In 2014, the Johnson & Johnson Institute unveiled a state-of-the-art facility at King Skyfront, a hub for medical innovation located about 10 minutes from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The thinking was that the accessible location--combined with top-notch simulation training and education resources--would attract surgeons and physicians from across Asia and the world. Today, the Institute is proud to have hosted over 120,000 guests who have engaged in learning focused on advancing patient care across a range of medical specialties.

Cross-Specialty Training in a Realistic OR Environment

Originally named the Tokyo Science Center, the facility was renamed the Johnson & Johnson Institute Tokyo in 2017 to align with the mission of the 23 other Institutes on five continents that deliver education and training through on-site events or online courses.

At the Tokyo site, a variety of cross-specialty education and training programs are offered, including endoscopic surgery, endovascular and intracardiac therapy, as well as neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery. Courses are designed to simulate real-world experiences and include the use of realistic organ models to mimic the feel of operating on a live body part. 

Virtual Reality to Hone Skills

The Virtual Reality (VR) training program at the Institute is designed to prepare orthopedic surgeons and nurses for common procedures such as total knee replacement. “The hope is that using virtual reality to learn and practice surgical techniques will help improve clinical outcomes for patients,” explains Tim Mauri, Director, Worldwide Professional Education, Technology & Innovation, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. “All instruments and implants in the VR training modules are designed to simulate real-world experiences in a fully immersive operating room, while anatomy and biomechanics provide an accurate scenario for the user.”

Gather Insights to Advance Care

The mission of the Johnson & Johnson Institute Tokyo goes beyond providing excellence in professional education and training. It also plays an important role in gathering insights from the medical community in Japan and throughout Asia. This valuable data can then be used to understand unmet needs and inform Johnson & Johnson product innovation. 

“The history of Johnson & Johnson’s success in medical devices is closely linked to our commitment to professional education,” said Robert (Kip) DeWitt, Vice President, ETHICON Japan. “Today, in a world where medical technology and knowledge are rapidly advancing and increasingly complex, access to leading experts and hands-on training for innovations is more important than ever. We are grateful to all of those who have contributed to the success of the Tokyo Science Center, now renamed as Johnson & Johnson Institute Tokyo, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

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