What is your role at your work?
After working as a physician for years, I now work as a full-time consultant. I am also involved in an organization to facilitate online management of hypertension. I support   governments and companies on healthcare services, health data utilization, and digital transformation.

How did you get interested in your career path?
I believed that receiving and providing care would be much easier and more efficient if we could share information properly. With experience in the clinical and research fields, I took an opportunity to contribute to a broader target using my medical background.

What are you most proud of in your career or otherwise?
I tried to do what needed to be done. I have continued working to try to help in my own way.

What important career challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
During COVID when schools closed, my husband and I took turns watching over our children at home. It made me realize how much I depended on the support around me to be able to work. With my career change, I thought I may be able to help medical professionals choose more diverse ways of working through technology and policy.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Do not worry, but act. Communicate with people. It will be fine.

Highlight your most significant research contributions and publications (3-5) – if relevant to you.
My most memorable publications:

• The current state and future of internet technology-based hypertension management in Japan. Yatabe J, Yatabe MS, Ichihara A. Hypertens Res, 2021.
• The (pro)renin receptor in health and disease. Ichihara A, Yatabe MS. Nat Rev Nephrol, 2019.
• Effects of a high-sodium diet on renal tubule Ca2+ transporter and claudin expression in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Yatabe MS, Yatabe J, Takano K, Murakami Y, Sakuta R, Abe S, Sanada H, Kimura J, Watanabe T. BMC Nephrol. 2012.

Have you had any significant career mentors? If yes, please provide further details.
Prof Kimura has been my role model since I was a student. Prof Watanabe and Prof Ichihara have provided me with opportunities to explore both clinical and research fields and to meet people. Dr Jose and Dr Felder showed me the research life in US. There are many mentors / role models / discussion partners / colleagues that I am thankful for.

How can we support the next generation of women scientists?
Leverage technology but value in-person contact. In my case, the internet helped me gain information about research and researchers but being able to meet them in person at conferences assured me that they are human beings, not superheroes or gods that they seem to be from their publications.