Two sixth-year medical students from Khon Kaen University, Mr. Ueaangkuen Boonkerd and Mr. Natthasorn Kittisupakul, recently showcased their innovative research on Cholangiocarcinoma at the International Digestive Endoscopy Network 2025 (IDEN 2025) conference. The event took place from June 12-14, 2025, in South Korea. Both students received partial funding through the Global Student Platform Program, organized by the Faculty of Medicine’s International Relations Office, enabling them to present their research in E-Poster format. Their research was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Charupong Saengboonmee.
Four medical students from leading European universities have begun a clinical exchange programme at Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Medicine, immersing themselves in Thailand’s healthcare system and clinical practices over a period of 4 to 8 weeks.
Arriving from Austria, France, and Switzerland, the students are participating in clinical training across four key disciplines: Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Emergency Medicine. Their placements are based at Srinagarind Hospital, a major teaching hospital in northeastern Thailand.
The exchange programme aims to foster cross-cultural learning, medical collaboration, and academic partnerships between Thai and international medical institutions. Below are the students and their respective clinical assignments:
Mr Patricio Angel Six, 5th-year medical student from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria
▸ Cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (9–20 June)
▸ Anaesthesiology (23 June – 1 August)
Miss Tania Dubois-Mignon, 6th-year medical student from Université Paris Cité, France
▸ Paediatric surgery (9–20 June)
▸ Obstetrics and gynaecology (23 June – 4 July)
▸ Emergency medicine (7–18 July)
▸ Anaesthesiology (21 July – 1 August)
Miss Bérengère Lemesre, 6th-year medical student from Université Paris Cité, France
▸ Plastic surgery (9–20 June)
▸ Paediatric surgery (23 June – 4 July)
▸ General surgery (7–18 July)
▸ Anaesthesiology (21 July – 1 August)
Miss Katharine Eugster, 5th-year medical student from the Joint Medical Master Program (University of St. Gallen and University of Zurich), Switzerland
▸ Obstetrics and gynaecology (9 June – 4 July)
The programme is part of Khon Kaen University’s strategic goal to enhance internationalisation in medical education and strengthen ties with global institutions. It allows foreign students to gain valuable exposure to healthcare in Southeast Asia, while also offering Thai students and faculty the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives and practices.
As Thailand continues to position itself as a hub for regional medical education, such exchanges play a vital role in shaping the next generation of globally minded healthcare professionals.
Miss Katharine Eugster นักศึกษาแพทย์ชั้นปีที่ 5 จาก Joint Medical Master Program (University of St. Gallen และ University of Zurich) ประเทศสวิตเซอร์แลนด์ ศึกษาดูงานในสาขาสูติศาสตร์และนรีเวชวิทยา (9 มิถุนายน – 4 กรกฎาคม 2568)
4 June 2025, In a vivid testament to the growing internationalization of medical education, the Faculty of Medicine at Khon Kaen University (KKU), Thailand, has welcomed two international participants to its academic exchange program this June: a passionate young researcher from Singapore and an experienced reconstructive surgery fellow from the Maldives.
Ms. Wei Qing Liew, a second-year undergraduate student in Life Sciences at the National University of Singapore, has embarked on a three-month internship at KKU’s renowned Tropical Disease Research Centre. Her aim: to deepen her understanding of tropical diseases—particularly liver fluke infections, a major public health issue in Southeast Asia. With prior histopathology experience at Singapore General Hospital and a strong academic record, Ms. Liew hopes this immersive research placement will empower her to contribute to global efforts in disease diagnostics and prevention.
Her journey reflects a new wave of medical students who actively seek real-world, cross-cultural scientific exposure. By working alongside leading Thai researchers, she is gaining hands-on experience in molecular diagnostics, public health fieldwork, and translational research that bridges lab discoveries with community health.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohamed Rifshan Ismail, a plastic surgery fellow from the Maldives currently affiliated with Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University in Bangkok, has arrived at KKU for a four-week observership in the Department of Surgery. His visit focuses on advanced reconstructive techniques and interdisciplinary collaboration. His training marks a meaningful step in regional capacity-building through medical partnerships between South and Southeast Asia.
This dual exchange reflects Khon Kaen University’s strategic vision to become a leading hub for international collaboration in healthcare and research. Under its “Internationalization Transformation” strategy, KKU continues to foster academic partnerships that not only benefit its local community but also support the development of global medical knowledge.
As borders blur and health challenges transcend geography, partnerships like this showcase the power of shared learning and mutual respect in shaping the future of medicine.
Experiential learning, cross-cultural exchange, and multidisciplinary collaboration shape future global healthcare professionals.
In a compelling display of international medical collaboration, the Faculty of Medicine at Khon Kaen University (KKU), one of Thailand’s leading academic medical centres, has celebrated the completion of its international elective programme, hosting participants from Lao PDR and Japan. The programme offered a rare opportunity for hands-on learning within Thailand’s healthcare system—extending beyond clinical skills to include deep engagement with cultural, social, and team-based dimensions of patient care.
