John Clemente Aniceto De Leon

My interest in research and in improving my clinical skills led me to an observership at the Fujita Health University Hospital, Toyoake City in 2019. This center is locally recognized as one of the largest medical institutions in Japan and has a high neurosurgical load, especially tumor, skull base, spine, and cerebrovascular, and pediatric cases. This exposed me to modern, state-of-the-art, and minimally invasive neurosurgery. In addition, this allowed me to collaborate with Japanese researchers. During my fellowship, I co-authored a case report on a rare case of Ewing-like sarcoma of the intramedullary spinal cord, which I presented at the Annual Meeting of the Neurospinal Society of Japan, in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Moreover, I co-authored a book chapter on endoscopic petroclival approaches, which was published in the Atlas of 360 Degree Skull Base Surgery. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a 1-year international scholarship grant by the Takeda Science Foundation to support my training.

Ahmed Essam Abdelmoniem Anber

Mohamed khamis uthman

My One-Year Experience at Fujita Health University Hospital
I had the privilege of spending one year at the Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, as a Clinical Fellow. During this period, I received extensive training in cerebrovascular surgery, skull base surgery, brain tumor surgery, and endovascular interventions.
This year was one of the most valuable experiences of my professional career. I was exposed to a wide range of advanced surgical procedures and had the opportunity to participate in cadaveric laboratory training, which greatly enhanced my anatomical knowledge and surgical skills. I also had the opportunity to train at the Robotic Training Center, where I gained valuable experience with emerging surgical technologies and innovative approaches that may shape the future of neurosurgery.
In addition, I was actively involved in academic activities, including manuscript writing and scientific publications, which strengthened my research experience and academic development. Being part of a highly academic environment encouraged me to think critically, pursue innovation, and contribute to advancing the field.
What impressed me most was that my learning extended far beyond surgical techniques. I learned the importance of surgical philosophy, strategic thinking, decision-making, teamwork, professionalism, and kindness toward patients and colleagues. These lessons have had a profound impact on both my professional and personal growth.
I am deeply grateful to everyone in the Department of Neurosurgery for their support, guidance, and friendship throughout this year. I would especially like to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Hirose, the Chairman of the Department, whose leadership, mentorship, and dedication to education created an outstanding environment for learning and growth.
I also gained valuable experiences outside the operating room, learning from Japanese culture and daily life, which made my stay both enjoyable and memorable.
I will always be thankful for the opportunity to train at Fujita Health University Hospital. The knowledge, skills, values, and friendships I gained during this year will remain with me throughout my career, and I look forward to applying these experiences to better serve my patients and contribute to the future development of neurosurgery.