Category: Inbound Students

In March 2024, exchange students from Aichi Medical University in Japan, the University of Bergen in Norway and residents from the University of Health Sciences in Lao PDR completed their MDKKU elective exchange program. It was a truly remarkable experience, filled with good fellowship, cultural exchange, and shared pursuit of medical knowledge and understanding.

Students shared their experiences of the impressive friendship and company they found during the program; a University of Bergen student said “Thai students and teachers are very polite and friendly. Everyone made us feel welcome. Professors were great teachers.”  An Aichi Medical University student also suggested that “The faculty of medical students was very kind.” while the resident of University of Health Sciences from Laos added that “Students are very helpful and friendly. The teachers are also very informative as they explain things in English in a way that is easy to understand.”

Apart from friendship and company, they also mentioned their own experiences and showed their gratitude on studying at MDKKU.  A University of Bergen student stated that “Medicine at KKU taught me a lot as we were at OB-GYN and PED.”  An Aichi Medical University student also said that “I was able to experience surgery for cleft lip, palate, and microtia, which are rare in Japan. Also, cosmetic surgery is not available in Japan, but in Thailand it was available for us to experience rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery.” One of them also mentioned their experiences during the training sessions,
“It was good to see many reconstructive surgeries and many cases that I rarely see in Japan.” as well as they mentioned that “Studying at MD KKU was a wonderful experience that cannot be experienced in Japan.”

In conclusion, the students felt studying at MD KKU provided an unforgettable medical learning experience as well as great exposure to Thailand’s rich culture.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun and Waratchaya Rachpoochai

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On April 1, 2024, MD-KKU warmly welcomed Mr. OKU HARUKI, a fifth-year medical exchange student from Wakayama Medical University, Japan, to our Department of Emergency Medicine. Mr. Haruki will be with us for a duration of four weeks, from April 1 to April 26, 2024.

On the morning of his orientation day, the International Relations Officers began by providing Mr. OKU HARUKI with a concise overview of the Faculty of Medicine and Khon Kaen University. Additionally, we introduced him to some essential Thai words and phrases for everyday communication. Following this, we escorted him to his department where he met with his program supervisors.

Introduction of KKU and Faculty of Medicine

Introduction to Department of Emergency Medicine

Following that, he embarked on a brief tour of the Faculty of Medicine and Srinagarind Hospital, during which we highlighted key locations within the faculty. Subsequently, he visited the canteen, where he utilized the Thai phrases he had learned earlier in the day to buy his lunch.

Ordering lunch

In the afternoon, we conducted a campus tour utilizing the KKU smart transit system (shuttle bus) to familiarize him with the routes and boarding procedures. Our first stop was the KKU Sports Complex, encompassing fitness facilities, a swimming pool, and a sports stadium, providing him with an overview of recreational options on campus. Next, we visited the KKU Art and Culture Center, offering insights into Thai culture through its diverse collection of artworks. Continuing the tour, he went to the Food and Services Center 1 (Complex), where he practiced his Thai language skills while making purchases. Lastly, we concluded the tour at the Learning Center, the KKU Library, where we provided him with a brief orientation on library services, usage guidelines, and operating hours.

Visiting KKU fitness center

Visiting KKU Library

We hope that this orientation provided on his first day will help Mr. Haruki begins his journey in the medical school at Khon Kaen University. By familiarizing him with the campus, introducing essential language skills, and showcasing key facilities, we aim to ensure that he feels well-prepared and supported as he navigates his studies and life in a new environment.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun, Kunthida Paiyasen

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On March 5, 2024, MDKKU welcomed two public health master’s students, Elvira and Kaia, from Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway to the Tropical Disease Research Center (TDRC). Both are involved in the multi-country project named “Pandemic Literacy and Viral Zoonotic Spillover Risk at the Frontline of Disease Emergence in Southeast Asia to Improve Pandemic Preparedness (PANDASIA).” Their research is under the supervision of Dr. Hans Overgaard, the Project leader who holds a joint appointment with MDKKU and NMBU.

They met with Professor Dr. Banchob Sripa, Director of KKU-TDRC, along with Dr. Overgaard, Assoc. Prof. Sirikachorn Tangkawattana, KKU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and TDRC staff, and discussed research and plans for field work in hi-risk communities.

PANDASIA is investigating potential pandemic drivers along nature-rural-urban gradients through a comprehensive collection of social and biological data and predictive modelling of zoonotic spillover rates and disease emergence in high-risk settings in Thailand and Lao PDR.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

Five medical exchange students from Nagoya City University and Wakayama Medical University recently completed electives at MDKKU during February 2024. They were based in different departments including Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedics, and Surgery.

“KKU Staff took very good care of us with excellent clinical internships,” said a Nagoya City University student. “Professors and Thai medical students immediately translated what patients said in Thai to English and then they explained it to me and they also took us to the cafeteria after class and introduce us to Thai food,” he added.

They were also excited with many new clinical experiences and systems and enjoyed their clinical class with some rare cases they have never experienced before.

“I was really surprised to see that the medical school system is completely different from Japan,” said a Wakayama Medical University student. “I was able to see the difference between the tests conducted on pregnant women in Thailand and Japan, and I was glad to be able to study a rare disease in Japan like Thalassemia,” she added.

Overall, they considered they had very impressive medical exchange experiences and enjoyed learning about the people, activities, cultures, food, and places in Khon Kaen.  Although they initially met language barriers, they met a lot of kindness with people helping them to communicate in many situations both inside and outside of the classroom.

We are very delighted to welcome and congratulate all of them.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU recently welcomed third-year Associate Degree students from the Medical Laboratory Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Puthisastra, Cambodia for an exchange program at Diagnostic Microscopic Laboratory, Srinagarind Hospital between November 24 and December 1, 2023.

