there was especially meaningful and strengthened my understanding of clinical research.
What made the experience truly memorable, however, were the relationships I formed. The department’s inclusive culture and their effort to conduct several meetings in English made it easy to connect, participate, and feel part of the team from very early on. These connections have become the foundation for ongoing collaboration and future exchange between the Australian and Japanese gastroenterology communities, and they have given me a strong platform as I work toward establishing independent ESD practice in Australia.
Dr. Vaneet Jearth
I am privileged to be chosen for the JSGE Endoscopy Fellowship Award Program 2025.I am extremely grateful to ISG for recommending me for this esteemed fellowship and to JSGE for selecting me from a pool of highly qualified endoscopists across Asia.
I had the pleasure of training at Hiroshima University Hospital, which was a wonderful experience under the guidance of Professor Shiro Oka, the course director, and Dr. Murakami, my training supervisor. I would like to express my gratitude to the JSGE secretariat, particularly to Ms. Yukiko, for her exceptional cooperation and guidance throughout the application process, as well as her meticulous management during the training time. I am also grateful to Ms. Nishio, the departmental secretary, for her unwavering support
My areas of interest included image enhanced endoscopy and endoscopic resection, as there are limited formal training programs in India. The opportunity to train in this field in Japan, where it all began, was an unforgettable experience. I wish to express my gratitude to Professor Shiro Oka for orchestrating an exceptional program tailored to my interests, and to Dr. Murakami for his coordination and unwavering assistance. Observing complex endoscopic resections, involving EMR and ESD, while augmenting my understanding of closure techniques was an invaluable experience. The hands-on training and complex case discussions had a major impact on my professional growth and confidence as a therapeutic endoscopist.
I am profoundly grateful to Professor Toshio Kuwai, in charge of clinical endoscopy, for his key insights and mentorship. He ensured that my limited training course was productive and provided me the opportunity to assist and perform appropriate cases. I express my gratitude to Dr. Takigawa, Dr. Kishida, Dr. Tanaka, Dr. Nakamura, and the entire endoscopy team including nursing staff and technicians at Hiroshima University Hospital. Your expertise, patience, and guidance have been indispensable. I have significantly developed, not only in my technical skills pertaining to IEE and endoscopic resections but also in my approach to of patient care.
I am eager to utilize the acquired knowledge and skills in my future professional endeavors within my home country. This will also enhance training programs in India by benefiting my colleagues and will undoubtedly improve patient care.
Furthermore, this fellowship allowed me to explore Japanese culture and various cuisines at very generously organized faculty dinners. Thank you again for your continuous support, and I hope to stay in touch and explore potential collaboration opportunities in the future.
2024 research fellowship award report
Dr. Wiqas Ahmad, JSGE Research Fellowship Recipient
It was a profound honor to be selected as a recipient of the JSGE Research Fellowship Program. I am deeply grateful to the Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology and the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology for granting me this invaluable opportunity.
I completed a five-month fellowship at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (KPUM) under the supervision of Dr. Yoshida and course director Dr. Konishi. This experience allowed me to acquire advanced skills in Magnifying Endoscopy, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR), Precutting EMR, Underwater EMR, as well as Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and EUS guided FNB.
Dr. Yoshida’s mentorship was instrumental in improving my endoscopic skills and deepening my understanding of research methodologies. We collaborated on a research project that greatly enhanced my academic experience. I also participated in six international hands-on workshops, which significantly advanced my technical expertise.
I am immensely grateful to the EUS team, including Dr. Miyake, Dr. Sogama, and Dr. Doi, as well as the Colorectal ESD team, especially Dr. Inoue and Dr. Kobayashi, for their exceptional teaching and support. Dr. Dohi, Head of the Upper GI ESD team, and Dr. Konishi, Head of the Gastroenterology Division, provided invaluable guidance throughout my fellowship. I also extend my appreciation to the clinical engineers, nursing staff, and administrative team, particularly Ms. Miyazaki, whose assistance ensured a seamless experience.
In addition to clinical work, I attended the Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW) in Kobe, where I gained insights from global leaders in gastroenterology. The inclusive environment at KPUM, complemented by monthly faculty dinners, enriched my understanding of Japanese culture and strengthened professional relationships.
I am committed to using the knowledge and skills gained during this fellowship to establish and expand EUS and EMR services in Pakistan, ultimately improving patient care.
