Dr. Okuno wanted to expand his clinic into an international training and treatment facility where doctors from around the world could go to study and practice his particular techniques of endovascular therapy and where patients could go to get healed—and he had plans to build such a facility adjacent to the national airport.
The doctor could visit other countries to present his work, but because each country had its own medical licensing requirements, he could not perform his procedures in other countries.
His ultimate dream was to convert a ship into a floating international hospital that sailed from port to port, training doctors and treating patients. Doctors licensed in any country could study and work on a ship in international waters. His research and techniques could be spread throughout the world.
Another possibility was to bring attention to his work by convincing a world-famous athlete who had been injured or cancer-stricken movie star to come to Yokohama, so they could be treated by Dr. Okuno.
Could we get Tiger Woods to come for treatment of his knee? Would Patrick Swayze travel to Yokohama to see if he could be helped?
As my extraordinary week in Yokohama unfolded, Dr. Okuno and I seemed to form a good understanding and friendship. I appreciated his dedication to medical science and his determination to help people with the utmost humanity and dignity.
He seemed to appreciate my curiosity, understanding and ability to communicate.
When Dr. Okuno hosted several American bio-medical engineering professors for dinner after the convention at Toin University, I was able to clarify, explain and expound on the essential aspects and applications of his pioneering work.
I had not gone to medical school, but my scientific training at MIT had been broad and deep. Also, quite coincidently, through a biotech company with which I had become enamored and had followed closely when I had been interested in the stock market, I had been exposed to the anti-angiogenic research of the late Dr. Judah Folkman whose revolutionary work had originally inspired Dr. Okuno as a medical student and whose research had formed the basis of his research and practice.
Toward the end of my visit, when I met with the doctor and his elder counselor Takahashi to discuss business, my hopes and expectations were high—but Takahashi was skeptical. He immediately pointed out that I had no medical training and wondered what I could actually do for Dr. Okuno and his clinic. How could I effectively help expand the clinic and reach out to the international community? What was my precise job description? How could I justify a salary?
He asked his questions to Dr. Okuno as much as he asked them to me.
Nevertheless, Dr. Okuno wanted to hire me. He said I could stay in Yokohama, spend time at the clinic, learn as much as I could and figure out how to help him with his plans and goals. It might take time for the relationship to make sense, but he was willing to move forward.
Even when we could not come to a practical agreement about bringing my family over and living in Yokohama, neither of us were willing to give up. We started discussing how things might work if I returned to the United States and worked for him on a consulting basis.
Perhaps I could learn about the cutting edge of endovascular therapy research and practice in the United States, establish communications with doctors, hospitals and clinics at the forefront of the field—and make them aware of Dr. Okuno’s research and techniques.
Perhaps, I could arrange for a meeting or medical convention where Dr. Okuno could present his work.
I could also try to reach out to celebrities who could benefit from Dr. Okuno’s treatment. We could help bring recognition to his work and Clinica E.T. via the publicity generated by a positive outcome—and bring hope to people throughout the world.
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Posted by: Resume Writing Services | July 06, 2010 at 07:43 AM