Kaori Ito, MD, PhD, FACS, FCCM, is a physician at Teikyo University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan. She became a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2015. Her clinical interests include ethics and end of life, sepsis, and trauma. Her hobbies include reading and traveling. Learn more about Dr. Ito and her love for critical care.
What do you love about SCCM membership?
What I love most is the opportunity to grow—not only as a clinician but also as an educator and global collaborator. As an acute care surgeon and a member of the Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS): Surgical Task Force, I’ve experienced firsthand how SCCM empowers its members to shape the future of critical care through innovation, education, and connection. I was fortunate to receive my critical care training in the United States, where I was exposed to world-class ICU systems and multidisciplinary team-based care. That experience fundamentally transformed how I approach patients, teamwork, and education.
I’m committed to bringing that experience home to Japan and bridging the gap between international standards and local practice. Through SCCM, I stay connected to the forefront of critical care and strive to integrate that knowledge into my practice, education, and system-building efforts. Contributing to the FCCS: Surgical course has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my membership. It’s not just about sharing knowledge—it’s about building capacity, strengthening global networks, and helping clinicians deliver better care. SCCM isn’t just a professional society—it’s a movement: a vibrant, inclusive community united by the principle that critical care saves lives.
Why do you love being in critical care?
What I love most are the immediacy, the intensity, and the sense of purpose. As an acute care surgeon, I’m constantly faced with life-threatening situations where every second matters. Critical care gives me the opportunity to not only act decisively but also to think comprehensively—coordinating care across disciplines to bring the best possible outcome for the patient. I carry with me every day the lessons I learned about the value of team-based decision-making, evidence-based protocols, and safety-based systems and strive to bring that level of care to my patients and to help elevate critical care standards. What makes critical care so meaningful to me is not just the clinical challenge—it’s the humanity. It’s the chance to stand at the bedside when patients and families are at their most vulnerable and to fight to restore life and dignity.
What do you see as the most challenging issue facing critical care?
One of the most challenging issues is the ethical complexities of end-of-life decision-making. As critical care clinicians, we stand at the threshold between life-sustaining treatment and the limits of medicine. In acute care surgery, patients often lack advance directives; we are frequently required to make high-stakes decisions in moments of uncertainty and emotional crisis. My communication training focused on shared decision-making and supporting families through end-of-life care, which transformed how I approach ethically complex situations—by improving not just how I speak but how I listen. I’m committed to bringing this training and philosophy to Japanese practice, where cultural attitudes toward death and autonomy may differ.
My goal is to help clinicians develop the skills and confidence to engage in meaningful, compassionate conversations—these moments are not just medical, they are deeply human. Too often, we equate doing everything with doing the right thing. Sometimes the most courageous act of care is to guide families through the process of letting go. End-of-life care is not a failure—it's a responsibility. I believe that advancing communication and ethical literacy is one of the most important challenges we face.
What advice do you have for those starting their critical care careers?
My biggest piece of advice is: Never lose sight of the humanity behind the physiology. It’s easy to become absorbed in numbers, ventilator settings, and protocols, which are all essential, but our true work lies in treating the person behind the monitor. Critical care is not just about saving lives; it’s about understanding what kind of life we’re helping people return to. Multidisciplinary collaboration, ethical clarity, and communication inform how I practice and teach. My advice is to seek out mentors who not only teach you procedures but who model compassion, humility, and resilience. Learn to listen—to your patients, to your team, and to yourself. Remember: it’s ok to not have all the answers. What matters most is curiosity, integrity, and willingness to grow. Critical care is demanding but also deeply meaningful. You will witness suffering but also strength, courage, and moments of profound human connection. That is a privilege. So stay grounded, stay teachable, and never forget why you chose this path.
How did you get into critical care?
My journey began in acute care surgery. I was often the first responder in life-threatening emergencies and I realized that the real challenge often came after the surgery, in the ICU, where the fight for survival continued. I wanted to better understand the physiology, the decision-making, the teamwork. This curiosity led me to pursue critical care training. What struck me most wasn’t just the technology or protocols—it was the way intensivists communicated. Shared decision-making and family-centered communication changed my perspective. I’ve committed myself to integrating those lessons into my clinical work and to expanding access to critical care education. That’s also why I became involved in the FCCS: Surgical Task Force—to help promote global standards and empower clinicians everywhere to deliver high-quality care under pressure.
What is your biggest professional achievement?
I brought the U.S. concept of acute care surgery—where surgeons are fully integrated into trauma, emergency general surgery, and critical care—into Japanese practice. I was inspired by how acute care surgeons in the United States played a central role not only in the operating room but also at the bedside and in the ICU. I believed this model could transform emergency and surgical care in Japan. Today, we are making that vision a reality. Another achievement I’m especially proud of is my experience with end-of-life care in U.S. ICUs. The structured approach to shared decision-making had a profound impact on me, and I felt strongly that Japan needed a more cohesive, compassionate framework for dealing with these difficult moments. I became the chair of the joint guideline committee on end-of-life care in emergency and critical care medicine, representing four major academic societies in Japan.
What are the top advances in critical care since you started your career?
I’d like to highlight three advances. First, the widespread adoption of multidisciplinary, protocol-driven ICU care has been transformative. In the United States, I saw how standardized, team-based approaches could reduce variability, improve outcomes, and create a safer environment for both patients and clinicians. That model has since gained traction globally, including in Japan, and has fundamentally changed the culture of critical care. Second, there’s been a powerful shift toward patient-centered decision-making, especially in end-of-life care. The rise of shared decision-making frameworks, palliative care integration, and ethics consultation services has helped us move beyond asking, “What can we do?” to asking, “What should we do, in alignment with this patient’s goals and values?” Third, data-driven critical care is a game changer. We’re now able to make faster, more informed decisions with real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and AI-assisted decision support. But with that power comes the responsibility to use technology wisely, always keeping the patient at the center.
What industry trends excite you about the future?
What excites me most about the future is the growing convergence of technology, personalization, and humanity. The rapid evolution of AI and predictive analytics holds enormous potential. We’re moving toward a future where critical events such as sepsis, respiratory failure, and hemodynamic collapse might be prevented through intelligent decision support. What excites me even more is using that technology not to replace clinicians but to free us to spend more time at the bedside, focused on human connection.
I’m also encouraged by the global movement toward value-aligned, patient-centered care in the ICU. We’re seeing a cultural shift away from aggressive intervention at all costs and toward goal-concordant care that respects dignity and patient values. I’m particularly inspired by the increasing emphasis on end-of-life communication training, ethical literacy, and shared decision-making. And I believe that global collaboration in education and systems design is accelerating. Through initiatives such as FCCS: Surgical, I’ve seen how international partnerships can help elevate standards of care everywhere. We’re building a shared future.
What do you believe to be the top benefit of SCCM membership?
The discounts on SCCM educational programs and resources
Connect with @Kaori Ito on SCCM Connect!