Deep Dive Series 2022: "Covid-19- Back in the box or still on the loose?"

Gautam Deshpande
US-board certified physician and founding Vice Dean of the St. Luke's International University Graduate School of Public Health
Thomas Lomax
Practicing physician who managed during the Covid-19 a pandemic a subscription medical support service for various institutions in Japan

An "eighth wave" of the Covid pandemic is washing over Japan, coinciding with the approach of the winter influenza seasoned raising concerns over the possibility of a "twindemic" of coronavirus and flu.  The pace of increase in new Covid cases has shown signs of slowing recently but with an easing of border controls some experts have flagged the possibility of new variants slipping into Japan. Already there is caution over new omicron strains. The XBB and BQ.1 variants, for example, have been spreading elsewhere and are seen to have high immune evasion.

Deep Dive has invited two prominent experts who have previously appeared at the FCCJ to discuss the latest situation and prospects for the future - how serious (or otherwise) the latest wave might prove to be, what precautions need to be taken, vaccination policy, masking policy etc. Do not miss this opportunity to get up date.

Dr. GAUTAM DESHPANDE: A US-board certified internal medicine physician who did undergraduate and masters training at Stanford University and holds an MD from the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine.  He has been working in Japan for 12 years, caring for the foreign community as staff internist at St. Luke’s International Hospital and as the Post Medical Advisor for the US Embassy. He was founding Vice Dean of the St. Luke's International University Graduate School of Public Health and is a Professor of General Internal Medicine at Juntendo University. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed scientific articles with recently published work on Covid vaccine efficacy in the Japanese population and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He will be joining Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic as a partner early in the New Year.

Dr. THOMAS LOMAX: Managed during the Covid-19 pandemic a subscription medical support service for institutions including the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIC), several embassies and foreign companies based in Tokyo. He a partner at the Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic, a facility with a 70 year history of providing care for the foreign community in Japan.  He graduated from London University (Royal Free Hospital) in 2000 and worked in Surgery and Emergency Medicine in St. Georges Hospital, London, for five years. Subsequently he trained in general practice and passed the MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) exam in 2008 and shortly after moved to Tokyo where he has practiced since.

Please indicate when signing up whether you will attend on-line or in-person.

In-person attendance
FCCJ Members: 450 yen (including tax), coffee or tea included
Non-members: 1,650 yen (including tax), coffee or tea included

Online attendance (via Zoom):
FCCJ Members: free of charge
Non-members: 550 yen per person (including tax)

Details on how to join online will be sent to individual emails by Monday, December 12.

Non-members and FCCJ members can reserve at the reception desk by email front@fccj.or.jp
Members should Log in to confirm attendance.
Payment by Non-members must be made in advance by 3PM, Monday, December 12.

No refund is available unless the event is cancelled by FCCJ.
Member reservations cancelled less than 24 hours before the event will be charged in full.
We kindly ask for your cooperation with Covid-19 prevention measures at the reception and to wear a mask in the premises.

Thank you.

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