Cambodian Students from University of Puthisastra on exchange program at Srinagarind Hospital

 

MD-KKU recently welcomed third-year Associate Degree students from the Medical Laboratory Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Puthisastra, Cambodia for an exchange program at Diagnostic Microscopic Laboratory, Srinagarind Hospital between November 24 and December 1, 2023.

They had many clinical learning experiences through the exchange program including a lecture on the structure and operational procedures of the Diagnostic Microscopic Laboratory. They also visited many places such as Specimen Center Unit, Clinical Diagnostic Microscopy Unit, Clinical Diagnostic Chemist and Immunology Unit, Clinical Microbiology Unit, Molecular Unit, Andrology Lab Unit, and Srinagarind Excellent Lab Unit.

On the final day, they gave presentations reflecting on and sharing their experiences. They learned a lot and were challenged during their visit. For instance, studying abroad gave them more independence, learning how self-management is crucial especially time, financial, and task management. However, they faced language barriers. To survive in Thailand, they had to not only practice English but also learn basic Thai communication skills.

Although they were many challenges during the visit, they were very useful learning experiences. They gained new clinical experience and knowledge that can be applied to their future careers as well as practicing foreign language communication skills.

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

Japanese resident visits MD-KKU Medicine Department on staff exchange program

 

MD-KKU’s Department of Medicine recently welcomed Dr. Takeharu Oda, a resident from Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Japan on a one-week staff exchange program at the Division of Cardiology from November 27 to December 1, 2023.

Dr. Oda’s visit to KKU was under a MOU to promote academic and medical research collaborations between MD-KKU and overseas universities by exchanging doctors, nurses, and medical students. His visit’s objective was to gain medical knowledge and skills for keeping up with future challenges in medical situations and health services provision.

During his visit, he appreciated the knowledge and experience he gained with our medical staff:

“I have  such  great memories with KKU doctors because they taught me a lot about Cardiology in English that can be helpful to me.  It was easy to understand and communicate with them during my visit,” said Dr. Oda.

“KKU doctors are very educational, so this is why you should come on exchange with them,” he recommended.

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU welcomes visiting professor from University of California, Davis, US

 

Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs recently welcomed Professor Carlito Lebrilla from the Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.

On November 21, 2023 Professor Lebrilla made a presentation in the Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MBMB) seminar series 2/2023 on “Structural methods to probe and characterize the glycocarlyx interactions in the cell membrane”.

His research focuses on developing bioanalytical methods based on mass spectrometry with the goals of structurally characterizing bioactives in food and determining their relationships to health and diseases. Also, he and his team use Agilent technology to analyze the components of human milk and gain a better understanding of their various functions.

On this occasion, the Department’s staff led by Associate Professor Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn, MD, Head of the Department also met with Professor Lebrille to discuss the development of collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions.

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU welcomes professor from St.Marianna University, Japan

 

MD-KKU’s Department of Anesthesiology recently welcomed Assistant Professor Hirotaka Okuda, MD, PhD, a physician anesthesiologist from the Department of Anesthesiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine on a one-week medical exchange from November 20 to 24, 2023.

Professor Okuda is currently practicing anesthesia at St.Marianna University Hospital. His career is driven by a genuine desire to assist surgical patients through the challenge of perioperative management, minimizing nociceptive reaction during surgery, providing postoperative analgesia, adequate airway and circulation managements for surgical patients.

His visit to KKU was to learn from foreign hospital practice, gaining fresh insights and experiences that can enhance his professional journey. He was particularly interested in observing and understanding the operational dynamics of healthcare systems in different countries.

During his visit, he gained invaluable knowledge and experience that can help shaping the future of his own practice and deepening the exchange between MD-KKU and St.Marianna University:

“The KKU hospital has so many patients that I can see many cases, so I can have a good experience even if I stayed for a short time,” said Professor Okuda.

“I also ate a lot of local food and everything was delicious. I definitely want to study here again,” he added.

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU welcomes International Visiting Physician from New Zealand to our Department of Emergency Department

 

MD-KKU’s Department of Emergency Medicine recently welcomed Dr.Travis Westcott, an emergency medicine specialist from Emergency Medicine Department of Southland Hospital, New Zealand, for a three-month clinical exchange and training program between October 12, 2023 and January 5, 2024.

Dr. Westcott has worked in Emergency Medicine since 2005 and is passionate about providing the best possible care for patients and where possible taking a preventative medicine approach. He also has a passion for point of care ultrasound and also has non-clinical portfolios covering ultrasound teaching, emergency department security, equipment acquisition, review of reportable and sentinel events, and management plans for difficult patients and staff rostering.

During his stay in KKU, he hopes would like to learn more about South East Asia culture and languages and in particular how patients interact with the Thai health care system, to be exposed to the unique challenges of tropical medicine, and to share his emergency medicine knowledge and skills in developing specialty areas (in particular the growing use of point of care Ultrasound medicine).

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU welcomes visiting professor from Forensic Anthropology Center (FACTS)at Texas State University, USA

 

On November 7, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine welcomed Professor Sophia Mavroudas, Associate Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center (FACTS) at Texas State University, USA to our faculty.

Professor Mavroudas is currently focused on the incorporation of non-traditional histomorphometric variables to improve age-at-death estimation methodologies in forensic contexts across global populations. As a forensic anthropologist, she is also involved in disaster victim identification efforts for presumed migrants who die crossing global borders.

She participated in the MD-KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Department of Anatomy and gave a guest lecturer on “The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State (FACTS): The utility of outdoor decomposition facilities and donated skeletal collections in forensic science research.” This talk covered how FACTS uses a willed body donation program with its indoor and outdoor laboratories to conduct research related to forensic contexts. It also discussed the Texas State Donated Skeletal Collection and research done with this vital resource at both micro- and macroscopic levels.

On this occasion, the Department’s staff also attending the meeting included Assoc. Prof. Jariya Umka Welbat, Head of the Department, and Asst. Prof. Tawut Rudtanatip. They discussed the development of collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions.

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU welcomes visiting professor from Universite de Paris, France

 

On October 26, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine welcomed Professor Nolwenn Dheilly, Head of the Pathogen Discovery Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, France to our faculty.

Professor Dheilly’s research includes epidemiological investigations following outbreaks of known and unknown origins, characterization of virus enzootic cycles, development of diagnostic tools, and fundamental research aimed at the development of novel therapeutic and preventive strategies.

She participated in the MD-KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Tropical Medicine Department between October 23 and 27, 2023 and gave a guest lecturer on “Metagenomics to identify novel and unexpected pathogens for improved diagnoses and prevention: From coronaviruses to arboviruses and viruses of parasitic worms.”

The Department’s staff led by Assoc. Prof. Sutas Suttiprapa also attended the meeting to discuss guidelines for NIH Research Project Grant Program (RO1), academic support provision in developing collaborative studies in Tropical Medicine and supervision of staff and students in relevant subjects.

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith