When Junji Machi was ten years old, he already knew what he wanted to do in life. “My dream is to go to the US and become a surgeon,” he confidently told his parents.
Fast forward to today and true to his word, Dr. Junji Machi is a general surgeon at Kuakini Medical Center on O‘ahu. Over the past forty-seven years, he has performed more than ten thousand surgeries and is one of the pioneers to utilize ultrasound tools in surgery in the US. But not only is he a surgeon, he is a professor of surgery and a director at the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).
Why the interest in medicine at such a young age? “While growing up in Yokohama, I watched the American medical drama series Ben Casey on TV and I was inspired to be a surgeon like Dr. Casey,” he explained. “My father was also a big influence because he was a surgeon and ran a small hospital next to our house.”
In the Right Place at the Right Time
In 1977, Dr. Machi graduated with a doctor of medicine degree from Juntendo University, one of the oldest schools of western medical education in Japan. After graduation, he did four years of residency training at the Okinawa Chubu Hospital and then went to the University of Illinois Chicago in 1981 as a research fellow. He received both his master of science degree in surgery (1982) and his PhD in pathology (1984) from the University of Illinois Chicago.
The year 1982 was a very memorable one for Dr. Machi. His mentor, playing the role of matchmaker, introduced Dr. Machi to Takako, a relative who was visiting from Japan. He quickly became enamored with her and proposed two months later! Takako accepted his proposal on condition that her dream of living in Hawai‘i would become a reality once he finished his residency. Dr. Machi promised her that he would follow through and they were married that same year.
Education, A Lifelong Passion
Another “love” that Dr. Machi holds dear in his heart is education. Two years after receiving his PhD, he was hired as an assistant professor at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. From 1989, he spent the next five years doing his surgical residency in Pennsylvania and was selected to be the recipient of the Resident Achievement Award by the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.
With his residency completed in 1995, Dr. Machi kept his promise to his wife. He moved his family from the mainland when he accepted a position as an associate professor of surgery at the University of Hawai‘i.
Living Aloha
Currently, Dr. Machi is the director of the Office of Global Health and International Medicine at JABSOM. His office is tasked with coordinating JABSOM’s efforts in global health issues as well as promoting international student and faculty exchange, medical education, and research. As a professor, he trains students in surgical procedures at Kuakini hospital and also travels to Japan every other month to teach American-style methods of medical education to Japanese university students.
Having two careers can be quite challenging, but through the years, Dr. Machi’s family has been very supportive of him. He and his wife have three children and four grandchildren who live on the mainland.
In his spare time, Dr. Machi likes to jog around Ala Moana Beach Park and watch dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy. He also enjoys watching Shohei Ohtani play baseball.
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LK: You mentioned that you and your wife became US citizens in 1998. At that time, you added Bernard as your middle name and your wife chose Grace as her first name. And now it is almost thirty years since your move to Hawai‘i! How do you feel about your life here?
JM: Yes, the years have flown by! I’m happy that my wife’s dream of living in Hawai‘i came true. For me, Hawai‘i is the ideal place to live for my surgical practice and for teaching in Japan as well as in the US. In Japan, teaching is done in traditional ways and difficult to change, while in the US/Hawai‘i, new teaching methods can be introduced more effectively and quickly.
LK: Regarding ultrasound technology, what are the advantages of using it?
JM: Ultrasound is much safer than other imaging methods. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, ultrasound doesn’t use radiation and there are no side effects. It is real-time imaging and so it can be used easily to guide various procedures.
LK: Can you tell us about your dream regarding space medicine?
JM: Sure, my dream is to one day perform surgery from Earth, using remote robotics and AI technology, on patients living on big space stations, the moon, Mars, and so on. Because of its portability and the advantages I mentioned above, ultrasound is the main diagnostic imaging tool in space medicine.
LK: What is the most fulfilling aspect of being a surgeon?
JM: While I acknowledge that not every disease can be cured, I firmly believe it is a physician’s duty to treat each patient with absolute compassion. I have always lived by this philosophy of care—and will continue to do so until the last moment of my life—because I find it incredibly rewarding to see my patients become healthy, happy, and satisfied with their surgical outcome.
LK: What is an important goal for you as an educator?
JM: I believe that teaching good patient care is a fundamental part of a student’s education. I see my role as an unconditional giving of my knowledge and experience to the next generation of care providers who will dedicate themselves to helping patients and their families. The progress that my students make is very satisfying to see. It may sound cliché, but I am happy when I am able to make others happy.
LK: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
JM: I actually have several quotes that I like. The first one is “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” Another one is “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” And the third quote is “Live as if you won’t wake up tomorrow. Dream as if you will live forever.”
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Be Bold
Dr. Machi’s story illustrates that you can dare to follow your dreams at any age. But often what stops us from following our dreams are self-imposed limitations. I have learned from my experiences that the key is believing in yourself. When you combine your inner strength with hard work and determination, you possess a winning formula to make your dreams come true.
© 2024 Lois Kajiwara
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