President
Kawasaki University of Medical WelfareAkio Tsubahara
If you are a high school student who wishes to pursue a career that contributes to the well-being of others, why not aim to become a medical welfare professional at our university? There are a lot of people around the world who are in socially disadvantaged situations. Some people have no choice but to live with limitations due to illness or disability, while others struggle to care for children with disabilities or family members with dementia. There are also those who suffer from hunger because of poverty, children who have lost their parents and their emotional support, and refugees who have been deprived of the foundation of their lives by war or ethnic conflict. Many such people face great hardships every day. Shouldn’t we, then, look beyond our own interests and recognize the importance of supporting those who are referred to as "the vulnerable"? At Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, we are committed to nurturing specialized professionals who can protect people’s health and welfare. We call those who have acquired such expertise "medical welfare professionals."
The term "medical welfare professional" was first proposed by Dr. Sukenobu Kawasaki, the founder of Kawasaki Gakuen, in the Showa era. He founded Kawasaki Gakuen and Kawasaki Medical School in 1970 based on the philosophy that, "all those involved in healthcare should be medical welfare professionals who can provide healthcare from the perspective of daily life, instead of being medical personnel who are only concerned about medical matters." Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare was subsequently established in 1991 as the world's first four-year university with the words "medical welfare" in its name, with the aim of nurturing medical welfare professionals other than medical doctors.
Our university provides an excellent education in medical knowledge, medical technology, and social welfare not only for students who wish to work in the medical field, but also for those who wish to work in other areas related to physical and mental well-being, such as social welfare, public health, nursing care and welfare, and education. In addition, we prepare our students to provide the highest quality medical and welfare services to vulnerable people, including patients, people with disabilities, the elderly, and children. We also foster their kindness and consideration for others, the ability to communicate courteously and attentively, and the competencies to work effectively as part of a medical welfare team.
There are currently 5 faculties with 16 departments: Health and Welfare (Social Work Course, Elementary and Special Needs Education Course), Clinical Psychology, Nursing Childcare, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Orthoptics, Medical Technology, Radiological Technology, Medical Engineering, Clinical Nutrition, Health and Sports Science (with courses for careers such as health and physical education teachers, school nurses, paramedics, and health fitness programmers), Health Data Science, Healthcare Communication, and Design for Medical and Health Care. For further study, the university has 3 graduate schools providing master's and doctoral programs. We have emphasized the importance of learning social welfare as well as medical science to students who aspire to work in the medical profession. Similarly, we offer medical science as a required subject to students aiming to work as social welfare or healthcare services management professionals, such as medical administrative staff. Students are encouraged to obtain professional qualifications in their respective fields of study, and they step into society as professionals after passing national exams or certification exams.
All of our graduates thrive in careers that support others. At the same time, they have a solid knowledge of health and disease, which allows them to safeguard their own health as well as that of their families. Specifically, they are able to undergo thorough health examinations themselves, enabling the early detection and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. They also have accurate information about highly qualified healthcare practitioners. As a result, they are able to maintain their physical strength and enjoy a fulfilling life well into their centenarian years. Having a medical welfare professional in the family brings a strong sense of security.
Many of our graduates find employment in large hospitals, comprehensive welfare facilities, and public institutions comparable to large companies in the general corporate sector. Although there is no guarantee of a high-end salary, our graduates can expect to earn salaries above the average across all industries, and their lives are filled with meaning and fulfillment. Work style reforms have been fully implemented in the area of medical welfare, making it possible for workers to enjoy healthy and happy family lives.
We expect applicants to our university to determine, prior to admission, what kind of expertise in the field of medical welfare would be the most desired goal. All educators at our university promise to make maximum efforts to ensure that every enrolled student grows into an excellent medical welfare professional dedicated to serving vulnerable people first, and can achieve their goals. By doing so, we hope to contribute to building a global welfare society where people enjoy true well-being, and where a compassionate hand of support is extended to patients, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable members of society.