For Tomoaki Kato, MD, MBA, MPA, FACS, participating in a marathon and caring for patients share insightful similarities—especially considering how long-term vision and perseverance are essential parts of getting to the finish line. He runs the TCS NYC Marathon in support of NewYork-Presbyterian’s outstanding transplant programs.
“This is going to be my 12th marathon: I never thought I’d be running this many,” says Dr. Tomoaki Kato. “Part of the reason I am able to do this is because I don’t push myself too hard, but I remain consistent.” Lovingly calling himself “the lazy runner,” Dr. Kato is a Professor of Surgery; an Edwin C. and Anne K. Weiskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology; the Executive Director of Columbia Transplant Initiative; and the Clinical Director of Transplant Services at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is also the Chief of the Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Running as part of the Team NYP cohort for the first time, Dr. Kato is excited about the opportunity to use the marathon to enrich NewYork-Presbyterian’s research and more.
His love of medicine began years ago, when, as a youth, he took an instant liking to studying DNA, molecular biology, and more. “I really enjoy interacting with patients, thinking about what I can do to help them. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor.” His passion for learning led him to pursue a career as a researcher in his home country of Japan—until a chance moment on a bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo solidified his commitment to, as he put it, “being the one to help people in need.” “One day I was on a bullet train and there was a patient in the train looking for a doctor,” Dr. Kato said, “and it sort of clicked in me at that time: I really want to be the one to stand up and go help the patient in that scenario.” From that moment onward, Dr. Kato devoted his life to being the best doctor he could be.
“Organ transplant is one of the greatest unselfish things you can do,” said Dr. Kato, whose easygoing but determined nature brought him to the United States in 2008. It was here that he performed a nearly 30-hour surgery—an experience that broadened his perspective on what he could accomplish. That same year, he enrolled in the TCS New York City Marathon on a whim, having never run more than 5K before but recognizing this marathon as an opportunity to try something new and support charity. “I enjoy every aspect of surgery … every single second,” Dr. Kato mentioned. “In 2008, I was doing a surgery in the second week of October—two weeks before the marathon—that ended up lasting for almost 30 hours.”
“So then I started to think: If I was able to be on my feet for 30 hours, running a marathon is nothing. Even if I crawl, I can finish in 30 hours. I don’t have a competitive nature—doing it every year is more important. Even if I’m running in the bottom 10 percent or bottom 20 percent, I am happy,” said Dr. Kato. This mindset helped him complete the marathon, and he has been a frequent participant ever since. He also noted, “When you try to do too much when beginning, you’ll tire easily. If you want to have your best in the last three miles, you really have to plan it well; preparing for a marathon gives you a good lesson on life.”
Dr. Kato looks forward to pushing himself once again while championing the transplant and surgical efforts of NYP. “To be honest, whenever I start running, I regret my decision,” he said, laughing. “But somehow I always get through. Whenever I go out for a run, I feel really refreshed. I travel a lot, so I bring my shoes with me and run outside often.”
Dr. Kato is deeply interested in xenotransplants—the use of animal organs in human surgery. “Research is something that takes time, and sometimes it’s not easy to set everything up. But if you do, you can have a meaningful impact not just on the patient’s life but on many others throughout the world,” he offers. While animal-based products have been a mainstay in medicine for years, technological advances and developments in the field are enabling new capabilities for transplant care. “It sounds a little bit like science fiction, but it’s really becoming reality: Years of research—years of things Columbia has done, which I was a part of—are finally becoming a reality.”
Your support helps individuals like Dr. Kato challenge themselves while moving healthcare forward. “Giving back is a great tradition of America: We’ve done a lot of research, a lot of public service based on philanthropic donation. For me to contribute by running feels really good; I’m also on the recipient side of philanthropic donations, to use for research, for improving the care of the patients. It is so important.”