Yoko Kato (加藤 庸子, Katō Yōko, born 9 November 1952) is a Japanese neurosurgeon. She is professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Fujita Health University. She was the first woman in Japan to be promoted to full professor of neurosurgery.[1]

Yoko Kato
加藤 庸子
Born (1952-11-09) 9 November 1952 (age 71)
NationalityJapanese
EducationAichi Medical University (MD)
Medical career
FieldNeurosurgery
InstitutionsFujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital
Sub-specialtiesCerebrovascular disease

Biography edit

Yoko Kato received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1978 from Aichi Medical University, where she also completed her residency in the department of neurosurgery. She joined the neurosurgery department at Fujita Health University in 1980, then became an instructor in the department of neurosurgery at Suzhou Medical College in 1981. Kato returned to Fujita Health University as an assistant instructor in 1983. She was promoted to assistant professor in 1988 and associate professor in 2000. She has held visiting professorships at the University of Mainz (1995), George Washington University (1998), and Sri Ramachandra University (2000).[2] In 2006, Kato was promoted to full professor, becoming the first female professor of neurosurgery in Japan. She was named chief of Fujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital's Stroke Center in 2014.[3]

Kato specializes in surgical treatment of cerebrovascular disease, particularly aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations.[4] She has performed more than 1,800 brain aneurysmal clipping procedures throughout her career.[3]

Kato is a proponent for the advancement of neurosurgery in developing countries by directly mentoring neurosurgeons, organizing educational courses, and donating funds for neurosurgical equipment.[4][5] She also advocates for inclusion of women in neurosurgery. She founded the Women's Neurosurgical Association (WNA) of Japan in 1990 and the Asian Women's Neurosurgical Association (AWNA) in 1996.[1] Kato has spoken about experiences of bias against woman surgeons, such as being mistaken for support staff or perceived as less focused due to family duties.[6] She has advocated for improved research mentorship and access to childcare resources to address gender disparities in academic neurosurgery,[7] as well as increased visibility of successful female neurosurgeons to encourage female trainees to join the profession.[8]

Awards edit

Selected publications edit

  • Kato Y, Dong VH, Chaddad F, Takizawa K, Izumo T, Fukuda H; et al. (2019). "Expert Consensus on the Management of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations". Asian J Neurosurg. 14 (4): 1074–1081. doi:10.4103/ajns.AJNS_234_19. PMC 6896626. PMID 31903343.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Ikawa F, Hidaka T, Yoshiyama M, Ohba H, Matsuda S, Ozono I; et al. (2019). "Characteristics of Cerebral Aneurysms in Japan". Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 59 (11): 399–406. doi:10.2176/nmc.ra.2019-0099. PMC 6867938. PMID 31462602.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Balik V, Yamada Y, Talari S, Kei Y, Sano H, Sulla I; et al. (2017). "State-of-Art Surgical Treatment of Dissecting Anterior Circulation Intracranial Aneurysms". J Neurol Surg a Cent Eur Neurosurg. 78 (1): 67–77. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1588064. PMID 27595273.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Liang KE, Bernstein I, Kato Y, Kawase T, Hodaie M (2016). "Enhancing Neurosurgical Education in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Current Methods and New Advances". Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 56 (11): 709–715. doi:10.2176/nmc.ra.2016-0092. PMC 5221782. PMID 27616319.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Kato, Yoko (February 2016). "Women in Neurosurgery: A New Paradigm of Thought Will Emerge". World Neurosurgery. 86: A16–A17. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2015.12.018. ISSN 1878-8750. PMID 26856787.

Books edit

  • Kato, Yoko; Zhang, Xiaohua; Dai, Jiong; Ansari, Ahmed, eds. (2021). Recent Progress in the Management of Cerebrovascular Diseases: Treatment strategies, techniques and complication avoidance. Springer Singapore. ISBN 978-9811633867.
  • Kanno, Tetsu; Kato, Yoko, eds. (2007). Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9784431285762.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Women in WFNS". World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  2. ^ "The introduction of the member of the medical office". Dept.of Neurosurgery School of Medicine, Fujita Health University. Archived from the original on 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  3. ^ a b Kozar, Rosemary (1 November 2019). "Citation for Prof. Yoko Kato, MD, PhD". Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. Archived from the original on 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  4. ^ a b Shah, Abhidha (Mar 2021). "Yoko Kato: the silent warrior of neurosurgery". J Neurosurg. 50 (3): E17. doi:10.3171/2020.12.FOCUS20899. PMID 33789240.
  5. ^ "Donation from Professor Yoko Kato in 2016". World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  6. ^ Sharmistha Chatterjee (27 March 2003). "Women neurosurgeons in a meeting of minds". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  7. ^ Kato Y (2016). "Women authorship in neuroscience publications". Neurol India. 64 (1): 10–1. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.173636. PMID 26754981.
  8. ^ Kato Y, Mihara C, Matsuyama J, Ochi S, Ono H, Yamaguchi S; et al. (2004). "Role of women in medicine: a look at the history, the present condition and the future status of women in the surgical field, especially neurosurgery". Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 47 (2): 65–71. doi:10.1055/s-2004-818470. PMID 15257477.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "AANS Awards". American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  10. ^ Tu, Yong-Kwang (22 February 2021). "Report of the Medal of Honor Committee". World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  11. ^ "12 prominent surgeons awarded Honorary Fellowship in the ACS". Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2021-10-27.

External links edit