Atrium Health Navicent and the Mercer University School of Medicine are hosting nine visitors from Kurobe City Hospital for the 18th year of a unique medical exchange rooted in a 45-year sister city partnership between Macon-Bibb County and Kurobe, Japan.

Each year since 2003 — with the exception of a two-year pause during the COVID-19 pandemic — resident physicians, nurses and other health care providers from Kurobe City Hospital have visited Atrium Health Navicent and Mercer University, and physicians and nurses from Atrium Health Navicent and Mercer University have traveled to Kurobe City Hospital to share their knowledge and learn from their international counterparts. Two visitors from Kurobe traveled to Macon earlier this year for an administrative visit in preparation for the larger team’s arrival this fall.

To date, 81 medical residents, 15 nurses and five health care providers from Kurobe have visited Macon-Bibb County, and 52 physicians and 20 nurses from Macon-Bibb County have visited Kurobe. Online meetings have continued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited to resume these visits and continue our sister-city partnership, sharing knowledge and our common purpose to improve health. In addition to the health care knowledge sharing, the cultural exchange between the visitors is invaluable,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Medical Officer Patrice Walker. “We’re proud to welcome back

The sister city relationship between Macon and Kurobe was established in 1977 with the support of YKK, whose manufacturing headquarters is located in Kurobe. YKK’s Atlanta office opened in 1970, making it one of the first Japanese companies to set up operations in Georgia. YKK’s Macon plant opened in 1974. YKK remains an active supporter of this sister city relationship, including the medical exchange.