Pioneering the Future of Clinical Engineering. Supporting the Next Generation’s Challenges as a Bridge Between Japan and the U.S.
Welcome to Tomousa.com
This platform is a specialized information hub dedicated to supporting professionals—especially healthcare workers—who are taking on the significant challenge of immigrating to the United States and building a career in a new environment.
Operator Profile: Tomokazu Nagasawa
My medical career began in Japan as a Clinical Engineer. In the Japanese healthcare system, Clinical Engineers are responsible for far more than just the management and maintenance of life-support systems; we handle a highly comprehensive range of clinical duties, including:
- Respiratory Therapy: Ventilator maintenance, operational checks, and hospital rounds.
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass (Perfusion): Operation of heart-lung machines.
- Blood Purification: Dialysis initiation, machine operation, and intra-treatment monitoring.
- Operating Room Duties: Autologous blood recovery, anesthesia machine pre-use checks, and endoscope operation (Scopist).
- Intensive Care: ECMO management, VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) management, and continuous dialysis operation.
- Cardiovascular Catheterization: External pacemaker operation and IVUS operation.
- Pacemaker/ICD Management: PM programmer and external PM operation.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen & Medical Equipment Management: Maintenance of dialysis machines, NO therapy devices, infusion pumps, and more.
Within this extensive medical foundation, I spent many years working primarily as a Perfusionist at the forefront of advanced medical care in Japan.
The Barrier to U.S. Immigration and a Strategic Decision
As I earnestly pursued my relocation and career transition to the United States, I faced a massive barrier: the stark difference in educational systems and licensing between Japan and the U.S.
Currently, the standard path to becoming a Perfusionist in the U.S. requires a bachelor’s degree followed by a specialized master’s program. Although I had graduated from a three-year clinical engineering program at a Japanese vocational school, when I requested a credit evaluation from U.S. institutions, only about half of my credits were recognized. Confronted with this reality, I realized that starting over at a U.S. university—one year in language school, four years for a bachelor’s degree, and another two years for a perfusion program—amounting to seven years and enormous financial costs, was simply not feasible for me at the time.
However, I never gave up. Drawing on my extensive experience in the operating room, I analyzed the trajectory of modern medicine and firmly believed that healthcare was rapidly and irreversibly shifting toward minimally invasive treatments.
This insight led me to a strategic breakthrough: pursuing the path of a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) in the Cath Lab. The RCIS route required a minimum of one year of language school and two years of specialized education—a total of three years. This was a realistic timeline and financial plan that allowed me to forge my medical career in the U.S. It was the exact moment where the future of medicine (minimally invasive therapy) and my own practical resources perfectly aligned.
I took the leap and am now actively working on the front lines in the U.S. as a certified RCIS. Furthermore, I currently have the honor of serving as the Chief Overseas Representative Officer for the Japan Association for Clinical Engineers (JACE).
Why I Launched This Platform
Even today, I receive questions from many students and professionals asking, “How can I become a Clinical Engineer in the U.S.?”
In reality, the roles and responsibilities of a “Clinical Engineer” in Japan and in the U.S. differ significantly. Therefore, I felt a strong need to clarify these occupational differences and systematically compile the following information:
- Specific job descriptions for various medical professions and licenses in the U.S.
- Step-by-step guides on how to acquire U.S. medical licenses and certifications.
- The process of obtaining a Green Card (Permanent Residency) and the practical steps to start working in the U.S.
Because I have personally experienced and fought through the hurdles of immigration—from credit transfer barriers to time and financial constraints—I want to ensure that those who follow do not have to take the long way around. “To minimize the friction and barriers associated with immigration, creating an environment where you can quickly focus on your business and personal success in the U.S.”—this is the core mission of this site.
At the same time, in my role as the U.S. Representative for JACE, I share the realities of my life in America and the latest updates from the medical front lines through my blog. By sparking broader interest in international careers, I hope to serve as a true bridge between Japan and the United States.
Our Pledge to Quality and Trust in Information
In the EP & Cath Lab where I stand every day, we operate in an extremely strict environment with “zero margin for error.” Here, accuracy, integrity, and trust literally translate to saving lives.
We have fully integrated this rigorous philosophy cultivated in the medical field into our content creation for Tomousa.com.
Every guide and recommended service published on this media is evaluated and written with the strict analytical skills and high ethical standards of an experienced healthcare professional. We invite all our readers and corporate partners to utilize the information on our site with complete peace of mind.