Atrium Health Navicent and Mercer University School of Medicine Welcome Kurobe City Hospital Delegation for 20th Year
Atrium Health Navicent and the Mercer University School of Medicine are hosting visitors this fall from Kurobe City Hospital for the 20th year of a unique medical exchange rooted in a 47-year sister city partnership between Macon-Bibb County and Kurobe, Japan.
Each year since 2003 — with the exception of a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic — resident physicians, nurses and other health care providers from Kurobe City Hospital have visited Atrium Health Navicent and Mercer University, and physicians and nurses from Atrium Health Navicent and Mercer University have traveled to Kurobe City Hospital to share their knowledge and learn from their international counterparts.
Medical residents rotate through Macon, spending three to four weeks each, visiting to experience the innerworkings of the American health care system.
“Through the many advancements in health care technology and patient care over the past two decades, we value this ongoing opportunity to share and learn ways to help improve care provided to patients both here in Macon, and in Kurobe,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrice Walker. “We are excited to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and to support this partnership for many years to come.”
To date, 97 medical residents, 16 nurses and six health care providers from Kurobe have visited Macon-Bibb County, and 56 physicians and 24 nurses from Macon-Bibb County have visited Kurobe.
“We are delighted to come back to Macon this fall to continue the Macon-Kurobe medical exchange program,” said Kurobe City Hospital’s Hospital Director Dr. Hirokazu Tsuji. “The exchange is in its 20th year and constitutes the core of our educational program for residents, nurses and other health care providers. We would like to give our gratitude to Mr. Delvecchio Finley from Atrium Health Navicent, Dr. Jean Sumner from Mercer University, administration, faculty and staff on both sides, YKK and Macon-Bibb County for showing understanding for this program.”
The sister city relationship between Macon and Kurobe was established in 1977 with the support of YKK, whose manufacturing headquarters is located in Kurobe. YKK’s Atlanta office opened in 1970, making it one of the first Japanese companies to set up operations in Georgia. YKK’s Macon plant opened in 1974. YKK remains an active supporter of the sister city relationship, including the medical exchange.
About Kurobe City Hospital
Since its opening in 1948, Kurobe City Hospital, the main hospital in the Niikawa Medical Care Center and in collaboration with other medical, health and welfare institutions, has aimed to strengthen its capabilities to treat six medical conditions (cancer, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, diabetes, mental illness, and infectious diseases) and has sought to strengthen five departments (emergency medical care, disaster medical care, medical care in remote rural areas, perinatal medical care, pediatric medical care). The motto of the hospital is “Daily Contemplation,” defined as thoughtful medical care for patients backed up by medical research and ingenuity. The hospital’s mission is "to maintain quality, trust, and provide reassurance in delivering medical care".
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.