Laudation of Prof.Dr. Masaki Kitajima
Professor Masaki Kitajima graduated from Keio University School of Medicine in
1966. After receiving the M.D. degree in 1975, he spent two years at Harvard Medical School
in the Massachusetts General Hospital as a fellow. He returned to Japan and was appointed
professor at Keio University School of Medicine in 1989 and subsequently became Chairman
of its Department of Surgery. He was Dean of the university from 2001 to 2007. He became
Professor Emeritus in April 2007 and is currently the President of the International University
of Health and Welfare at Mita Hospital in Tokyo.
During his exceptionally rich scientific research work he dealt with such topics as the
impairment of the gastrointestinal tract after stress-effects, microcirculatory changes observed
during the transplantation process, biochemical factors of metastasis formation, and the gene
therapy of malignant tumours. His pioneer studies on the detection of early gastric and colon
cancer, the role of sentinel-node mapping of these fields and the successful introduction of
robotic surgery have meant a new chapter in the history of surgery. By connecting the lessons
of modern pathological studies with minimally invasive surgical procedures, he has achieved
excellent results in treating malignancies.
Professor Kitajima’s scientific work has produced two hundred books, 16 hundred published
papers, and 25 hundred oral and poster presentations. He is a member or president of 54
national and international scientific societies, an Honorary Member of the Hungarian, Italian,
German, Polish, and American Surgical Societies and of the Royal College of Surgeons as
well. He is the Founding Co-President of the Japan-Hungary Surgical Society and also the
Past President of the International Surgical Society. He is an Editorial Board Member of the
New England Journal of Medicine, the World Journal of Surgery and 30 other medical
journals. In appreciation of his enthusiastic contribution to the development of the Japanese –
Hungarian medical-surgical connection, Professor Kitajuma was awarded the Knight’s Cross
Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic by the Hungarian President in 2007.
His activities at Keio University Medical School founded his surgical school: 20
surgeons from his department have been appointed as professors.
Professor Masaki Kitajima is an excellent surgeon, scholar and scientist and a
respected representative of the Japanese-Hungarian scientific connections.