Category: Internaitonal Visitor

On August 23, 2023, MD-KKU welcomed Professor Mayumi Negishi and a group of nursing students from the University of Shizuoka, Japan. They participated in an exchange program at the Faculty of Nursing, KKU between August 20 and 31, 2023.

They visited Srinagarind Hospital Center of Excellence for Kidney Disease at the Galyani Vadhana Memorial Building to observe the outpatient clinic and Hemodialysis Unit services, including Hemodialysis, On-line Hemodiafiltration, Plasmapheresis, and Hemoperfusion.

The Center of Excellence was founded to care for kidney disease patients by experienced medical professionals with advanced medical tools and technology. It also supports professional service and is a research development center providing Fellowship Training Program in Nephrology and a Nursing Specialty Nurse Practitioner program in Renal Replacement Therapy.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On September 4, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs together with Assist. Prof. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs welcomed Professor Elizabeth Jane Phillips from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA to our faculty.

Professor Phillips is a Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. She focusses on the immunopathogenesis of severe adverse drug reactions and using innovative technologies to define genetic, molecular and cellular signatures.

She participated in the MD-KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Pharmacology Department between August 31 and September 10, 2023. Her visit’s objectives were to supervise and discuss pharmacogenetic testing in clinical practice at Pharmacogenetic Analysis Unit, attend the pre-congress on “Pharmacogenetics and Its Applications in Clinical Practice,” deliver a lecture “Updates on Immunopathology and Genomics of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions,” discuss research collaboration development with pharmacology staff, attend a special seminar related to research specialization, and supervise manuscript writing for our pharmacogenetic researchers.

The Department’s staff led by Assoc. Prof. Laddawan Sengkanprai also attended the meeting to discuss pharmacogenetic research collaboration, clinical skills development projects, and future collaborative activities between our two institutions. This visit can help MD-KKU implement pharmacogenetics for optimal drug therapy particularly in disease-risk prediction, decisions on drug dosages, drug-disease interaction management, and minimizing adverse drug reactions in patients.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On August 21, 2023, Asst. Prof. Acharawan Topark–Ngarm, Assistant to the President for International Affairs together with Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Ampornpan Theeranut, Dean of Faculty of Nursing, Dr. Chutikan Sakphisutthikul, Associate Dean for Administration and Quality Development, Faculty of Public Health, and Asst. Prof. Kavin Thinkhamrop, Assistant Dean for Research, Academic Service, Innovation and International Affairs, Faculty of Public Health welcomed Prof. Wei Xianggang, PhD, from Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities (YMUN), and Mr. Nuttapong Phanachet, Director of the Thai-Chinese Education Center to our university.

The visit’s objectives were to meet with KKU administrative team to explore academic and research collaboration especially in health science research, and to create an accessible data platform for Chinese students to increase opportunities for study in KKU.  They also discussed future plans for a visit of the President of YMUN to KKU in early 2024 and KKU-YMUN Alumni Center foundation.

KKU and YMUN initiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2021 to strengthen relationships and promote collaborative human resource development. This visit was a great opportunity for medical science faculties including Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, and Faculty of Public Health to develop collaborative research possibilities and other related affairs with YMUN.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On August 25, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine together with Assoc. Prof. Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs welcomed Professor Ching–Feng Chiu from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan to our faculty.

Professor Chiu has a strong background in biology, with a particular interest in cancer research. He has dedicated himself to exploring the molecular and metabolic mechanisms involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer through the study of metabolomics and proteomics.

He participated in the MD-KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Biochemistry Department between August 19 and September 1, 2023. His visit’s objectives were to provide a special seminar and lecture for our faculty and students, and to extend collaboration and conduct preliminary research on “Targeting Glutamine Metabolism Pathway for Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment.”

Assoc. Prof. Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn, MD, Assoc. Prof. Kanlayanee Sawanyawisuth, and Asst. Prof. Charupong Saengboonmee, MD, Department of Biochemistry also attended the meeting to discuss biochemistry research collaboration, clinical skills development projects, and future collaborative activities between the two institutions.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On August 17, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine together with Assoc. Prof. Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs welcomed Professor Ali Abou–Hassan from Sorbonne University, France to our faculty.

Professor Abou-Hassan has extensive multidisciplinary research experience across microfluidics, colloidal chemistry, and nanoparticle synthesis.

He participated in the MD-KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Biochemistry Department between August 1 and 18, 2023. His visit’s objective was to carry out a collaborative research project on “The Development of Various Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: In Vitro Study” with Asst. Prof. Charupong Saengboonmee, MD, Department of Biochemistry, KKU, and Dr. Phoomipat Jungcharoen, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, KKU. This research project was funded by the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B), Thailand.

