Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Soeda Saori of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences (Department of Orthopedic Medicine) received the Cabinet Office’s " Women's Challenge Award: Special Category 2026." The award ceremony was held on June 29th, 2026, during the "National Conference on Creating a Gender-Equal Society 2026," where she was honored and received words of encouragement from State Minister Tsushima Jun of the Cabinet Office.
The "Women's Challenge Award" is an awards program established in fiscal year 2004, based on the "Support Measures for Women's Challenges" adopted by the Government's Council for Gender Equality in April 2003. Its purpose is to build momentum toward a gender-equal society by recognizing individual women and organizations that are actively addressing social issues across various fields and expanding the scope of their activities.
The theme for this year's Special Category Award was "initiatives addressing women's health issues," and the award recognized individual women and organizations implementing initiatives or services that leverage new technologies to support women's health.
This award recognizes the multifaceted clinical and research activities spearheaded by Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Soeda in the field of spinal surgery—a specialty where the proportion of female physicians is extremely low. Specifically, she has made significant contributions to the prevention and treatment of spinal disorders prevalent among women through her research on chronic lower back pain and her initiatives regarding scoliosis screening, which targets a condition frequently found in young women. Furthermore, by actively utilizing technologies such as robotic systems for spinal surgery, she is leading the way in establishing a "new surgical practice style" that allows anyone to perform effectively over the long term, independent of physical strength or stamina. The selection committee also highly valued her commitment to building a medical environment where a diverse range of next-generation talent can thrive, unconstrained by traditional practices.
Tokushima University will continue to support Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Soeda in her future endeavors and her efforts toward realizing a medical community where diversity is ensured.
State Minister Tsushima Jun of the Cabinet Office (left); Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Soeda Saori (right)
Scene from the award announcement
Award Recipients 2026
