Utako Okamoto
Utako Okamoto | |
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antiplasmin | |
Research | blood / hemostasis |
Utako Okamoto (岡本歌子, Okamoto Utako, 1 April 1918 – 21 April 2016) was a Japanese medical doctor working as a
Education
Okamoto began studying dentistry in 1936. She very soon switched to medicine enrolling at the Tokyo Women's Medical University and graduated in December 1941.[1]
Career
In January 1942, Okamoto started out as a research assistant at Tokyo Women's Medical University researching the cerebellum[1] under a neurophysiologist who "created many more opportunities for [women] than were otherwise available at the time."[2] After World War II and the
In 1966, Okamoto was granted a chair at Kobe Gakuin University. In 1980, she founded a local Committee for Projects on Thrombosis and Haemostasis with Shosuke, who also worked at Kobe. She retired from the University in 1990. After her husband died in 2004, she led the committee until 2014. She could never persuade obstetricians to trial the drug in post-partum hemorrhage.[1]
Achievements
Tranexamic acid's value remained unappreciated for years, and it was not until 2009, that it was included on the
In 2010, a large
Obstacles
In male dominated Japan, Okamoto had to fight against sexism. She had a supervisor sympathetic to women in science during the early stages of her career.[1]
However she and a coworker were asked to leave a pediatric conference, because the event was not for "women and children" (onna kodomo),[1] a term she said in a 2012 interview she had never heard before.[7]: 4:00 [8] After she had presented her research for the first time, the male audience members ridiculed her by asking if she was going to dance for them.[2][7]: 5:17-5:38
In the video interview, Okamoto said: "Men are always aware of the fundamental differences between men and women, and so cannot help but think of themselves as superior. So I used that to my advantage by stroking their egos. [...] Until [I had a child] I could compensate for the disadvantages of being a woman by working longer hours—10 hours per day instead of the 8 that the men worked."
Personal life
Utako Okamoto was married to Shosuke Okamoto and at her death was survived by one daughter, Kumi Nakamura.[1] She had one miscarriage, which she said was not related to overworking but "coming home late from work".[7]: 7:30 Ian Roberts, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the
See also
References
- ^ PMID 27308678.
- ^ a b c "Bringing women to the forefront of science and medicine". The Lancet. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ Paul Carless (25 November 2008). "PROPOSAL FOR THE INCLUSION OF TRANEXAMIC ACID (ANTI-FIBRINOLYTIC – LYSINE ANALOGUE) IN THE WHO MODEL LIST OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES" (PDF). WHO. p. 35. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Drug will save lives of accident victims, says study". BBC News. 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Protocol 09PRT/4179:Tranexamic acid for the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage: an international, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial (the WOMAN Trial)". The Lancet. Elsevier Limited. n.d. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ WOMAN Trial Collaborators Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial The Lancet, April 26, 2017. pp1-12.
- ^ a b c d Life and work of Okamoto Utako (video (15 min)). lshtmCTU. 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Utako Okamoto: The challenges of balancing laboratory work with motherhood". London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
External links
- CRASH-2 Utako Okamoto, 15 min video, YouTube, TheLancetTV, 13 December 2013, accessed 3 June 2016