They had many clinical learning experiences through the exchange program including a lecture on the structure and operational procedures of the Diagnostic Microscopic Laboratory. They also visited many places such as Specimen Center Unit, Clinical Diagnostic Microscopy Unit, Clinical Diagnostic Chemist and Immunology Unit, Clinical Microbiology Unit, Molecular Unit, Andrology Lab Unit, and Srinagarind Excellent Lab Unit.

On the final day, they gave presentations reflecting on and sharing their experiences. They learned a lot and were challenged during their visit. For instance, studying abroad gave them more independence, learning how self-management is crucial especially time, financial, and task management. However, they faced language barriers. To survive in Thailand, they had to not only practice English but also learn basic Thai communication skills.

Although they were many challenges during the visit, they were very useful learning experiences. They gained new clinical experience and knowledge that can be applied to their future careers as well as practicing foreign language communication skills.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU’s Department of Medicine recently welcomed Dr. Takeharu Oda, a resident from Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Japan on a one-week staff exchange program at the Division of Cardiology from November 27 to December 1, 2023.

Dr. Oda’s visit to KKU was under a MOU to promote academic and medical research collaborations between MD-KKU and overseas universities by exchanging doctors, nurses, and medical students. His visit’s objective was to gain medical knowledge and skills for keeping up with future challenges in medical situations and health services provision.

During his visit, he appreciated the knowledge and experience he gained with our medical staff:

“I have  such  great memories with KKU doctors because they taught me a lot about Cardiology in English that can be helpful to me.  It was easy to understand and communicate with them during my visit,” said Dr. Oda.

“KKU doctors are very educational, so this is why you should come on exchange with them,” he recommended.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU’s Department of Anesthesiology recently welcomed Assistant Professor Hirotaka Okuda, MD, PhD, a physician anesthesiologist from the Department of Anesthesiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine on a one-week medical exchange from November 20 to 24, 2023.

Professor Okuda is currently practicing anesthesia at St.Marianna University Hospital. His career is driven by a genuine desire to assist surgical patients through the challenge of perioperative management, minimizing nociceptive reaction during surgery, providing postoperative analgesia, adequate airway and circulation managements for surgical patients.

His visit to KKU was to learn from foreign hospital practice, gaining fresh insights and experiences that can enhance his professional journey. He was particularly interested in observing and understanding the operational dynamics of healthcare systems in different countries.

During his visit, he gained invaluable knowledge and experience that can help shaping the future of his own practice and deepening the exchange between MD-KKU and St.Marianna University:

“The KKU hospital has so many patients that I can see many cases, so I can have a good experience even if I stayed for a short time,” said Professor Okuda.

“I also ate a lot of local food and everything was delicious. I definitely want to study here again,” he added.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU’s Department of Emergency Medicine recently welcomed Dr.Travis Westcott, an emergency medicine specialist from Emergency Medicine Department of Southland Hospital, New Zealand, for a three-month clinical exchange and training program between October 12, 2023 and January 5, 2024.

Dr. Westcott has worked in Emergency Medicine since 2005 and is passionate about providing the best possible care for patients and where possible taking a preventative medicine approach. He also has a passion for point of care ultrasound and also has non-clinical portfolios covering ultrasound teaching, emergency department security, equipment acquisition, review of reportable and sentinel events, and management plans for difficult patients and staff rostering.

During his stay in KKU, he hopes would like to learn more about South East Asia culture and languages and in particular how patients interact with the Thai health care system, to be exposed to the unique challenges of tropical medicine, and to share his emergency medicine knowledge and skills in developing specialty areas (in particular the growing use of point of care Ultrasound medicine).

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

MD-KKU recently welcomed four medical exchange students from St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan to our Departments of Surgery and Emergency Medicine. Their program will run for four weeks from October 25 to November 16, 2023.

On their Orientation Day, the International Relations Officers introduced them to the Faculty of Medicine program and to some essential Thai language. Then they proceeded to the departments to meet their program supervisors and key persons.

In the afternoon they attended a campus tour on our KKU Smart Transit (shuttle bus). The KKU Sports Complex was their first stop. They were introduced to our fitness, swimming pool, and sports facilities by international services staff there. After that they moved to the KKU Art and Culture Center to see art exhibitions and also saw Isan culture and architecture at Koom Sri Tarn. They then visited the Natural History Museum, where important natural and historical resources are exhibited. Their final stop was at Food and Services Center 1 (Student Complex) where they tried out speaking Thai for shopping and buying food.

Their first day in KKU was designed to be really productive learning about KKU and medical school to ready them for the exchange program with Thai medical students, professors, and the Thai health care system.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On September 4, 2023, we welcomed medical exchange students for the September 2023 program from 5 European universities including University of Zagreb (Croatia), Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (Croatia), University of Bergen (Norway), University of Ferrara (Italy), and University of Málaga (Spain).

On their Orientation Day, Assist. Prof. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs delivered a welcome speech and gave useful information for enjoying life on our campus. The International Relations Officers introduced them to the Faculty of Medicine program and to some essential Thai language. Then they proceeded to the departments to meet their program supervisors and key persons.

In the afternoon they attended a campus tour on our KKU Smart Transit (shuttle bus). The KKU Sports Complex was their first stop. They were introduced to our fitness, swimming pool, and sports facilities by international services staff there. After that they moved to the KKU Art and Culture Center to see art exhibitions and also saw Isan culture and architecture at Koom Sri Tarn. They then visited the Natural History Museum, where important natural and historical resources are exhibited. Their final stop was at Food and Services Center 1 (Student Complex) where they tried out speaking Thai for shopping and buying food.

Their first day in KKU was really productive learning about KKU and medical school to ready them for their new experiences on first day of school with new Thai medical students, professors, and the Thai health care system.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith