East Meets West as Cultures Unite for Children's Cancer Research

COLUMBUS, Ga., Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the number one provider of supplemental insurance in the United States, and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta today welcomed Dr. Yosuke Hosoya from St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo, for a six-month exchange of ideas. Dr. Hosoya's presence is part of the TOMODACHI project; an international public-private partnership sponsored in part by Aflac, which enables health care providers from the U.S. and Japan to share best practices from both countries related to the care and treatment of children with cancer.  Dr. Hosoya will spend six months working with Emory's Department of Pediatrics, while observing clinical activities within the Aflac Cancer Center.

"We are pleased that the pediatric cancer center that bears our name is not only recognized as a leading cancer center in the U.S., but is also working with representatives who can take the best practices and ideas back to Japan, where Aflac maintains a significant presence," Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos said. "We appreciate the unique opportunity for collaboration and exchange of ideas our philanthropic and business interests have created. Patients and their families in both countries will benefit greatly from this cooperative endeavor."

"We look forward to welcoming the first TOMODACHI recipient, Dr. Yosuke Hosoya from St Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo. Through this joint mission between doctors and scientists in the United States and Japan we hope to generate the best treatment protocols possible for childhood cancer across the world," Director of Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Professor at Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. William G. Woods said. "Unfortunately, childhood cancer has no boundaries, and neither should the sharing and development of knowledge that may someday lead to that elusive cure. The TOMODACHI project highlights the type of cooperation we must have in order to ensure that children with cancer can someday raise children of their own."

TOMODACHI is a medical exchange program between the United States and Japan designed to lay the foundation for broader understanding of research and treatment protocols for childhood cancer. Specialists are invited from Japan to partake in on-site training in the United States and to share knowledge and perspectives from training and procedures in Japan. An ultimate goal is to further develop relationships between providers at Emory and in Japan to maximize results in both countries. Dr. Hosoya will spend significant time at the Aflac Cancer Center's Scottish Rite and Egleston facilities, where he will gain hands-on experience learning American protocols, while sharing his knowledge from the Japanese perspective.

While research and treatment improvements have enabled childhood cancer survival rates to soar to better than 75 percent in recent years, it still remains the number on cause of death by illness for people 15 years old or under. Approximately 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. Since 1995, Aflac has raised and contributed more than $80 million for the Aflac Cancer Center and for childhood cancer facilities across the nation. The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in Atlanta is recognized by the U.S. News and World Reports as a top pediatric cancer facility in the nation.

About Dr. Yosuke Hosoya
Dr. Yosuke Hosoya graduated from the Medical School of Tohoku University in 2002 and completed his preliminary training at Japanese Red Cross Medical Center at Hiroo, Tokyo. He conducted his advanced-stage training at the National Center for Child Health and Development. During this time, he learned the basic medical techniques and treated numerous cancer-affected children, acquiring diagnostic and medical treatment expertise for pediatric cancer. In 2011, Dr. Hosoya joined the Pediatrics Department of St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo, where his practice focuses on pediatric hematology and oncology. He belongs to LCH (Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis) Committee of JPLSG (Japan Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group); a national society for pediatric hematologic tumors.

About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For nearly six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one life insurance company in terms of individual policies in force. Aflac individual and group insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For seven consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2013, FORTUNE magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 15th consecutive year. Also, in 2013, FORTUNE magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 12th time, ranking the company number one in the life and health insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.

Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

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SOURCE Aflac