Mitsuhiro Okano received his MD from Kagawa Medical School, Japan, in 1989 and earned his PhD from the Graduate School of Medicine at Okayama University, Japan, in 1993. Following his doctoral training, he conducted research at the Harvard School of Public Health, USA, from 1995 to 1998.

He subsequently joined Okayama University, where he worked from 1998 to 2017, contributing extensively to research, education, and clinical practice in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Since 2017, he has served at the International University of Health and Welfare, Japan.

Professor Okano serves as a Delegate and Director of the Board of the Committee of International Affairs of the Japanese Rhinologic Society. He is also Chairman of the Japan Society of Immunology, Allergology and Infection in Otorhinolaryngology and serves as Director of the Board of its Committee for Allergic Rhinitis Guidelines. In addition, he is a Delegate of The Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Society of Japan. He is also a Director of the Japanese Society of Allergology and a member of the Editorial Board of Allergology International.

His research interests include rhinology, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and the immunological mechanisms underlying upper airway inflammatory diseases.

Education & Training

• 1990 Graduated from Aichi Prefectural Kariya Kita High School

• 1996 M.D., Hyogo College of Medicine

• 1998 Clinical Residency in Otolaryngology, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital

• 2001 Ph.D., Graduate School of Hyogo College of Medicine

Postdoctoral Training

• 2001–2003 Postdoctoral Fellow, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, USA

Professional Experience

• 2003 Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Hospital (currently Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Medical Center)

• 2004 Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Takanoko Hospital

• 2005 Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Hyogo Prefectural Kaibara Hospital (currently Hyogo Prefectural Tamba Medical Center)

• 2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Hyogo College of Medicine

• 2009 Lecturer, Department of Otolaryngology, Hyogo College of Medicine

• 2014 Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine

• 2020–Present Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo Medical University