September 24-26, 2008 – Tokyo, Japan
CRI and the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Meet with Japanese Leaders About the Importance of Chronic Disease Prevention
Canyon Ranch Institute and the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) were invited to meet with Japanese leaders in Tokyo, Japan to help advance the health and well-being of the Japanese people by sharing promising health practices underway in the United States. Diseases related to unhealthy eating, lack of regular physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, and insufficient rest are a growing concern in Japan, and as Japan experiences a rapidly aging population, innovative disease management strategies are needed to continue to provide timely and patient-focused care.
Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), president of CRI, and national chairperson of the PFCD, and Jennifer Cabe, M.A., executive director of CRI, traveled to Japan for meetings with members of the National Diet of Japan (Japan's legislature), leading corporations, and the health care media, as well as government officials, clinicians, health scientists, public health practitioners, and economists, to share their expertise in promoting health and wellness through prevention and management of chronic disease.
A symposium entitled "Preventive Health Care in an Aging Society," was held on September 25, 2008, and featured three presenters.
Dr. Carmona spoke about prevention as an effective means to improve public health and reduce health care costs while improving the quality and quantity of life. He referenced the PFCD "Keeping America Healthy" report as a model for developing sustainable, replicable programs that can improve health and lower costs.
Chris Singer, president of the international section of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which is one of the partners in the PFCD, discussed the importance of prevention in aging populations and the role of pharmaceutical innovation in preventing disease.
Shinya Matsuda, M.D., Ph.D., FFPHM, professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Japan, reviewed data from chronic disease management programs underway in Japan.
The presentations were followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by Mr. Mitsuru Miyata, executive lead writer of Biotechnology Japan. The symposium concluded following a question-and-answer session with the audience of several hundred Japanese leaders from business, industry, government, academia, public health, clinical practice, and medical research.
While in Tokyo, Dr. Carmona and Ms. Cabe also participated in briefing sessions with members of the National Diet of Japan to discuss Japanese concerns about how Japan can meet the growing challenges of an aging society and opportunities to increase the use of prevention practices in their health care system.
Event Photographs:
Chris Singer, president of the international section of PhRMA, which is a partner in the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, (left) and Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), president of Canyon Ranch Institute, and national chairperson of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, delivered presentations and then answered questions from the audience on best practices in preventive health care at the "Preventive Health Care in an Aging Society" symposium in Tokyo, Japan. (September 25, 2008, Tokyo, Japan)
Mr. Mitsuru Miyata, executive lead writer of Biotechnology Japan (left) and Shinya Matsuda, M.D., Ph.D., FFPHM, professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Japan, answer questions from the audience during a roundtable discussion about chronic disease management at the "Preventive Health Care in an Aging Society" symposium in Tokyo, Japan. (September 25, 2008, Tokyo, Japan)
Shinya Matsuda, M.D., Ph.D., FFPHM, professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Japan (far left) and Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), president of Canyon Ranch Institute, and national chairperson of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease exchange greetings following their participation in a roundtable discussion on preventive health care. Mr. Mitsuru Miyata, executive lead writer of Biotechnology Japan, and Chris Singer, president of the international section of PhRMA (far right) also participated in the roundtable discussion. (September 25, 2008, Tokyo, Japan)
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