This fellowship has been a transformative journey, and I am deeply thankful to all who contributed to its success.
Dr. Munkhsaruul Bayaraa
It was my great honor and privilege to receive the research fellowship award from JSGE. During my 5 months’ fellowship at Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, I have gained a lot of experience in advanced gastrointestinal endoscopic imaging with white light imaging and imaged enhanced endoscopy using eg. NBI, BLI, LCI and skills in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) under the guidance of Dr Gotoda, Dr Hirasawa, Dr Yoshiyo, Dr Ishiyama, Dr Horiuchi and Dr Yoshimizu, Dr Yamamoto and all the residents of the department.
The main goal of my training was to improve endoscopic diagnosis of early gastric and esophageal cancer and resection of lesions with ESD. I was exposed to many new techniques, ideas and a passion. Department created an incredibly supportive environment, with amazing patience to explain, demonstrate and then supervise me in performing all aspects of endoscopy, including diagnostic pre-ESD examinations using magnification, virtual and dye chromoendoscopy and then endoscopic resection.
Moreover, I have chances to EUS screening and participate with ERCP procedures. I learned a lot of knowledge and techniques of EUS and ERCP from Takashi Sasaki and his team who have excellent talents of teaching through pictures of linear EUS. I have exposed to tremendous procedures of EUS, EUS-FNA, endoscopic drainages of patients having cholangiocarcinoma by inside stents and single and double balloon assisted ERCP.
The JDDW 2024 not only allows fantastic educational updates but also networking opportunities.
I hope, all of those knowledge, education, experience and also this great friendship would lead a path for future collaborations, not only for me but also for my institutions and my country.
I would like to thank Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki for her assistance during all the application process.
Thank you so much.
Dr. Pham Van Duc
My name is Pham Van Duc, and I am a visiting doctor from the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital 19-8 in Hanoi, Vietnam. My professional journey began five years ago when I was selected for the 2020 program scholarship. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the program was postponed and subsequently canceled in 2021.
In 2022, with the pandemic situation improving, I commenced my Ph.D. studies in Korea. Although I thought my aspiration of becoming a JSGE awardee was out of reach, the reopening of the program last year allowed me to reapply with my professor’s endorsement. I am honored to have been selected for the 2024 program scholarship.
Studying in the Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology at Nagoya University Hospital, a premier medical institution, has been an exceptional experience. I extend my sincere gratitude to JSGE for this opportunity, and especially to Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki and the JSGE secretariat for their guidance and support throughout the application process.
I also wish to express my deepest appreciation to Professors Hiroki Kawashima, Dr. Kenta Yamamoto, and Dr. Takashi Hirose for their unwavering support and mentorship. Their guidance has been instrumental in my professional and personal development. I vividly recall the assignments from Dr. Hirose, which significantly enhanced my understanding and sparked a deeper passion for early GI cancer treatment. In addition, assisting Dr. Kenta Yamamoto in performing TACE (Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization) was an invaluable experience. I am also grateful to Ms. Hikawa Atsuko, the department secretary, for her administrative assistance and kindness.
The warm welcome and support from other doctors, nurses, and medical engineers at Nagoya University Hospital have made my time here invaluable. Additionally, my experience has been enriched by learning about Japanese culture, trying various Japanese foods, and visiting historical sites.
I am committed to applying the knowledge and skills I have gained here to advance healthcare in my home country. I look forward to sharing these experiences with my colleagues and continuing to build these valuable connections.
Not implemented from 2020 to 2023 due to the pandemic.
2019 research fellowship award report
Dr. Cameron KMW Schauer
It was an honour to be selected from New Zealand as a recipient of the JSGE Research Fellowship Program. The goals of my Fellowship were to improve my luminal endoscopy, in particular in-vivo endoscopic diagnosis resection of lesions with ESD. I was fortunate to be placed at the NTT Medical Center under the guidance of Dr Matsuhashi and Dr Ohata. Here I was exposed to many new techniques, ideas and a passion for teaching Endoscopy that in my experience is unmatched. They created an incredibly supportive environment, with amazing patience to explain, demonstrate and then supervise me in performing all aspects of endoscopy, including diagnostic pre-ESD examinations using magnification, virtual and dye chromoendoscopy and then mucosal resection, including EMR-L, EMR-C and ESD.
