Conclusive report forum of TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Program（2016/11/27）
Topics: Capacity building of disaster nursing profession
Venue: International Research Institute of Disaster Science (Sendai, JAPAN)

On Nov. 27, 2016 (Sun), the conclusive report forum of TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing
Program was held in IRIDeS by co-organization with Prof. Shinichi Egawa (Disaster MedicalScience Division). This program invites the student nurses from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima
Prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake to United States to learn about disasternursing, and through the pre- and post-visiting seminars and activities. This program is organizedby U.S.-Japan Council supported by Johnson & Johnson as one of the TOMODACHI Initiative
Programs to promote exchange between Japan and U.S.A.
The pre-visiting seminar was held in Sendai in June. Prof. Egawa lectured about disaster nursing,and the concept of disaster risk reduction and the students visited Minami Sanriku Town to explore
the real situation of disaster affected area. Another pre-visit seminar was in Tokyo, July and Prof.
Yasuhiro Otomo lectured about disaster resilience. The students also learned to improve theirpresentation skills and built up the mind to communicate with global people about disaster and toconvey their passion and thoughts about disaster and nursing.
The students, mentors, and supporting staff visited New York and Washington D.C. for two weeks
in August as the following study tour schedule.

Aug. 6

Arriving in New York

Aug. 7

New York

Aug. 8Goldman Sachs, 911Tribute Center, 911 Memorial Museum, Reception by New YorkJapanese Society

Aug. 9

New York University Langone Medical Center, Nursing School

Aug. 10

United Nations, Mount Sinai HospitalAug. 11

New Jersey Coast Line affected by Hurricane SandyAug. 12

Rutgers Nursing College, Johnson and Johnson. Heading to Washington D.C.

Aug. 13

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, American HistoryMuseum, National Zoo

Aug. 14White House, Martin Luther King Museum, Lincoln Memorial Museum

Aug. 15

National Children’s Medical Center

Aug. 16

American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Aug. 17

Uniformed University Health Service/Center for Disaster and HumanitarianAssistanceAug. 18

State of Virginia Task Force1Urban Search and Rescue, National Institute of HealthAug. 19

Presentation Workshop in National Children’s Medical Center

Aug. 20

Departure (Aug. 21 Arrival in Japan)(continues on the next page)After coming back to Japan, the students organized various activities by themselves to implement
what they learned in the program. In the post seminar, the students proposed various plans of theirown activity in various location and situations. Some of them organized workshops about how tomake “Go “, some initiated student disaster committee in the nursing school, and some visited thetemporary houses in the coastal area. In the November post seminar, the students refined thepresentation skills again.
Through the meeting with 911 survivors or families that “telling” itself becomes the “healing” of story
teller, students recognized the importance of telling their own experience in disaster sincerely tothe others.
The final Sendai Seminar composed of the summary of this second year program, individual
presentation from the students, mentor’s summary and discussion. The students made theirindividual experience as the life-changing event with their refined presentation skills and showed
their remarkable progress as student nurse and young leaders. Variety of view point and their own
mind of commitment for the local society moved every audience strongly.
Prof. Egawa made conclusive remarks about bright future of the students not only as disaster
nurse profession, but also as global leaders through TOMODACHI Initiatives to promote thephysical and mental health of the people of community.
Disaster medicine tends to be considered as emergency medicine, but the students have learned
to protect their own physical and mental health to help people, nurse can play significant role inevery phase of onset, response, recovery, reconstruction and anticipation phase of disaster,difference between Japan and U.S. medical system, the significance of expression of their own
idea about disaster. We are sure that they will create bright future of community resilient against
disaster.

Students presenting their achievement in
Disaster Nursing Program

Greeting from U.S.-Japan Counsil

Reported by Shinichi Egawa (Division of Disaster Medical Science)(continues on the next page)Greeting from Johnson & Jonson

Mentor from Miyagi

Mentor from Fukushima

Mentor from Iwate

Joint picture

Briefing about TOMODACHI Alumni