CEO HORIZON

Exploring Tomorrow’s
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Eiichi Iritani
Medical Corporation Shoeikai, Iritani Medical Clinic

Eiichi Iritani

Chairman and clinic director https://www.iritani.jp/

My History

Our clinic has been serving the community since we first opened our doors in 2013 in Suginami, Tokyo. Today, we are proud to have a dedicated team of 8 full-time doctors and 11 part-time specialists. With a highly qualified team, we’re able to provide top-quality healthcare to our local community. Our founding philosophy is simple but profound: "Listen to, Respond to, and Surpass the Expectations of Our Patients."

As someone who has lived with asthma and spent much of my childhood in and out of hospitals, I truly understand what it feels like to be a patient. Nowadays, thanks to standardized treatment guidelines, patients often receive similar prescriptions no matter which doctor they see. This might lead some to believe that the choice of clinic doesn’t matter much, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The doctor and clinic a patient chooses are critical to their experience. That’s why we work hard to ensure that every visit feels meaningful to our patients—that they see real value in meeting with me and our staff. This, I believe, is what differentiates us from other clinics. To ensure patients choose us, the first step is to provide them with a deep sense of security. Of course, we aim to meet their needs, but we also strive to go beyond, surprising them with the level of care we offer. When patients leave thinking, "I can't believe they did this much for me," that’s when we know we’ve delivered true reassurance. In business terms, this might be called "delivering more value than what’s expected," but for us, it’s best expressed in our philosophy: "Listen to, Respond to, and Surpass the Expectations of Our Patients."

I don’t see our commitment to providing local, community-centered care changing anytime soon. Healthcare, after all, thrives in connection with the people it serves, and we want to continue building those relationships over time. At our clinic, we care not only about the well-being of our patients but also the happiness of our staff. When our staff are happy, we believe it creates a positive ripple effect on our patients and the entire community. For us, this "happiness" ultimately translates to "reassurance." We want our patients to walk out feeling relieved and thinking, "I'm so fortunate to have such a great clinic in my neighborhood." At the same time, we aim to foster an environment where our staff can proudly say, "I love working here." That’s the clinic we aspire to be.

The Present

Throughout our recruitment efforts, I’ve often noticed that the healthcare industry lacks the same level of excitement as other sectors. Fields like IT and trading companies are highly popular with new graduates, drawing in large numbers of candidates. In contrast, healthcare is often seen as a less attractive option. Many students think, “I don’t have a medical license, so it’s not relevant to me.” Even when they learn that non-licensed professionals can thrive in this field, there’s still the stereotype that the work is grueling and the pay is low. While some clinics may fit that image, others offer competitive salaries and provide a unique sense of purpose that’s hard to find in other industries. I’m passionate about making the healthcare field something students aspire to join. And to do that, our clinic must be a beacon of excellence. When our team members are vibrant and motivated, people will notice and think, “That looks like a great place to work.” That’s why we put so much emphasis on staff development.

Our patients come to us with specific hopes and concerns, so it’s a given that we should “Listen” and “respond” to them. But we also train our staff to go one step further—to “Surpass” those expectations. Achieving this is no easy task, but we regularly share examples in meetings of how we’ve managed to go above and beyond. Setting personal goals and having a clear sense of purpose are what drive success, and it’s this ongoing process that helps our staff grow. Even if they choose to move on, I’m confident they can present their accomplishments and find new opportunities quickly. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear from former staff saying, “I’m able to excel now thanks to my time at your clinic.”

We invest over 10 hours a month during working hours on meetings, training, and project presentations—all focused on personal growth. Mistakes are okay, and there’s always room to bounce back. I believe that creating an environment where people feel they’re constantly growing will help attract more students to the healthcare field.

For the Future

Our clinic has taken on various initiatives and challenges in an effort to contribute to the healthcare industry. Looking back, it’s fair to say that around 80% of these efforts may have been failures. However, the remaining 20% have resulted in success, allowing us to make meaningful progress. While we've faced many setbacks, the sheer number of challenges we’ve pursued has led to the rapid growth of our clinic. My mission is not just for Shoeikai, our group, to profit or succeed, but to uplift the healthcare industry as a whole. To achieve this, we share the lessons learned from both our failures and successes, so that others can avoid unnecessary hardships. This has resulted in our clinic being fully booked for over six months with observation requests from other medical institutions. Moving forward, I hope we can continue supporting other clinics through consulting services.

One reason I’m so open about our expertise is because of the immense support I’ve received throughout my life. I had such severe asthma that it feels like a miracle I’m alive today. My life was saved by the dedicated efforts of many healthcare professionals. Knowing that my life could end at any moment has driven me to take on new challenges with no regrets. I also had a long and winding journey before entering medical school and becoming a doctor. Without the benefit of a prestigious academic background, I faced many challenges. However, I’ve come to realize that if you work hard, someone will always notice and support you. I believe it’s a fundamental human principle to want to cheer on those who are genuinely trying their best.

Through my engagements with various media and speaking events, I’ve discovered that many people share my philosophy. We offer internships to students interested in our organization, providing housing for those who live far away and inviting them to join me on sales visits. This gives them the opportunity to experience healthcare firsthand and reflect deeply on their futures. Since I’ve received so much support throughout my life, I want to continue giving back by supporting those who are striving to succeed.

Finally, we remain dedicated to being a clinic that the local community can rely on for peace of mind. Every day, we work to improve, and we will continue evolving, never settling for the status quo, as we strive to provide even better, community-centered healthcare.