Assoc. Prof. Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn, MD, and Assoc. Prof. Kanlayanee Sawanyawisuth, Department of Biochemistry also attended the meeting and reported on their research and discussed a possible collaborative projects between KKU and Sorbonne University.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On August 8, 2023, MD-KKU welcomed a professor and nursing students from Fujita Health University, Japan. They participated in an exchange program at the Faculty of Nursing, KKU between August 6 and 19, 2023.

They met the Director of the Nursing Division of Srinagarind Hospital and were introduced to the hospital nursing service system at Ward 4B. They learned about our Hospital strategies for providing high quality nursing services to meet our customers’ needs.  They were also shown our nursing service program for the development of professional excellence in nurses.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On July 19, 2023, Assist. Prof. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs and Assoc. Prof. Charoonsak Somboonporn, Head, Department of Radiology welcomed Prof. Yongsu Yoon, PhD, Department of Radiological Science (DSU), Dongseo University, Korea to our faculty.

Prof. Yoon is a registered radiological technologist (RT) in both South Korea and Japan, and is interested in medical imaging, especially the optimization of image quality and radiation dose, and also in novel indirect flat panel detector systems for reducing scatter radiation.

On this occasion, lecturers from the Department of Radiology also attended the meeting including Assoc. Prof. Banjong Kheonkaew, Asst. Prof. Woranan Kirisattayakul, and Mr. Khajonsak Tantiwetchayanon. They discussed the possibility of MOU establishment and international student and staff exchange between Dongseo University and Faculty of Medicine, KKU. In the afternoon program, Prof. Yoon attended a campus tour led by Mr. Tantiwetchayanon and he also gave a special lecture to students and researchers at the Department of Radiology.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On July 20, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kiatichai Faksri, Director of Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (RCEID), Asst. Prof. Dr. Wises Namwat, Head of Department of Microbiology, and Dr. Kanin Salao, Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, welcomed a research delegation from Georgia Institute of Technology to our faculty, consisting of;

• Janet Standeven, Director, Frugal Science Academy, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,
• Rajas Poorna, Graduate Research Assistant, Bhamla and Cicerone Labs, and
• Charles Anderson, Georgia Institute of Technology.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is a leading research university committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology.

The visit’s objectives were to visit our Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (RCEID) to exchange knowledge and discuss research and academic collaboration in developing tools for addressing emerging infectious diseases. The visitors were with us between July 20 and 24, 2023.

The visitors met with the dean to discuss opportunities for collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions, especially medical supplies and devices, healthcare solutions, student and staff exchange, joint research program organization, exchange of research materials, publications and information, and other academic activities agreed by two institutes. That afternoon, they also met graduate students and researchers at RCEID and gave a lecture on how to apply medical devices to their research and medical treatment effectively. This visit was highly valuable in promoting the medical devices and innovation initiative of our faculty.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On July 10, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine together with Assoc. Prof. Nuttaset Manimmanakorn, Head, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Apiwan Manimmanakorn, lecturer, Department of Physiology, Prof. John F Smith, English Specialist, welcomed Professor Michael John Hamlin, PhD, Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, Lincoln University, New Zealand, to our faculty.

Professor Hamlin is a Professor of Exercise and Sport Science and Sport Scholarship Academic Advisor. He participated in the MD-KKU overseas visiting professor in our Department of Rehabilitation Medicine between July 7 and 24, 2023.

The visit’s objectives were to provide opportunities for medical staff, residents, health science personnel, and students to gain more knowledge of rehabilitation medicine, to develop collaborative research projects, and to support manuscript writing for international journal publication.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On June 26, 2023, Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs and Prof. John F Smith, English Specialist welcomed Professor Carlo Selmi from Humanitas University, Milan, Italy, to our faculty.

Professor Selmi participated in the MD–KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Department of Biochemistry between June 21 and 30, 2023. The visit’s objectives were:

• To provide a seminar to the Department and give special lectures to postgraduate research students and medical students
• To develop collaborative research works related to the biochemistry
• To develop collaborative student exchanges between KKU-MD and Humanitas University

On this occasion, faculty members in the Department of Biochemistry led by Associate Professor Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn, MD, head of the Department, together with Assistant Professor Ubon Cha-on, Dr. Worachat Lert-itthiporn, MD, and Dr. Kanokwan Nahok also attended the meeting. They discussed the MOU process for future development of collaborative-research and clinical practice skills development projects between the two institutions.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith