A Tribute to Prof Hirokuni Yoshimura

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FIGThe Board of Regents of the World Association for Bronchology (WAB) takes great pleasure in acknowledging the contributions to the WAB and the world of medicine by Prof Hirokuni Yoshimura, immediate past chair of the Board of Regents of the WAB. After an illustrious professional career, Prof Yoshimura retired in early 2007 to assume the honored title of Prof Emeritus, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan. On the occasion of his retirement, he was honored by more than 300 friends, colleagues, and students at a special function held on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at the Mt Fuji Hall of The Imperial Hotel, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Prof Yoshimura graduated from the Tokyo University School of Medicine. He completed residency training at the Tokyo University Hospital. His long career comprised of the following professional designations: Surgeon, Attached Hospital of Japan Anti-tuberculosis Association, and Assistant and Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. In the early 1980s, he was a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. From 1993 until his retirement in 2007, Prof Yoshimura was the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine. From 2002 to 2006, he was also the Dean of the Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. Prof Yoshimura was a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP); Regent and Chair of the WAB; President, Japanese Association for Chest Surgery; Councilor for the Japanese Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery; Regent of the International Society of Cardio-thoracic Surgeons; Fellow and President of the Japan Society for Pulmonary Endoscopy; Regent of the Japan Society for Bronchoesophagology; and Fellow of the Japanese Association for Lung Cancer. In addition to his busy surgical practice, teaching assignments, and administrative duties, Prof Yoshimura published numerous scientific papers on topics pertaining to his field of speciality. Prof Yoshimura succeeded Prof Shigeto Ikeda (founder of the WAB) as the chair of the Board of Regents of the WAB in June 2000. Under his able leadership and guidance, the WAB grew and was responsible for organizing the highly successful biennial World Congresses for Bronchology and Bronchoesophagology (WCB and WCBE). He served out his term as the chair of the Board of Regents of the WAB in June 2004. Prof Yoshimura was the president of the 11th World Congress for Bronchology (11th WCB) and the 11th World Congress for Bronchoesophagology (11th WCBE), Yokohama, Japan, in June 2000. Under his leadership, the 11th WCB and WCBE saw the largest number of attendees from around the globe. During and after his tenure as the chair of the Board of Regents of the WAB, Prof Yoshimura traveled extensively, always accompanied by his lovely and graceful wife, Mrs Taeko Yoshimura, to actively participate in numerous conferences and congresses on bronchology and related subjects. His wisdom, kind and gentle demeanor, and friendly attitude have endeared him to peers and students alike. The members and leaders of the WAB as well as the physicians and scientists interested in bronchology, interventional pulmonology, and thoracic surgery look forward to meet him to seek his wisdom in the future conferences and congresses. At the time of his retirement, Prof Yoshimura announced his donation of substantial monetary gift to the WAB to help the organization to globally promote the art and science of bronchology, interventional pulmonology, and related disciplines. The Board of Regents of the WAB and the members hereby gratefully acknowledge Prof Yoshimura's generous gift and thank him for his life-long service to the WAB and the fields of bronchology, interventional pulmonology, thoracic surgery, and related disciplines. The WAB wishes Prof and Mrs Yoshimura a long and pleasant retirement. Udaya B. S. Prakash, MD Mr Tatsuo Maeda