Presentation Information
[SY-76-04]Beyond Education: Prof. Norman Sartorius’ Mentorship and the Organizational Maturity of JYPO
*Kumi Uehara Aoyama (Kanagawa Psychiatric Center(Japan))
Keywords:
Norman Sartorius,Japan Young Psychiatrists Organization,Postgraduate Training,International Collaboration,Mentorship
My journey with the Japan Young Psychiatrists Organization (JYPO) began in 2004, when it was still a voluntary group. I participated in the 3rd Course for Academic Development of Psychiatrists (CADP), supported by Prof. Norman Sartorius. Through his mentorship and that of other faculty, I gained essential skills in presentation, international communication, and psychiatric knowledge across cultures. Inspired by this experience, I joined JYPO’s leadership and became its third president in 2007. Although JYPO’s strengths lay in its youthful energy, agility, and broad, barrier-free network, we were independent from academic institutions and lacked access to expert guidance and research infrastructure. However, Prof. Sartorius generously supported our research planning, offering detailed advice that helped us succeed in various initiatives. With his encouragement, we expanded our activities to include research on postgraduate education, SCI-PANSS translation projects, international collaborations, and educational workshops. His mentorship shaped our vision and gave us the confidence to grow. A major milestone came in 2008, when JYPO became a registered NPO. That same year, with the support of Prof. Allan Tasman, President of PRCP, Prof. Fumitaka Noda, Chair of Congress, and Prof. Tsuyoshi Akiyama, and in collaboration with the PRCP 2008 Tokyo Congress, we hosted the “Pre Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists The Fellowship Program for Academic Development of Psychiatrists,” welcoming 42 young psychiatrists from 17 countries. Prof. Sartorius gave his signature lecture on “How to Give an Oral Presentation and Discussion,” which he regularly delivers at CADP, greatly inspiring participants. As PRCP returns to Japan in 2025, we are grateful for this opportunity to reflect on the support we received from PRCP in 2008 and the enduring mentorship of Prof. Sartorius, who has guided us over many years.