INDEX
Goals of the Committee
"Asahikawa Declaration in Promotion of Diversity by the Japanese Society of Hypertension - the JSH Asahikawa Declaration -"
The JSH will:
1) | Advocate the spirit of diversity to value heterogeneity and acknowledge differences in all patients and medical professionals. |
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2) | Support the fostering of proper educational, research, and clinical practice environment to realize work-life integration while maximizing the competencies with diversity. |
3) | Respect individuality of patients, promoting awareness programs and practice style to make hypertension management plainer and seamless. |
4) | Create a supporting system for society members who need reasonable accommodation with respect. |
5) | Promote a diverse and inclusive work environment where diversity is valued. |
The JSH has announced "Asahikawa Declaration in Promotion of Diversity by the Japanese Society of Hypertension - the JSH Asahikawa Declaration -," at its 41st Annual Scientific Meeting in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. In association with the JSH Future Plan, we pledge to undertake a specific action plan comprised of the 5 key missions to achieve our goal of this declaration.
Words from the Committee Chair, Dr. Satoko Nakamura
I am Dr. Satoko Nakamura, the chair of Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the JSH since 2015. I am the third Committee Chair, after Dr. Yusuke Oya and Dr Koichi Node.
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee has performed a web survey to assess the state of the JSH and has set specific target values for percentages of women in leadership positions. The Committee members now work in groups on 6 main activities, 1) JSH Women Investigator’s Award presentation (50 awardees in 5 years), 2) Committee booth at scientific meetings, 3) Onsite childcare and Conference Exploration Tour, 4) Publicity and homepage, 5) Committee-hosted symposiums, and 6) ISH 2022-related activities.
Of note, "Asahikawa Declaration in Promotion of Diversity by the Japanese Society of Hypertension - the JSH Asahikawa Declaration -" was presented at 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting and published in Hypertension Research in 2019.
The JSH has worked with diverse medical professionals to encourage women investigators and young researchers and/or clinicians, while promoting globalization of the society. The Committee will continue to work for the goal of a diverse and inclusive society where differences are valued, abilities of all are fully displayed, and individual values are respected. This goal also pertains to patient-clinician relationship, in line with the JSH Digest of plan for the future, to enhance communication and understanding among participating members.
Please give us support and feedback, and let’s work together for the common goal.
Activities
At the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH), Working Group on Gender Equality was formed in 2013, which became the Committee for Gender Equality in 2014. In 2018, the name of the committee was changed to the current "Diversity and Inclusion Committee" to accommodate a wider range of diversity in the society.
1. Diversity
With about a third of the Japanese population harboring hypertension, backgrounds of hypertensive patients are very diverse. Persons young and old, top-level athletes, those with disability or asynchronous development may become hypertensive. Medical professionals involved are also diverse, physicians, nurse, dietician, therapists, etc., covering multiple disciplines, using various methods to manage hypertension, from home blood pressure measurements to digitalized solutions. Moreover, it is necessary that different organizations, including governments, industry, and academic societies, cooperate to mitigate the negative impacts of hypertension in the whole society.
The diversity G will work together to create diverse approaches and solutions to achieve the common goal of conquering hypertension.
2. Symposiums
We host symposiums at Annual Scientific Meeting and Annual Scientific Forum of Clinical Hypertension, covering topics on gender equality and/or diversity and inclusion.
3. JSH Women Investigator's Award
The Japanese Society of Hypertension has established the "JSH Women Investigator's Award" for outstanding research presentations to support the research activities and participation of female members (medical doctors and medical staff) and encourage their activities. At the annual scientific meeting and the annual scientific forum of clinical hypertension, three to five researchers are selected and commended from the abstracts that have high peer-reviewed scores.
4. Education
*1 "Nursery room at conference"
It is the room that nursery teachers care for babies and kids whose parents participate in conference.
*2 "Kids cooking show"
It is the show that dietitians guide some parents and kids to make a low-salt diet and try it out.
*3 "Kids expedition tour of conference"
It is the tour that kids whose parents participate in conference view some presentations, exhibition booths of low-salt foods and so on.
5. Creating of the Promotional Booklet
6. WiHRC Support
7. ISH2022 Working Group
At the International Society of Hypertension 2022 (ISH2022) to be held in Kyoto, Japan in October 2022, the Diversity Promotion Committee of the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) will advocate a new value to the world. Through the JSH activities, which is a pioneer in promoting diversity and inclusion in medical societies in Japan, and especially through the evaluation and analysis of the effects of the Asahikawa Declaration on Diversity Promotion (JSH Asahikawa Declaration) on the consciousness of the society and its members, we will discuss the significance of promoting diversity and inclusion in medical societies, and advocate the mission of the JSH toward the future.