3Proctoring System

Proctoring System

For the safe introduction of robot-assisted cardiac surgery, surgical guidance for initial cases will be provided by proctors as defined below.

Proctor Qualification Certification

Must have a track record of performing at least 50 da Vinci-assisted cardiac surgeries as a console surgeon
The Council will assess the instructor's competence based on submitted materials.

Competence as an instructor means the following:

Possess extensive knowledge and experience in procedures using da Vinci
Ability to provide appropriate instructions to assistant surgeons and da Vinci surgical team staff
Possess sufficient knowledge and judgment ability regarding complications and troubles that may occur during surgery

Foreign physicians who meet the above requirements may be certified as proctors by the Council.

Application Materials for Proctor Qualification Certification

Curriculum vitae (A4, 1 page, free format)
Case list: List
Submission of surgical records and discharge summaries for all applicable cases to verify surgical experience and complications
Submission of echocardiography findings at discharge
Submission of unedited videos of the latest 3 consecutive surgical cases

If, upon review of the above application documents, it is determined that further surgical experience or improvement is necessary, reapplication is possible after meeting the specified conditions.

Certified Proctors

Go Watanabe (NewHeart Watanabe Institute)

Norihiko Ishikawa (NewHeart Watanabe Institute)

Junjiro Kobayashi (National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center) *Under confirmation

Tomoyuki Fujita (Tokyo University of Science)

Jae Won Lee (Asan Medical Center, Korea) *Under confirmation

Nai-Hsin Chi (National Taiwan University, Taiwan) *Under confirmation

Yoshitsugu Nakamura (Chibanishi General Hospital)

Yasushi Yoshikawa (Tottori University Hospital)

Yosuke Takahashi (Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital)

Makoto Hashimoto (Sapporo Cardio Vascular Clinic)

Tomoki Shimokawa (Teikyo University Hospital)

Tadashi Kitamura (Jichi Medical University)

Satsuki Fukushima (National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center)

Naonori Kawamoto (National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center)

Hiroshi Tsuneyoshi (Shizuoka General Hospital)

*When inviting foreign physician proctors who do not hold a Japanese medical license, the facility must clarify the surgical responsibilities of the foreign physician proctor, taking into account Japanese medical law.

When requesting a proctor, the facility must enter into a contract with the proctor.

Cadaver Training

Cadaver training instructors are certified by the Council from among proctor-qualified individuals who have received instructor training.
The cadaver training instructor signs the completion certificate issued by the hosting facility.

Cadaver training facility: Fujita Health University Hospital (as of April 2025)

Cadaver training instructor: Norihiko Ishikawa (as of April 2025)