MD-KKU student receives US international scholarship award

 

MDKKU congratulates Thannathon Nameephol, a fourth-year Medical Illustration student, on receiving a Spring 2024 Young Southeast Asian leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship scholarship. The scholarship will allow him to explore the role that environmental policy has played in the economic and political development of the United States at University of Montana, USA between April 17 and May 22, 2024. The scholarship is granted by the U.S. Department of State and YSEALI.

The YSEALI Academic Fellowship is an intensive short-term academic program whose purpose is to provide groups of young leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States and a particular theme, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.

 

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun    

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

Cambodian Students from University of Puthisastra on exchange program at Srinagarind Hospital

 

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

Japanese resident visits MD-KKU Medicine Department on staff exchange program

 

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 welcomes professor from St.Marianna University, Japan

 

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 welcomes International Visiting Physician from New Zealand to our Department of Emergency Department

 

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 welcomes international exchange students from St.Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan

 

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