NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Hosts Japan Institute for Health Security for Global Special Pathogen Preparedness Training Exchange
Visit exemplifies shared commitment to strengthen global readiness for high-consequence infectious disease outbreaks through coordinated training and collaboration
Feb 18, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue welcomed three delegates from the Disease Control and Prevention Center (DCC), National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), part of the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) for an immersive special pathogens training exchange. The visit builds on a Memorandum of Understanding and the shared commitment between the institutions to strengthen global readiness for high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) outbreaks through coordinated trainings, best practices, and global collaboration.
“We are pleased to welcome colleagues from DCC, NCGM, part of the Japan Institute for Health Security, back to Bellevue as our partnership advances from agreement to action,” said Eric Wei, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “This exchange strengthens readiness on both sides and reinforces the importance of global collaboration to protect patients, health care workers, and communities.”
“We are honored to visit Bellevue so soon after the signing of our Memorandum of Understanding,” said Yutaro Akiyama, MD, Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM). “This visit represents an important step in strengthening our clinical workforce through international collaboration. Our team has gained invaluable insights by observing high-level isolation practices, training methods, and special pathogen protocols implemented in the United States. We look forward to deepening this partnership as we continue to enhance our preparedness for infectious disease threats.”
During the visit, the delegation participated in immersive training sessions and discussions with Bellevue’s Special Pathogens Program team focused on special pathogen patient care, high-level isolation unit operations, and personal protective equipment protocols. The delegation also visited NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln to observe a training led by the NYC Health + Hospitals Systemwide Special Pathogen Program.
“Preparing for special pathogen outbreaks demands global partnership,” said Justin Chan, MD, Epidemiologist at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Because infectious diseases do not respect national borders, only shared knowledge, trust, and coordinated action can result in robust preparedness.”
In a reciprocal effort, Bellevue’s Special Pathogens Program will send four delegates to Tokyo, Japan, in February 2026 to participate in a special pathogen training program led by the JIHS. The Bellevue team will support advanced sessions and share their experience responding to the 2014 Ebola response in New York City.
“We are honored to exchange knowledge with our colleagues from the Japan Institute for Health Security,” said Vikramjit Mukherjee, MD, Chief of Critical Care and Chief of Special Pathogens Program. “This two-way exchange not only broadens our collective understanding but also reinforces the importance of global partnership in preparing for and responding to special pathogen outbreaks.”
The international exchange is part of ongoing efforts by both institutions to build resilient, coordinated systems that can rapidly respond to HCID incidents worldwide.
Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the United States, has a longstanding legacy in infectious disease management and plays a central role within the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) consortium, a leader in national special pathogen preparedness and response. It is a recognized leader within the National Special Pathogen System — a nationwide, tiered network of care ranging from frontline facilities to advanced treatment centers. Bellevue’s Special Pathogens Program serves as the designated Level 1 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) for HHS Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. RESPTCs act as resource hubs, providing highly specialized care for patients suspected of, or infected by, special pathogens such as Ebola, mpox, or H5N1 bird flu.
###
MEDIA CONTACT: Bellevue Public Relations
#040-26
About Japan Institute for Health Security
The Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) was established through the merger of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM). The JIHS will serve as a world-class Integrated Science Center for Infectious Diseases to protect people from various diseases and health emergencies such as infectious diseases. The JIHS will also serve as a scientific advisory body during infectious disease crises, providing scientific knowledge with the Japanese government including the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The mission of the JIHS is to contribute to the creation of a resilient and secure society through the implementation of R&D on infectious diseases and other diseases, as well as the provision of medical care. For more information visit jihs.go.jp.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and annually it sees about 103,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
