KKU-MD student attends elective program in Japan
International Relations Office Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University
Medical exchange student from University of Tsukuba, Japan completes KKU-MD elective program
On June 16, 2023, we congratulated Miss Minami Tsubura, sixth-year medical exchange student from University of Tsukuba, Japan on the completion of her elective exchange program with our Department of Emergency Medicine. She gave a presentation on her elective experiences, both academic and clinical training and multi-cultural experiences with Thai food, people, culture, and places. She was impressed with her visit to Khon Kaen, and KKU-MD was pleased to be part of her successful time and to have her in our faculty.
“Not only the emergency department but also the whole hospital serves one of the best medical cares in the world,” said Miss Tsubura.
“The doctors are sociable and have a welcoming personality serving good medical care and communicating well with others, so I’ve learnt that I should never forget to smile while working as a medical staff.”
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
KKU-MD ex-dean attends Vietnam National Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology 2023
Professor Pisake Lumbiganon, MD, President of Asia & Oceania Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology (AOFOG) and KKU-MD ex-dean, recently attended the Federation’s Executive Board and Council meetings at the Vietnam National Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology. The conference ran between June 13 and 16, 2023 in Hanoi.
Professor Lumbiganon delivered a speech at the opening ceremony to specialists, scientists, and medical professionals gathered from 25 countries in region and around the world.
AOFOG is an organization of the national societies of Obstetrics & Gynecology of countries in the Asia region to promote the science and art of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology, to support the study and implementation of population control, and to promote international cooperation and goodwill particularly in Asia & Oceania.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
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 student attends elective program in Austria
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 student attends elective program in Japan.
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