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

On December 8, 2022, the Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs (Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, MD), welcomed Dr. Yuichiro Morishita, MD, PhD, Dr. Hiroaki Sakai, MD, PhD, and Dr. Tetsuo Hayashi, MD, PhD, experts from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, JAPAN, to our Faculty.

These experts participated in the MD–KKU overseas visiting professor program in our Department of Orthopedics between December 7 and 8, 2022.   The visit’s objectives were 1) To explore future collaborative research possibilities between our two institutions on Spinal Injury Research, and 2) for visitors share academic knowledge as invited speakers at the “Spinal injury and spinal cord injury” conference organized by our Department of Orthopedics.

On this occasion the Head of Department of Orthopedics (Associate Professor Taweechoke Visanuyothin, MD), also attended this meeting with four other department staff of the Department: Associate Professor Surachia Sae–jung, MD, Associate Professor Kriangkrai Wittayapairoj, MD, Associate Professor Permsak Paholpak, MD, and, Dr. Kittipong Wittayapairoj, MD.

They discussed on the future development of collaborative-research and clinical skills development projects between the two institutions.

MD-KKU has a policy for promoting international academic standards by supporting Visiting International Faculty through its “Overseas Visiting Professors” administered by International Relations Office.  We would like to express our appreciation to key people involved in these internationalization activities.

Written by Duangsamorn Chankwang

English editing by Professor John F. Smith