title: Japanese Board Certification System for head and neck surgeons.
abstract: The Japan Society for Head and Neck Surgery (JSHNS) started a board certification system for head and neck surgeons in 2010. To become certified, the following qualification and experiences are required: (1) board certification as otorhinolaryngologist, (2) 2 years of clinical experience in a board-certified training facility, (3) clinical care of 100 patients with head and neck cancer under the supervision of board-certified faculty and (4) surgical experience in 50 major head and neck surgical procedures, including 20 neck dissections, under the supervision of board-certified faculty. The following scientific activities are also required during the preceding 5 years: (1) two clinical papers on head and neck cancers presented at major scientific meetings, (2) one clinical paper on head and neck cancer published in a major journal, (3) attendance at two annual meetings of JSHNS and (4) enrolment in three educational programs approved by JSHNS. The qualifying examination consists of multiple choice tests and oral examinations. A total of 151 head and neck surgeons were certified in 2010 followed by 43 in 2011 and 34 in 2012, while the membership of JSHNS dramatically increased from 1201 in 2007 to 1748 in 2013. Although the board certification system for head and neck surgeons was started only recently, it has encouraged many residents and fellows as well as established head and neck surgeons. We believe that this system will contribute to further advancement in the clinical practice for head and neck cancers in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan. Electronic address: seyoshim@ncc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kyushu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Torahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Miyagi Cancer Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asakage
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanai
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hokkaido University, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Shikoku Cancer Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Monden
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokai University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okami
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugasawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nibu
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-etsu
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kamata
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Kyorin University, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hokkaido University, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hisa
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007564:Japan; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D012955:Societies, Medical
keywords: Board certification; Curriculum; Examination; Training facility