Lao medical residents and nurses join KKU-MD emergency medicine exchange program

 

KKU-MD recently welcomed the following residents and nurses from Lao PDR for a two-week medical emergency exchange training program from June 5 to 16, 2023:

1) Dr. Thitsamone Inphakham, resident, Mahosot Hospital
2) Dr. Phaly Phanmalavong, resident, Mittaphap Hospital
3) Ms. Souvanvixai Nanthavongsa, nurse, Setthathirath Hospital
4) Ms. Khamvaen Munhmor, nurse, Mahosot Hospital

The program was coordinated by Mr. Kensho Ueda, Project Coordinator, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Japan as part of the “Stop Accident Fatality rise by EMS development and Road Safety (SAFER)” project aimed at reducing road fatalities and improving emergency medical services in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU-MD Tropical Disease Research Center hosts Workshop on Lawa Model: One Health in Action.

 

The Tropical Disease Research Center (TDRC), KKU recently hosted a three-day Workshop on Lawa Model: One Health in Action from May 31 to June 2, 2023 with the support of Chevron Corporation and the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN). The course covered the principles of One Health, extensive examples of diseases and disaster, and explored the Lawa Model, with an optional short field visit to witness the Lawa Model in action.

The optional field visit and workshop were primarily arranged for professionals from health and related fields from ASEAN countries. The field visit’s objectives were to provide participants with on-site exposure to the Lawa Model as a One Health showcase, enabling them to receive practical experience and knowledge to apply to emerging health issues in their respective countries.

The Lawa Model has been recognized nationally and internationally as one of two showcase models for helminth control by WHO/NZD4. The Lawa Model, applying One Health approach, has been recommended for the control of foodborne trematode infections by WHO Western Pacific Region. For over a decade the Lawa community has been a training site for health professionals and researchers from Thailand and around the world to learn about One Health approach.

 

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

 

Professor Dr. Banchob Sripa, Director of KKU-TDRC

 

Dr. Vipat Kuruchittham, Executive Director of SEAOHUN

 

Ms. Dee Bourbon, Senior Social Investment Advisor of Chevron Corporation

 

The first day commenced with welcome and opening session by Professor Dr. Banchob Sripa, Director of Tropical Disease Research Center, who delivered the project report.

“The Tropical Disease Research Center or TDRC introduced a new control strategy for liver fluke infection using the One Health approach in the endemic Lawa Lake area of Khon Kaen Province,” said Professor Sripa.

“The program, now known as the Lawa Model, has gained national and international recognition and today we are pleased to have more than 35 participants taking part in the field trip workshop from SEAOHUN member countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, and two participants from India and Bangladesh.”

It was then a great honor for TDRC to invite Dr. Vipat Kuruchittham, Executive Director of SEAOHUN, and Ms. Dee Bourbon, Senior Social Investment Advisor of Chevron Corporation, important sponsors to deliver a speech to all participants.

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered the welcome and opening speech.

“Today we gather for the Lawa Model field trip, where qualified participants will witness the Model in action,” said the KKU-MD president.

“Through this immersive experience, you will gain practical knowledge to address emerging health challenges in your own countries, I believe.”

On the opening day, all participants were introduced to the project background information and orientation for the field trip by Professor Sripa. They were also provided with ice-breaking activities and allowed to join group discussion sharing experiences and discuss community health problems in their countries to create lessons learned from each group.

 

Day 1: Sharing One Health experiences and discussing current community health problems

 

On the second day, participants observed the Lawa Model in practice at the Lawa Lake community. They firstly had a meeting at Lawa Health Promoting Hospital on an overview of liver flukes and Lawa Model, waste management, and demonstration of Lawa Model. The next visit was at Banlawa School to observe a demonstration of liver fluke-free school and then to Lawa households to observe local fermented fish production.

 

Meeting at Lawa Health Promoting Hospital

 

A demonstration of liver fluke-free school

 

Observing local fermented fish production

 

Next Dr. Sirikachorn Tangkawattana led all participants to visit animal and environmental health sites. The TDRC team demonstrated proper pet healthcare and animal restraint. Then they moved to an environmental modification area at Don Pordaeng Village, the final station of the field trip. They visited a lake site where a road was constructed to reduce the population of Bithynia snails, and they also observed Lawa fishermen catching fish from the lake.

 

A demonstration of pet healthcare

 

Visiting an environmental modification area at Don Pordaeng Village

 

The third day involved debrief and course wrap-up and reflection. The participants reported back on their experiences and learnings they were able to apply to health problem solving through final group presentations.

 

Day 3: Debrief and wrap-up and course reflection

 

We hope all participants increased their One Health concept knowledge and will successfully integrate it into community health solutions in their own countries.

 

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU-MD delegation visits Kumamoto University, Japan.

 

A KKU-MD delegation led by Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine visited Kumamoto University (KU) from June 7 to 11, 2023 for the purpose of educational collaboration extension. The delegation paid a courtesy call on Prof. Hisao Ogawa, KU President, and met KU School of Medicine researchers and physicians.

Kumamoto University is one of the oldest universities in Japan and supports a wide range of educational and research activities. KKU and KU signed an academic exchange agreement in 2004 to promote friendship and academic exchanges, especially in the fields of biology, health science, and medicine. In 2016 a Double Degree Program (DDP) agreement for doctoral degree between KU Graduate School of Medical Sciences and KKU-MD was initiated. The first KKU-MD student graduated from this program in 2023.

