[April 2025] Establishment of doctoral programs ~ Graduate Graduate School of Nursing and Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science

Japan's healthcare and welfare sector is undergoing a significant paradigm shift in care amid the rise in chronic diseases and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies. In particular, from the perspective of long-term care, diverse and advanced care is required to prevent and coexist with disease while maintaining social life. However, while the importance of nursing professionals with advanced knowledge is increasing, the shortage of faculty members at nursing universities is a serious issue. In particular, the Keihanshin region continues to experience a shortage of faculty members, especially those with doctorates, and there is an urgent need to train educators and researchers. Hyogo Medical University is committed to cultivating nursing professionals capable of interprofessional education and community healthcare. Through postgraduate education programs and support for clinical nursing research, we aim to improve the practical skills of nursing professionals. By establishing a doctoral program, we aim to cultivate human resources with a global and interdisciplinary perspective in addition to these practical nursing skills.

*With the establishment of the Doctoral Program in the Graduate Graduate School of Nursing, the Master's Program in this department will be changed to a Master's Program and reorganized into the Master's and Doctoral Programs.

Changes in Japan's demographics are forcing the medical, health, and welfare fields to move away from traditional treatment-centered approaches and toward a new direction that emphasizes disease prevention and extending healthy lifespans. In response to these changes, the rehabilitation field is placing greater emphasis on prevention and health promotion in addition to the treatment of disease and disabilities. To this end, we have established a doctoral program in the Graduate Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, aiming to cultivate highly specialized personnel and scientifically explore rehabilitation interventions that meet the needs of local communities. Furthermore, we aim to contribute to the advancement of rehabilitation science through basic, clinical, and applied research, and to return the results to society and education.