Naoko Ose1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; 2VATS Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. VATS Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: vats@amegroups.com
This interview can be cited as: Ose N, Yeo JY. Meeting the Editorial Board Member of VATS: Dr. Naoko Ose. Video-assist Thorac Surg. 2025. Available from: https://vats.amegroups.org/post/view/meeting-the-editorial-board-member-of-vats-dr-naoko-ose.
Expert introduction
Dr. Naoko Ose (Figure 1) is one of the few female general thoracic surgeons in Japan, with a keen interest in thoracoscopic and robotic surgery procedures performed with a minimally invasive approach. Following completion of her MD degree at Osaka University and after residency there as a member of the Department of Surgery and General Thoracic Surgery along with affiliated institutions, Dr. Ose performed a profound study regarding thoracoscopic surgery at Osaka Toneyama Medical Center. She is currently a Lecturer and Chief of the medical staff of the Department of General Thoracic Surgery at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.
Dr. Ose’s present research activities are focused on inflammatory thoracic disease, as well as surgical treatment of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infection and empyema, outcomes of surgery for myasthenia gravis, and education regarding minimally invasive surgery for thoracic diseases. She is a member of the council of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.
Figure 1 Dr. Naoko Ose
Interview
VATS: What inspired you to pursue a career in thoracic surgery, and focus on inflammatory thoracic diseases, non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infections, and empyema, among other areas?
Dr. Ose: When I was a resident, I trained at a facility that performed many surgeries for inflammatory diseases. I learned that surgical procedures and treatment methods for the same disease can be quite different depending on the case. I was fascinated by the surgical treatment of infectious disease surgery, which is much more difficult than lung cancer surgery and where the surgeon's experience has a significant impact on the operation. I think it was significant that I was able to study under very skilled and expert doctors.
VATS: As one of the few female general thoracic surgeons in Japan, can you share some of the challenges and rewards you have encountered in your career?
Dr. Ose: After all, I became a surgeon at a time when female surgeons were less trusted, so I had a very hard time gaining the trust of my patients when I was young. But fortunately, I was blessed with a lot of bosses who trained me as a surgeon regardless of my gender. In addition, many patients were my mentors and the source of my fulfillment. I want to be a role model so that there will be fewer young doctors who suffered like me. Even now, I find it rewarding to be able to perform new techniques and to see my patients recovering.
VATS: You have a strong focus on minimally invasive techniques, such as thoracoscopic and robotic surgeries. What excites you the most about these approaches, and how have they evolved over the years in terms of safety and patient outcomes?
Dr. Ose: I believe that minimally invasive surgery can lead to good patient outcomes not only in terms of treatment, but also in terms of quality of life. But for this to be achieved, it is essential for surgeons to improve their skills. In order to improve our techniques, I think it is an advantage in this era that we can study the surgeries of many expert surgeons on the Internet and contact them for coaching. I believe that instruments will continue to advance and evolve to make many techniques more accessible to more thoracic surgeons.
VATS: What are some of the most significant advances in thoracoscopic and robotic surgery that you have witnessed during your career? Do you see any emerging technologies or techniques on the horizon that could further improve these procedures?
Dr. Ose: It was a turning point in my life when I encountered uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), which can be performed with smaller wounds and the same quality as before. When I started uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), I felt that the methods and techniques of uniportal VATS were very useful. I look forward to the emergence of new and better devices.
VATS: What are your current and future research goals, and how do you see them influencing the landscape of thoracic surgery in the coming years?
Dr. Ose: I would like to contribute to evidence-building by documenting the outcomes of various minimally invasive surgery. I am also participating in diversity-related initiatives in several departments, and I hope to reflect this in the field of general thoracic surgery to help young doctors in the future.
VATS: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of VATS?
Dr. Ose: It was a good experience for me to be involved in reviewing papers and submitting my own original papers.
VATS: What are your expectations and aspirations for VATS?
Dr. Ose: I hope that more original articles will be published in VATS to increase the impact factor.