Kentaro Iwata
{{short description|Japanese physician and infectious diseases expert at Kobe University}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Kentaro Iwata
| native_name = 岩田 健太郎
| native_name_lang = ja
| image =
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| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1971}}
| birth_place = Shimane Prefecture, Japan{{Cite web |url=https://dot.asahi.com/columnist/profile/?author_id=iwatakentarou |title=岩田健太郎＜コラムニストプロフィール＞ |publisher=Asahi Shimbun |work=AERAdot. |access-date=2020-02-19 |language=ja}}
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| fields = infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS), tropical medicine, travel medicine{{cite web | url= https://www.hosp.kobe-u.ac.jp/e/consultation/guide/department/kansen.html | title= For Those Who SeekTreatment at Kobe University Hospital | work= Kobe University Hospital | access-date= 22 March 2020 | archive-date= 10 December 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161210041520/http://www.hosp.kobe-u.ac.jp/e/consultation/guide/department/kansen.html | url-status= dead }}
| workplaces = Mount Sinai Beth Israel
{{ill|Kameda Medical Center|ja|亀田総合病院}}
Kobe University
{{ill|Kobe University Hospital|ja|神戸大学医学部附属病院}}
| alma_mater = Shimane Medical University
| known_for =
| spouse =
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{{nihongo|Kentaro Iwata|岩田 健太郎|Iwata Kentarō|extra=born 1971}} is a Japanese physician, professor and infectious diseases expert at Kobe University.
Career
After his graduation from the Shimane Medical University (present-day Medical Faculty of Shimane University) in 1997, Iwata became a medical intern worked at {{ill|Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital|ja|沖縄県立中部病院}}.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-22 |url=https://medical.nikkeibp.co.jp/leaf/all/cadetto/magazine/kouhei/201011/517396.html |title=岩田健太郎（神戸大学大学院医学系研究科感染治療学分野教授） |publisher=Nikkei BP |access-date=2020-02-19 |language=ja}}{{Cite web |url=https://carenetv.carenet.com/instructor/detail.php?instructor_id=4 |title=講師情報：岩田 健太郎（いわた けんたろう） |publisher=CareNeTV |access-date=2020-02-19 |language=ja}} In the next year, he became a medical intern worked at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital of Columbia University.
Iwata started his career as an internist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in 2001. In 2004, he returned to Japan and hired by {{ill|Kameda Medical Center|ja|亀田総合病院}}, he was appointed the head of Division of Infectious Disease, head of Comprehensive Medical Infectious Diseases. Since 2008 he served as Clinical Department Head Professor of Kobe University.
COVID-19 outbreak
{{see also|COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships|Diamond Princess (ship)}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the cruise ship Diamond Princess was quarantined in the Port of Yokohama in Japan. Iwata strongly criticised the management of the situation in two widely circulated YouTube videos published on 18 February.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-quarantine-on-cruise-ship-ends-healthy-passengers-cleared-to-leave-11582088083 |title='I Was So Scared': Infectious Disease Doctor's Day on Japan's Coronavirus Cruise Ship |last1=Bhattacharya |first1=Suryatapa |date=19 February 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/19/coronavirus-diamond-princess-exodus-begins-amid-criticism-over-quarantine |title=Coronavirus: Diamond Princess exodus begins amid criticism over quarantine |last1=McCurry |first1=Justin |date=19 February 2020 |work=The Guardian}} In videos, he described the conditions of quarantined Diamond Princess as "completely chaotic",{{cite news|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/scientist-decries-completely-chaotic-conditions-cruise-ship-japan-quarantined-after |title=Scientist decries 'completely chaotic' conditions on cruise ship Japan quarantined after viral outbreak |last1=Normile |first1=Dennis |date=19 February 2020 |work=Science}}{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/19/national/video-covid-19-controls-diamond-princess/ |title=Expert stirs controversy with video on 'inadequate' virus controls on Diamond Princess |last1=Yoshida |first1=Reiji |date=19 February 2020 |work=Japan Times}} and called the ship a "COVID-19 mill".{{cite news |last1=Sim |first1=Walter |title=Coronavirus: Did Japan miss the boat in containing Diamond Princess outbreak? |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/coronavirus-did-japan-miss-the-boat-in-containing-diamond-princess-outbreak |work=The Straits Times |date=19 February 2020}} Iwata briefly gained physical access to the ship, saying he observed no infection control measures in place. After being "kicked off" the ship after and then voluntarily quarantining himself, he stated "we have to do something about this cruise. We have to help people inside the ship."{{cite news |last=Schumaker |first=Erin |date=February 19, 2020|title=Japanese expert who sneaked onto Diamond Princess cruise ship describes 'zero infection control' for coronavirus |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/japanese-expert-sneaked-diamond-princess-describes-infection-control/story?id=69071246 |work=ABC News |location= |access-date=February 9, 2021 }} On 20 February, he deleted the videos himself, and said "there is no need for further discussing this". He also denied he had been pressured to delete the videos.{{cite news |title=Japan disease expert pulls videos blasting situation on virus-hit ship |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/02/4bbd92cd4f91-breaking-news-japan-scholar-removes-videos-blasting-situation-on-virus-hit-ship.html |work=Kyodo News |date=20 February 2020}}
In April 2020 he expressed pessimism that the Olympics could be held in 2021.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 20, 2020|title=Japan virus expert Kentaro Iwata 'pessimistic' Olympics can be held in 2021 |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/04/20/national/japan-expert-coronavirus-kentaro-iwata-pessimistic-olympics-2021/ |work=Japan Times |location= |access-date=February 9, 2021 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|georgebest1969}}
- {{YouTube|channel=UCyj-zWW1MZIukBF7Aqrj0VA|kentaro iwata}}
{{Authority control}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iwata, Kentaro}}
Category:Japanese medical researchers
Category:Academic staff of Kobe University