Hide's Journey from rural Japan to London - twice! (Part 1) | LSHTM

Hide's Journey from rural Japan to London - twice! (Part 1)

3 July 2025

Hide, a Japanese medical doctor first studied MSc Public Health at LSHTM, and now he is returning for a PhD at LSHTM. He shares how his MSc experience transformed his understanding, challenged his limits, and built a community that shaped his path in public health.

“We look after people, not just diseases—and those people live in systems, cultures, and histories.” That’s what I’ve learnt from LSHTM, and why I’m coming back.

From medicine to public health

My path to LSHTM began with medical school in Japan. I graduated from Gunma University in 2022 and immediately enrolled in MSc Public Health at LSHTM. People often ask why I didn’t work for a few years first. I had always been drawn to infectious diseases and international medical volunteering, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). LSHTM—ranked 2nd in the world for public health universities, with a historic focus on tropical medicine and decolonising global health—felt like the perfect fit. I knew I wanted to build a career that bridged clinical care and public health, individual patients and entire populations, through my studies at LSHTM.

Students outside LSHTM. — My friends at LSHTM & I outside the LSHTM Keppel Street Building.

Studying at LSHTM: Challenging, demanding, but unforgettable

One of the most defining aspects of my time at LSHTM was the connections to people. My classmates were incredibly diverse in background, brilliant in thought, and supportive in every way. One of the toughest modules for many of us was Statistical Methods in Epidemiology. It pushed all of us to our limits, but what made it manageable and memorable was the way we supported one another. Study groups, late-night discussions, and struggling with assignments—these weren’t just about passing exams; they were about building a community of future public health professionals who truly cared about each other’s success.

As a non-native English speaker, I had my own hurdles. There were moments I struggled to follow lectures or engage in discussions as confidently as I would have liked. However, LSHTM offered dedicated support for international students, including extra English sessions, and most importantly, I had peers who went out of their way to help. They would sit with me and explain lectures more slowly or share notes in a clearer format. These moments weren’t just academically helpful, but also they were personally moving.

Breaking down barriers in and out of the classroom

One surprise for me at LSHTM was the accessibility of the faculty.

Some of the lecturers and professors I encountered were leaders in their fields—authors of global reports, WHO advisors, people whose names I’d read in textbooks.

And yet, they were approachable, warm, and open to dialogue. This was quite different from my experience in Japan, where strict hierarchy and formality often limit interaction between students and professors.

At LSHTM, there was no barrier to asking a question or starting a conversation, and that changed the way I learned. It created an environment of curiosity and mutual respect—one where I felt empowered to think critically, challenge ideas, and pursue questions more deeply.

The turning point: Realising the scope of Public Health

One of the most impactful experiences during the MSc was the Designing Disease Control Programmes (DDCP) module. In this course, we worked in small groups to design an actual public health intervention. My group’s challenge was to improve sanitation coverage in Kisumu, Kenya. What I thought would be a straightforward infectious disease issue turned out to be a complex web involving urban planning, socioeconomics, education, culture, and politics.

This made me realise that public health problems are almost never one-dimensional. To be part of the solution, you need a specific area of expertise to contribute meaningfully to a team. For me, that area was infectious disease epidemiology, and the experience planted the seed of pursuing a PhD.

LSHTM Graudates in Westminster celebratong the graduation. — Graduation ceremony at Central Hall Westminster!

Advice to future Public Health students (Especially doctors)

To any medical students or doctors considering studying public health: don’t be afraid.

Yes, stepping into a new field, in a new country, in a new language is difficult. Yes, there were moments of stress and uncertainty. But those challenges are also the moments when you grow the most. Public Health training will change how you see patients, communities, and your role as a healthcare professional. It will train you to think beyond the hospital walls—and that, I believe, is one of the most important skills any doctor can have today.

Read Part 2