In addition, they showed me through their action and observation how to improve as a teacher myself. At their institution, teaching is seen as an expectation and taken very seriously. There was a constant and unwavering pursuit of excellence, and I was inspired by their dedication to this craft, astonishing attention to detail, understanding, knowledge and then finally execution of complex procedures.
I am exceptionally grateful to everyone on the team, including my supervisors, Dr Ohata and Dr Muramoto and my mentors, Dr Minato and Dr Konishi who were always friendly and supportive. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and got to know all of the team and other trainees, with Japanese hospitality and teachings of culture and of course delicious Japanese food. Furthermore, we all managed to improve our English and Japanese and intend to keep in touch, with collaborations to come in the future.
I would also like to thank Ms Miyazaki from the JSGE who was so kind and helpful in every aspect of organisation of this Fellowship.
Dr. Didik Prasetyo
I am very grateful and proudly to be an awardee of JSGE Research Fellowship Program Award 2019. I was assigned to Uonuma Kikan Hospital in Urasa, Niigata University. I was greeted warmly by Prof. Takeshi Suda and his team. Prof. Takeshi Suda is my course director, he had taken care of me with warm welcome as a family member.
During 4-month period, from August 1st – Nov 29st . I have learned many gastroenterohepatology cases in Uonuma Kikan Hospital. I furthered my skill of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic techniques under supervision. I learned clinical applications of magnifying endoscopy, H. Pylori Infection and gastric cancer screening from Prof. Yagi. These knowledges improves my skill to detect and treat early gastric cancer which would be necessary for my country. Futhermore, I also being an observer in ESD tehniques for many gastric cancer cases from dr. Hoshi.
Moreover, I have chances to perform ERCP and EUS screening. I learned a lot of knowledges and techniques of EUS from Shinichi Morita, MD., Ph.D and Santoshi Abe, MD who have excellent talents of teaching through pictures. I further my skills on ERCP procedures and learned novel ERCP techniques and devices. I have exposed to tremendous procedures of EUS, EUS-FNA, delicate selective endoscopic drainage of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by inside stents, Endoscopic drainage for wall-off necrosis (WONs) using Axios stent, and endoscopic necrosectomy. All these procedures were accomplished by highly skilled endoscopists with excellent teamwork. In Hepatology procedures, I have learned many procedures such as PTGBD, PTCD, TACE and using sonazoid to detect HCC. Prof. Takeshi Suda teach me very well.
Prof. Takeshi Suda guided me during the whole JDDW event in Kobe. We together joined the symposiums and visited nice places in Kobes. I could feel the enthusiasm and ambition of Japanese doctors in research field in JDDW. I think it one of the most It is a prestisious events in gastroenterohepatology field in the world.
These fellowship programme briefly increases my gastroenterohepatology skills and also bring confidence to practice in my country, Indonesia. I hope, All of those knowledge, education, experience and also this great friendship would lead a path for future collaborations, not only for me but also for my institutions and my country, and I am still waiting for next projects from JSGE in the near future. Finally, I would like to thank Ms. Yukiko Miyazaki for her assistance during application process.
Dr. Saurabh Kedia
It is a great privilege and honor for me to be awarded the prestigious JSGE fellowship for the year 2019. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, which nominated my name and my mentor Prof Vineet Ahuja, who supported me for this fellowship. I would also express my sincere thanks to the JSGE board members and my mentors in Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Prof Mamoru Watanabe, Dr Kiichiro Tsuchiya, Dr Shiro Yui, and Dr Ryuchi Okamoto, who were very supportive to me during my stay in Tokyo, and taught me the aspects of regenerative medicine in IBD.
I had a wonderful scientific as well as cultural experience during my training and I am extremely thankful to JSGE for taking excellent care in terms of local stay and the facilities provided. I was guided very well at TMDU in a structured and a meticulous fashion, which facilitated my learning and eased out my apprehensions of a new place, new team and a relatively new science. I had an excellent interaction with the other students working in the lab, and everyone in the department of Gastroenterology at TMDU was very kind and generous to me.
The fellowship also provides an excellent opportunity for building up new collaborations which would provide a unique opportunity to study the similarities and differences of similar diseases in two ethnically different populations, and advance the scientific standards globally.
I also had the opportunity to witness the beauty of Japanese landscape and culture during these three months and have taken back extremely good memories. This program is an excellent initiative by the JSGE as it connects the physicians and scientists of different Asian countries and imparts excellent training to the upcoming gastroenterologists.