Masahiro Hashizume Dean, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health
The School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH) was established at Nagasaki University in 2015 as Japan’s first graduate school dedicated to tropical medicine and global health. Building on Nagasaki University’s long-standing achievements in infectious disease research and international cooperation, and its wealth of accumulated expertise in community and international health, TMGH has become a hub for addressing global health challenges.
Public health in the 21st century faces increasingly complex and interconnected issues: the emergence and resurgence of infectious diseases; the health impacts of climate change and other global environmental crises; the rising burden of non-communicable diseases; and widening health inequalities both within and across nations. Addressing these challenges requires a perspective that encompasses not only human health but also the health of the planet—planetary health. Human well-being and environmental integrity are inseparable, and achieving a sustainable future requires new forms of interdisciplinary knowledge that integrate the two.
Education and research at TMGH are deeply rooted in this principle of planetary health. All courses are taught in English, and students and researchers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds come together to create a truly international learning community. Among our distinctive features is the Joint PhD program with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)—one of the world’s foremost institutions in global health— offering advanced opportunities for international research and training. We also emphasize learning beyond the classroom through fieldwork in Asia and Africa and collaboration with local communities in Japan. Our master’s programs offer pathways in clinical tropical medicine, international and public health, and laboratory and natural sciences. Our doctoral program fosters cutting-edge research under extensive international collaborations, nurturing the next generation of global leaders.
TMGH also embraces a “glocal” perspective—rooted in local realities while actively contributing to the global agenda. Nagasaki has long been known as Japan’s “gateway to the world.” Today, TMGH aspires to serve as a “point of origin,” producing knowledge and professionals who advance health at a planetary scale. By linking Japan’s unique challenges, such as population aging and disaster medicine, with those faced in tropical and developing regions, such as infectious diseases and development, we aim to offer universal and sustainable solutions to global society.
We welcome individuals who aspire to “make the world a better place” and who have the courage to act to “protect the future of both humanity and the planet.” Whether your passion lies in combating infectious and tropical diseases, applying epidemiology and data science to pressing social issues, serving on the frontlines of international organizations and NGOs, or bridging community health in Japan with the wider world, TMGH is committed to fully supporting those diverse aspirations.
The education and experiences you gain at TMGH will empower you to contribute to the health and well-being of people everywhere, as well as to the sustainability of our planet. We warmly invite you to learn, research, and take on challenges with us, as together we work toward a healthier future for humanity and the Earth.