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On February 1, 2023, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs, welcomed Professor David Blair, PhD, an expert from the College of Marine and Environment Sciences, James Cook University to our faculty.

Professor Blair has participated in the MD–KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Department of Parasitology between January 16 and February 23, 2023 as a voluntary academic scholar. The visit’s objectives were:

1) To explore possibilities to initiate and/or continue developing collaborative research project/s between our two institutions in Parasitology;

2) To provide academic support for (a) developing postgraduate studies in the Department, (b) producing research for publication in international journals, (c) editing English documents, (d) supervising staff and postgraduate students in seminars and relevant subjects;

3) To be involved in co-research projects with the staff of the Department and writing research proposals for research-grant support from international organizations which require an English language expert to edit and co-research on project; and

4) To provide opportunities for students to exchange opinions and knowledge, and to practice their English skills through dialogue and provide support for postgraduate students with their theses/dissertations for publishing in international journals.

On this occasion Professor Somchai Pinlaor, Professor Thewarach Laha, and Dr. Apisit Chaidee, lecturers in the Department of Parasitology, also attended this meeting. They discussed the development of collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

On January 31, 2023, the Faculty of Medicine welcomed Professor Shinji Nakahara, Professor Moriko Shiramizu, and Professor Ryoko Okui, overseas visiting professors from the School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Service, Japan, to our faculty.

The visit was scheduled between January 31 and February 2, 2023. The objectives were: 1) to learn diabetes care system in Thailand, and 2) to learn the roles of advanced nurses in Thailand.

On this occasion, they visited the Nursing Division, the Diabetes Mellitus Clinic, the Hemodialysis Department, and the Internal Medicine Ward. In addition, they discussed DM care system, self-management support for DM patients, and roles of advanced nursing care for DM patients, cancer patients, older adult patients and chronic kidney disease patients.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

On February 2, 2023, Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs, welcomed delegates from the University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR, to our faculty. The delegates were:

1. Dr. Bounthom Samountry, President
2. Dr. Phouvang Sengmeaung, Dean, Faculty of Medicine
3. Dr. Alongkone Phengsavanh, Vice Dean, Faculty of Medicine
4. Dr. Sounantha Souvanhlasy, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy
5. Dr. Molina Choummanivong, Director, Office of Administrative Affairs
6. Dr. Souksavanh Phanhpaseuth, Dean, Faculty of Nursing
7. Dr. Sourideth Sengchanh, Head, Department of Pediatrics
8. Dr. Chanpheng Pathana, Head, Department of International Relations
9. Dr. Chitdavone Her, Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy
10. Dr. Khamtim Samountry, Vice Dean, Faculty of Public Health

On this occasion they discussed the development of collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

On February 2, 2023, Associate Professor Kamonwan Jenwitheesuk, MD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University shared information on MD-KKU’S academic developments with Dr. Bounthom Samountry, the President of the University of Health Sciences. Lao PDR, and his colleagues.

The presentation was entitle “Journey and Transformation of Advanced Clinical Teaching of MD KKU”.  This MD KKU transformation began in 2014 aiming at the universal standards of World Federation of Medical Education (WFME).  Three learning centers were also recently established to mark the 50^th anniversary of MD-KKU;

• Clinical Skill Laboratory as a learning center for medical students.
• Simulation Center is a learning center for postgraduate students to practice their skills with patients.
• Advance Skill Learning Center for cadaveric education 

Colleagues of Dr. Bounthom Samountry, President, UHS included:

1. Dr. Phouvang Sengmeaung, Dean, Faculty of Medicine
2. Dr. Alongkone Phengsavanh, Vice Dean, Faculty of Medicine
3. Dr. Sounantha Souvanhlasy, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy
4. Dr. Molina Choummanivong, Director, Office of Administrative Affairs
5. Dr. Souksavanh Phanhpaseuth, Dean, Faculty of Nursing
6. Dr. Sourideth Sengchanh, Head, Department of Pediatrics
7. Dr. Chanpheng Pathana, Head, Department of International Relations
8. Dr. Chitdavone Her, Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy
9. Dr. KhamTim Samountry, Vice Dean of Faculty Public Health

On January 24, 2023, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, welcomed Professor David Wong, MD, an expert from the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada, to our faculty.

Professor Wong has participated in the MD–KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Department of Anesthesiology between January 23 and 28, 2023. The visit’s objectives are to provide academic sessions and clinical teaching on airway management, and to seek possible collaborative research opportunities and agreements between our institutions. The specific objectives are:

1. To contribute to academic and clinical teaching on the management of respiratory tract or airway or respiratory system for pediatric and adult patients who either undergo general anesthesia (GA) or have airway management problems with emphasis on airway ultrasonography, emergency front-of-neck access, supra-glottic airway-guided intubation and apneic oxygenation;

2. To develop co-research project(s) on airway management in order to help promote specialization and potential of our staff on airway research, which is a critical clinical knowledge area for the department;

3. To provide opportunities for medical staff and residents in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Otorhinolaryngology to share their opinions and knowledge, and to practice their English skills.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

On January 9, 2023, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs, welcomed Professor Brooke Hallowell, PhD, an expert from the School of Health Sciences, Springfield College, USA, to our faculty.

Professor Hallowell participated in the MD–KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Department of Otorhinolaryngology between January 9 and 10, 2023 as an invited speaker at the “Speech Management in People with Aphasia and Related Disorders” hybrid conference organized by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. The visit’s objectives were: 1) to provide speech-language pathologists and graduate students in Communication Disorders program with knowledge and state-of-the-art clinical practices, and 2) to exchange experience in terms of speech therapy for people with aphasia and related disorders.

On this occasion Assistant Professor Supawan Laohasiriwong, MD, Deputy Head of Department of Otorhinolaryngology, also attended with Professor Benjamas Prathanee, PhD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and the project chairperson. They discussed the development of collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions.

During her visit, Professor  Hallowell delivered special lectures and workshops on Acquired Neurogenic Communication Sciences and Disorder: CSD (Aphasia and Related Disorders), Life Participation Approach to Aphasia and Related Challenges, Strengths-Based Diagnosis and Evaluation of Aphasia and Related Disorders, Clinical Problem Solving in Diagnosis and Evaluation, Clinical Approaches to Speech Therapy in People with Aphasia and Related Disorders, and Global Engagement (Research Clinical Practice, Education, Service).

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith