Speaking of the popular Japanese drama "DoctorX", I believe that friends who like Japanese dramas have watched it. The genius surgeon starring Ryoko Yonekura - Daimon Unknown, as well as the classic line "私、失敗しないので" are impressive.
But, you know what? In the real world of Japan, there is also a female neurosurgeon, known as the real-life version of DoctorX. She is the first female professor of neurosurgery in Japan's history, Yongko Kato.
Dr. Kato specializes in the surgical treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, especially aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, and is world-renowned for clipping cerebral aneurysms surgery. In her career so far, she has performed more than 3,000 surgeries, and as a female neurosurgeon, the number of surgeries is ranked first in the world!
While the average neurosurgeon performs about 30 operations a year, Dr. Kato performs 150 operations a year (in Japan).
Born in 1952 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. His father was a surgeon and his mother was a university teacher. Influenced by his father at an early age, he was invited by a surgeon to study medicine, so he decided to become a surgeon.
Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Aichi Medical University in 1978. In 1980, he became a trainee in the Department of Neurosurgery at Nagoya Health University (now Fujita Medical University). Of all the neurological research at the time, she was the only woman.
Perhaps because of the preciousness of things, she was loved by her seniors and superiors, especially the enthusiastic guidance of neurosurgeon Kotoshi Sano and other seniors, who is known as the "Hand of God", which led to the continuous improvement of Dr. Kato's surgical skills.
In 1981, he went to study in the Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou Medical College, China. During my study abroad in China, I saw citizens wearing the same army-green clothes on the street, both men and women, working or eating out. Male involvement in childcare is also a matter of course.
This led Dr. Kato to to think that it is strange that there are differences in the work content of men and women.
At the age of 39, she founded the Japanese Association for Women's Neurosurgery (WNA) in 1990 and the Asian Association for Women's Neurosurgery (AWNA) in 1996. Dr. Kato is committed to raising the profile of successful female neurosurgeons to encourage more female trainees to join the profession.
In the field that men are good at, Dr. Kato, who has made a big breakthrough, is not all smooth sailing on the road to becoming a neurosurgeon, and he will also encounter deliberately saying that he is a "female neurosurgeon" or being mistaken for a "doctor assistant". In order to hone his surgical skills, he sometimes has to "grab" surgery with other male doctors.
Thus, in 2006, Dr. Kato was elected professor as a neurosurgeon at Fujita Medical University, and the first female professor of neurosurgery in Japan's history was born.
Currently, Dr. Kato is not only a clinical supervisor in Japan, but also travels to developing countries such as Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia at his own expense every year. Promote neurosurgery in developing countries by directly mentoring neurosurgeons, organizing educational courses, and donating funds for neurosurgical equipment. She is known as the "Godmother of Japanese Brain Surgery".
Dr. Kato works as a hobby and works 365 days a year for the sake of her patients, and it is incredulous that she writes her mobile phone number and address on her business card to patients, who can call her anytime, anywhere.
When asked if it was bothersome for patients to call directly, Dr. Kato said, "Patients call me to get a response. If you ask a patient to call the hospital, you often can't find me because I am out of absence or surgery. ”
Even during surgery, Dr. Kato will answer the phone when the patient calls.
In order to check the patient's recovery after surgery, Dr. Kato also walks with the patients, does gymnastics, and even goes on trips and hot springs together.
Patients with brain diseases are likely to suffer from paralysis of their hands and feet, and Dr. Kato not only treats patients in the hospital, but sometimes goes deep into their daily lives.
Now 69-year-old Dr. Kato still insists on his clinical position and maintains a surgical volume of 2~3 times a week.
Dr. Kato said, "Neurosurgery is life-threatening for patients, and it can be stressful to do surgery, but it is my motto to concentrate on what is in front of you and never give up." ”