Senadhipan Education Foundation is an educational initiative by Prof Baiju Senadhipan, which was established in 2012 to impart knowledge and skills in laparoscopic surgery to aspiring surgeons worldwide. The foundation organises many academic activities across surgical specialities and brings both national and international faculty on a common platform. During the COVID pandemic, academic activities went online with multiple webinars being conducted and engaging a large audience and an exemplary range of faculty from across the globe. The foundation has extended a commendable effort in organizing short fellowship programs in various GI surgical specialities, like minimal access pancreatic surgery, liver, colorectal and upper GI surgery, which enables aspiring candidates to visit high-volume centres performing advanced minimal access operations and technically advanced and complex oncological procedures.
I applied for the SEF-International Fellowship in HPB Surgery with Prof Nagakawa Yuichi at Tokyo University Hospital, Japan, the results of which were declared in June – July 2022. I was fortunate to be selected for the same and was one of the first to visit Prof Nagakawa at Tokyo Medical University Hospital in the month of November 2022. The centre is a high-volume pancreatic surgery centre with one of the highest numbers of laparoscopic and robotic pancreatic resections being performed across Japan. In my visit of four weeks at the Institute, I observed and assisted multiple robotic and laparoscopic pancreatic and gastric resections and complex resections for locally advanced pancreatic cancers. Prof Nagakawa and his team were extremely kind and approachable. He took the time to explain the procedure to us and was extremely patient with our questions. Prof Okozono and Prof Chie from his team were very kind and helpful and made our time at their Institute comfortable and worthwhile. The entire team was very welcoming and warm. The efforts of Prof Baiju Senadhipan, in organizing this fellowship are appreciable. It is a huge effort that will benefit any candidate selected for the fellowship program. I sincerely express my gratitude to the Senadhipan Education Foundation, Prof Baiju Senadhipan and Prof Nagakawa Yuichi and his team for a memorable time and an exceptional learning experience at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital.
