“The ACGME-I Framework Was a Perfect Fit for Kameda” – the Journey of Japan’s First ACGME-I-Accredited Institution

Kameda Medical Center in Kamogawa, Japan achieved ACGME International (ACGME-I) accreditation as a Sponsoring Institution in January 2025. Since then, two graduate medical education (GME) programs – in anesthesiology and internal medicine – have also achieved ACGME-I accreditation.

Two of the leading figures in the institution’s journey toward ACGME-I accreditation, Masayuki Nogi, MD, MHPE, FACP, and Kenichi Ueda, MD, PhD, spoke to the institution’s in-house magazine about the decision to seek accreditation, as well as about the changes necessary to achieve that goal, in the article, “ACGME-I: Developing Physicians Who Meet International Standards.” [国際基準の医師を育てるACGME-I]

As the medical community in Japan is the primary audience for the article, an overview of medical education in the United States in comparison with the system in Japan was provided. This included a detailed summary of the role of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the affiliated organization of ACGME-I that accredits GME in the United States, as well as of ACGME-I activities.

Achievement of both institutional and program accreditation, “places Kameda among the few facilities capable of providing programs with internationally recognized quality while meeting Japanese training requirements,” states the article.

Kameda General Hospital Director Dr. Toshiaki Kameda said, “The process leading up to ACGME-I accreditation was a valuable opportunity to learn about global medical education standards and verify whether Kameda’s educational content is appropriate in comparison with international standards.”

The article addressed education as a core area of focus for Kameda in its pursuit of ACGME-I accreditation, noting that, “many [Kameda] physicians have overseas experience and a passion for education,” and that the institution has focused on improving its educational environment.

Dr. Ueda, who is the program director and department head for anesthesiology, helped advance Kameda’s education program based on the ACGME framework, which contributed greatly to the achievement of ACGME-I institutional accreditation.

Dr. Nogi, who is the designated institutional official and the program director and department head for internal medicine, explained that “by gaining ACGME-I accreditation and demonstrating [the program’s] adherence to an international curriculum, the department hoped to be subject to objective review.”

“By building a system like this, [residents] who work hard for three years at Kameda can be sent out into society as quality-assured physicians,” said Dr. Nogi. “This will improve the overall quality of medical care and contribute to society.”

Since achieving ACGME-I accreditation, the number of applications to the anesthesiology program, from both Japan and overseas, has increased. “A program that meets international standards is attractive to [learners] from overseas,” Dr. Ueda said. “I'm amazed at the level of interest.”

He also noted that accreditation for the anesthesiology program has created opportunities for its graduates already. “Until now, it was difficult for overseas observers to see what kind of education was being provided in Japan, which may have led to concerns about acceptance,” the article continued. “However, ACGME-I program accreditation seems to provide a guarantee that doctors can be accepted with confidence, as more hospitals are offering favorable fellowship conditions, and some even immediately asking for staff physician positions.”

As Japan's first ACGME-I-accredited institution, Kameda has, according to the article, gained a role in “communicating the unique characteristics of Japan’s medical field internationally.” Emphasizing the recognition of local context, the doctors added that “ACGME-I itself has demonstrated a flexible stance,” adding that the relationship is based on “mutual understanding.”

As a message to future physicians, the two physician leaders interviewed in the article hope Kameda’s accreditation will provide a model for other institutions and make the institution a beacon for GME in Japan. Describing it as the “plant the seeds,” Dr. Nogi said he hopes Kameda residents will “receive broad training in an internationally recognized program and leave with solid skills.”

Dr. Ueda added: “I want Kameda to become an international hub where doctors from Japan who wish to study clinically abroad will first come to Kameda, and doctors from overseas who come to study here will also say, 'Studying at Kameda is the best option’.”