Atrium Health Navicent and the Mercer University School of Medicine are hosting visitors this fall from Kurobe City Hospital for the 20th year of a unique medical exchange rooted in a 47-year sister city partnership between Macon-Bibb County and Kurobe, Japan.

Each year since 2003 — with the exception of a 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.

Medical residents rotate through Macon, spending three to four weeks each, visiting to experience the innerworkings of the American health care system.

“Through the many advancements in health care technology and patient care over the past two decades, we value this ongoing opportunity to share and learn ways to help improve care provided to patients both here in Macon, and in Kurobe,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrice Walker. “We are excited to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and to support this partnership for many years to come.”

To date, 97 medical residents, 16 nurses and six health care providers from Kurobe have visited Macon Bibb County, and 56 physicians and 24 nurses from Macon-Bibb County have visited Kurobe.

“We are delighted to come back to Macon this fall to continue the Macon-Kurobe medical exchange program,” said Kurobe City Hospital’s Hospital Director Dr. Hirokazu Tsuji. “The exchange is in its 20th year and constitutes the core of our educational program for residents, nurses and other health care providers. We would like to give our gratitude to Mr. Delvecchio Finley from Atrium Health Navicent, Dr. Jean Sumner from Mercer University, administration, faculty and staff on both sides, YKK and Macon-Bibb County for showing understanding for this program.”

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 the sister city relationship, including the medical exchange.