During the visit the delegation discussed cooperative achievements of graduate student and researcher exchanges, the DDP between KU and KKU-MD Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology programs, and the next collaborative project for potential DDP students. The discussions also included academic cooperation to provide KKU medical students, residents, graduate students, and faculty staff opportunities to visit and exchange with KU.

The KKU delegation also visited KU hospital’s medical services and toured their International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS) facilities meeting KKU exchange students there and many medical researchers. This visit strengthened KKU-MD’s cooperative relationships with KU in collaborative research and education development. It is hoped that the visit enhances KKU’s human resources capacity to contribute medical problem solving capacity not only at national but also global level.

 

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU-MD welcomes exchange student from Kumamoto University, Japan.

On June 6, 2023, KKU-MD welcomed Miss Maako IFUKU, second-year exchange student from Kumamoto University, Japan to our Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute for four weeks (June 7 – 30, 2023) and Department of Tropical Medicine for four weeks (July 4 – 26, 2023). The program was organized under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for academic cooperation between Kumamoto University and KKU-MD.

At her Orientation Day, she was introduced to our faculty and programs via a campus tour, supervisor meetings, and city tour with her new KKU-MD student friends to visit famous attractions such as learning Thai culture at Wat Nong Waeng, experiencing the excitement of the amazing city view on the 28th floor skywalk of Khon Kaen Innovation Center, and the KKU Natural History Museum.

 

 

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU-MD welcomes exchange student from University of Tsukuba, Japan.

 

On June 6, 2023, KKU-MD welcomed Miss Minami Tsubura, sixth-year medical exchange student from University of Tsukuba, Japan to our Department of Emergency​ Medicine. Her program was scheduled for two weeks from June 7 to 15, 2023 under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between University of Tsukuba and KKU-MD.

At her Orientation Day, she was introduced to our faculty and programs via supervisor meetings as well as campus and city tours with her new MD friends to KKU Natural History Museum and famous attractions such as Wat Nong Waeng to see a 360-degree panoramic view of Khon Kaen city from the top floor, and Khon Kaen Innovation Center to experience the skywalk.

 

 

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU delegation visits UK universities for educational and research collaborations.

 

KKU delegates led by Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine together with Asst. Prof. Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations, KKU-MD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Watcharin Loilome, Director, Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute (CARI), Dr. Poramate Klanrit, researcher, CARI, Dr. Arporn Wangwiwatsin, researcher, CARI, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Penprapa Phetcharaburanin, advisor for Museum and Lifelong Learning Center, visited the United Kingdom between May 7 and 14, 2023.

The first visit was to the University of Liverpool. KKU delegates toured research facilities in the Biosciences Building, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing the field of biological sciences. They also visited the Digital Innovation Facility, a leading center for digital technology development and industrial application in the UK, and the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Labs, Sherrington Building. The visit to the University of Liverpool was very meaningful for KKU especially in research and development.

 

KKU delegates visit the University of Liverpool.

 

 

At the University of York, they participated in short presentations and roundtable discussions and visited the Biology Building to be shown the Bioscience Technology Facility, where access to technology and research services for the biosciences in academia and industry is provided for the university and others throughout the world.

 

KKU delegates visit the University of York.

 

 

Another visit was at the Wellcome Genome Campus undertaking genome and biodata research. The Campus also provides bioinformatics resources for the global scientific community and delivers vital training in genomics and biodata to scientists and clinicians. At the Campus, KKU delegates delivered presentations about KKU Phenome Centre and the Faculty of Medicine, and also had a roundtable discussion on collaborative research development.

 

KKU delegates visit the Wellcome Genome Campus.

 

 

KKU delegates present about KKU Phenome Centre and KKU-MD.

 

Imperial College London was the last visit on the program. There, the delegates discussed MOU renewal and possibilities for further education and research collaboration between the College and KKU Faculty of Medicine especially with our Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute.

On this occasion the delegates also participated in the AMMF 2023 European Cholangiocarcinoma Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport and attended the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Thailand Talk by Dr. Ruengsin Thennadee and the Professor Narong Khuntikeo Memorial Lecture by Professor Ross Andrews.

This UK visit greatly strengthened KKU-MD’s international collaboration relationships, in medical research and educational development, and teaching exchange and research documentation opportunities.

 

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

Medical exchange student from Gifu University, Japan completes KKU-MD elective program.

 

On May 26, 2023, we congratulated Mr. Araki Ayumu, exchange student from Gifu University, Japan on the completion of his elective exchange program with our Departments of Emergency Medicine and Community, Family and Occupational Medicine. He gave a presentation on his elective experiences, both academic and clinical training and multi-cultural experiences with Thai food, people, culture, and places.

On his graduation day, Assistant Professor Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs also attended and presented a certificate of achievement to him. KKU-MD was pleased to be part of his successful time and to have him in our faculty.

 

 

“I was impressed with how students had a role in every clinical rotation unlike my home country,” said Mr. Ayumi.

“They were more used to clinical settings than us. Although there were some differences, every kind of treatment was the same and easy to learn.”

 

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith