Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine (Nagoya University School of Medicine) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) have continued to promote research and educational exchange, with a particular focus on geriatric medicine and community-based care. In 2025, we held the Japan-U.S. joint symposium "Aging and the Family" at UNC, bringing together experts across multiple fields--including medicine, nursing, public health, and social work--to discuss how best to support older adults in rapidly aging societies.

As the second phase of this ongoing initiative, Nagoya University will host the Aging in the Community International Symposium this year. By sharing Japan's practices in community-based integrated care and insights from clinical and long-term care settings, the symposium aims to foster the "next step" in Japan-U.S. collaboration in research and education on challenges common to both countries.

Purpose

As populations age rapidly around the world, strengthening medical care, long-term care, prevention strategies, and community resources to support older adults has become an urgent priority. In Japan in particular, efforts to advance community-based integrated care, expand the use of digital health, prevent frailty and dementia, and improve serious illness and end-of-life care are evolving on a daily basis, requiring closer integration between healthcare systems and communities.

This symposium will bring together Japan-U.S. experts led by Nagoya University and UNC-Chapel Hill to discuss community-based support for older adults ("Aging in the Community") from perspectives of research, education, and clinical practice. Through dialogue that transcends differences in systems, culture, and context, we aim to generate practical ideas and seeds for future collaboration.

Dates

• Monday, March 23, 2026 (full day): International symposium / lectures

• Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (full day): International symposium at NCGG

• Thursday, March 26, 2026 (morning): International symposium / lectures

Venue

• March 23 (Mon): Toyoda Auditorium (Symposion Conference Room), Higashiyama Campus, Nagoya University

• March 25 (Wed): Education and Innovation Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG)

• March 26 (Thu): Kakuyu Hall (2F), Tsurumai Campus, Nagoya University

How to Participate

• Free of charge / advance registration required

• Registration site (Microsoft Forms): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/TyRzmgiBy5）

Seats are limited and registration may close once capacity is reached.

Organizers

Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine (Department of Geriatric Medicine / Office of International Affairs / International Medical Education)
UNC-Chapel Hill (UNC Global Affairs / UNC Center for Aging and Health)

Co-organizer / Support

Japan Foundation

Program Overview

March 23 (Mon): International Symposium (Toyoda Auditorium, Symposion Conference Room)

• Opening remarks and symposium overview (Nagoya University × UNC-Chapel Hill)

• Lecture session: Japan's healthcare system, community-based integrated care, and social implementation of digital health

• Lecture session: Prevention of dementia and frailty; community-based support models

March 25 (Wed): International Symposium at NCGG (National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu)

• Lecture session: Dementia prevention (multidomain interventions) and long-term care systems

• Lecture session: Genomic research and longitudinal studies on aging (e.g., NILS-LSA)

• Lecture session: Care technologies/robotics and advance care planning (ACP)

March 26 (Thu): International Symposium (Kakuyu Hall, 2F)

• Lecture session: Aging and the Brain / Technology for health promotion / Community mobility

• Lecture session: Frailty prevention (including collaboration with community pharmacies) / Palliative care models / Geriatric nutrition (Geriatric Nutrition)

This symposium is part of a continuing initiative that began at UNC and serves as a joint project to sustain and further develop the partnership between our two institutions.

Contact

Office of International Affairs, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University

E-mail: med-intl@t.mail.nagoya-u.ac.jp

TEL: +81-52-744-2507