Reimagining Regional Healthcare — Reflecting on My Mission as a Physician and Entrepreneur
Kenichiro Konno (Class of 2025)
– Could you briefly introduce yourself?
I was born in Miyagi Prefecture, my father is an architect and my mother a nurse. In my teenage years, I dreamed of becoming either a pianist or a scholar in literature or sociology. Eventually, realizing my limits in music, I decided to follow in my mother’s footsteps and pursue medicine, entering medical school.
After graduation, I spent eight years as a clinical physician in hospitals in Okinawa and Tokyo, devoting myself fully to the care of each patient. Yet, being someone who enjoys deep, solitary pursuits like music and literature, I gradually developed a desire to build something of my own rather than remain a member of a large organization. In 2018, at the age of 35, I took over a family clinic in Tochigi Prefecture that had been passed down for three generations and had served the community for nearly half a century. That marked the start of my journey as an independent physician and entrepreneur.
At first, I thought I would spend the rest of my career as a local family doctor, rooted in one community. However, once I immersed myself in regional healthcare, I was confronted with the reality that the average age of medical professionals in rural areas was extremely high. The average age of doctors in the district medical association I belonged to was around 70, and the regional medical infrastructure was aging far more rapidly than I had imagined—to put it bluntly, it was exhausted. Nationwide, the reality was that 90% of clinics and over 70% of hospitals had no successors.
The sense of crisis that the regional healthcare system would collapse if things continued as they were is what shifted my mindset from being a doctor to becoming a “manager.” In 2020, I established a medical corporation and began actively pursuing the business succession and revitalization of clinics without successors.
– Why did you choose Shizenkan among the many MBA programs available?
As I expanded my business, I encountered a new challenge—how to lead and grow an organization. To motivate my staff and guide the organization effectively, I realized that I needed to evolve beyond the mindset of an individual practitioner and grow as a true leader. I needed to enhance my management skills and broaden my perspective to build a strong organization capable of tackling the larger social challenge of revitalizing regional healthcare.
I had taken some specialized courses at other schools, but I soon realized that the traditional MBA frameworks and skill-based education alone were insufficient to address the complex realities of the healthcare field—or to help me reflect deeply on who I am as a leader.
Shizenkan stood out as a truly unique institution where management education is deeply integrated with the liberal arts. Its curriculum aims to go beyond the American-style MBA that prioritizes economic rationality, focusing instead on the cultivation of leadership rooted in values and humanity. I felt that this was the environment where I could grow into the kind of leader I aspired to be. Personally, the exceptionally distinguished humanities faculty was also a major draw.
– After actually studying here, how would you describe the value of learning at Shizenkan?
My two years at Shizenkan have far exceeded my expectations. The classes do not simply deliver knowledge; instead, we are constantly challenged with questions like, “What would you do?” and “What is your perspective?”—compelling each of us to think as an active agent.
Coming from a clinical background where I was trained to find the “right answer” in diagnosis and treatment, confronting questions without clear answers was both painful and profoundly stimulating. Whenever I voiced an opinion, professors and classmates would challenge me—“Is that really true?” “Could there be another way to see it?” Through this process, I became aware of my own biases and how limited my worldview had been.
Over time, however, I developed the ability to embrace diverse perspectives and to find my own inner compass for making decisions amid complexity. This was not theoretical knowledge—it was a live, transformative learning experience that could only happen at Shizenkan.
Throughout the program, I also had the chance to reflect deeply on what it means to be a person, a leader—with integrity, consistency, and authenticity. I was able to continue deeply reflecting on “integrity.” I realized I had become arrogant without even noticing: from a young age when I became a doctor, I was called “sensei” by those around me, and later simply by rising to positions like clinic director or company president, even without personal growth. Studying at Shizenkan allowed me to reexamine that attitude and truly feel that I still have room to grow.
– How has your work or career evolved since studying at Shizenkan?
Looking back, my two years at Shizenkan feet like a “pit stop” in an F1 race—a rare opportunity to step off the track of my daily medical and managerial routines, which often leave no time to pause, and to reflect on myself and my organization with a cool head.
In day-to-day operations, it’s easy to focus on the “how”—how to get things done. But at Shizenkan, we are constantly reminded to return to the “why” and “what”—why we do what we do, and what we should be doing in the first place. Discussing the future with classmates from diverse backgrounds, exchanging views, and gaining new perspectives felt like regularly tuning and maintaining the engine of my thinking. Through repeated “pit stops” to clear my head and return to daily life, I was able to connect the abstract concepts I learned at Shizenkan with the concrete realities of everyday work.
Through this process, I learned that leadership is not about pulling others forward from the top. It’s about drawing out the potential of diverse members and fostering a self-driven organization. For my Individual Project*, I was fortunate to work with an excellent mentor and a dedicated team, connecting our own business challenges with broader social issues and developing an actionable plan to bring our ideas to life.
– What message would you share with future Shizenkan applicants?
Japan’s healthcare and nursing care sectors are now at a major turning point—facing rising costs, outdated reimbursement systems, and declining outpatient numbers. The old days when “doing your job earnestly” was enough are over; today, sustaining a medical institution requires strategic and ethical leadership.
The future of healthcare will need leaders who combine clinical insight with business acumen—people who can envision the future of medicine and care from a societal perspective. I believe that increasing the number of professionals who possess both medical expertise and holistic management capabilities will help local communities thrive more sustainably.
Studying at Shizenkan is far more than acquiring management knowledge. It is a journey of refining your philosophy and humanity, cultivating the power to transform society beyond your professional field. I sincerely hope that those working in medicine, nursing, and caregiving will take on the challenge of learning here.
This year, together with Shizenkan students and alumni, we launched Medical Impact Night*, a public event that brings together healthcare professionals from both inside and outside the school. It was born from our desire to extend the learning and inspiration of Shizenkan into the medical community. Through this platform, we aim to connect and empower healthcare leaders who often feel isolated in their fields, creating opportunities to learn across boundaries. We plan to continue this series and welcome anyone interested to join us.
*At Shizenkan, instead of writing a master’s thesis, each student synthesizes their two years of learning into a Business Design Project that articulates their vision and concrete plans for the future.
**Medical Impact Night:
An open event for those who aspire to make a direct impact on the medical and healthcare challenges facing society. The event features practitioners who are pioneering new approaches in healthcare, nursing, and welfare, and provides participants with a space to share insights and explore the next steps together.