Dr. Vilason Singthong, a physician from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences in Lao PDR, spent the month of May undertaking a clinical elective in Palliative Care at the university’s Karunruk Palliative Care Centre. In a field that demands both clinical precision and emotional sensitivity, Dr. Singthong engaged in holistic end-of-life care, focusing not merely on symptom control but on improving quality of life for patients and their families. The experience underscored the central role of interdisciplinary teamwork in supporting patients through their final stages of life.
Meanwhile, Mr. Eisuke Kon, a medical student from Kyorin University in Japan, immersed himself in two key disciplines. From 6 to 16 May, he observed practices in General Surgery, including diagnostic decision-making, pre- and post-operative patient care, and the intricacies of surgical workflow. From 19 to 30 May, he transitioned to Emergency Medicine, where he experienced the intensity of acute care—triaging patients, making split-second clinical judgments, and coordinating with multi-professional teams under pressure.
Throughout their time at KKU, both participants explored the nuances of Thailand’s health system—working alongside Thai clinicians, engaging directly with patients, and witnessing how cultural context shapes medical practice. The programme also served as a platform for meaningful reflection, allowing the participants to compare healthcare models across borders and share insights from their home countries.
What emerged from the experience was more than technical knowledge. It was a profound exchange of values, perspectives, and professional philosophies—cultivating what educators now recognise as a critical skill in 21st-century medicine: cross-cultural clinical competence. In a globalised world, where diseases know no borders, neither should compassion or collaboration.
This elective programme reinforces Khon Kaen University’s role as a regional hub for international medical education—committed to nurturing globally minded healthcare professionals who are not only clinically capable but culturally intelligent and human-centred.
Dr. Vilason Singthong แพทย์จาก Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences ประเทศลาว ได้เข้าร่วม Elective ตลอดเดือนพฤษภาคม ในสาขาเวชศาสตร์ประคับประคอง (Palliative Care) ณ ศูนย์การุณรักษ์ ซึ่งเป็นสาขาที่มีความละเอียดอ่อนทั้งทางคลินิกและมนุษยสัมพันธ์ โดยเน้นการดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะท้ายแบบองค์รวม ไม่ใช่แค่การรักษาโรค แต่คือการประคับประคองคุณภาพชีวิตของผู้ป่วยและครอบครัว ผ่านกระบวนการดูแลร่วมกับทีมสหสาขาวิชาชีพ
Mr. Eisuke Kon นักศึกษาแพทย์จาก Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University ประเทศญี่ปุ่น ได้เลือกศึกษาดูงานใน 2 สาขาหลัก ได้แก่ ศัลยศาสตร์ทั่วไป (6–16 พฤษภาคม 2568) โดยสังเกตการณ์กระบวนการวินิจฉัย การเตรียมการผ่าตัด ตลอดจนการดูแลผู้ป่วยในช่วงก่อนและหลังการผ่าตัด และเวชศาสตร์ฉุกเฉิน (19–30 พฤษภาคม 2568) ซึ่งเน้นการประเมินภาวะฉุกเฉิน การตัดสินใจภายใต้แรงกดดัน และการประสานงานภายในทีมแพทย์เพื่อให้การดูแลผู้ป่วยเป็นไปอย่างรวดเร็วและมีประสิทธิภาพ
“The opportunity to study abroad as a KKU medical student has reshaped my future goals. It sparked a new curiosity in me—not only in surgical innovation, but in international medical collaboration.”
“This international elective gave me a unique opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and immerse myself in a different healthcare culture. It not only expanded my clinical knowledge but also deepened my appreciation for the value of global collaboration in medical education and patient care.”
“This experience has not only improved my clinical perspective but also inspired me to pursue excellence in my future career. It has reinforced my passion for medicine and deepened my understanding of what it means to deliver truly patient-centered care in a collaborative and innovative healthcare environment.”
“To stand beside expert surgeons in a leading European hospital and witness the precision of robotic–assisted surgery was not just an academic opportunity—it was a turning point in how I understand global healthcare.”
“Being part of the ENT team at Case Western Reserve University was a remarkable opportunity that deepened my interest in the specialty and global medicine.”
In a powerful display of international collaboration, 11 medical students from Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom have completed a month-long clinical exchange program hosted by the Faculty of Medicine at Khon Kaen University (KKU). The program, which ran from April 9 to May 8, 2025, welcomed students from four globally recognized institutions: Wakayama Medical University and Fujita Health University School of Medicine (Japan), The University of Adelaide (Australia), and Imperial College London (UK).
The exchange participants included: Wakayama Medical University:
Ms. Ayaka Miyama
Ms. Moe Otori
Mr. Maya Seki
Mr. Yusuke Kojima
Fujita Health University School of Medicine:
Mr. Tsukushi Suzuki
Ms. Yurika Funakoshi
Mr. Yuki Marui
Mr. Akitoshi Miyajima
The University of Adelaide:
Ms. Maia Alessandra Kat
Ms. Erica Barbara Turner
Imperial College London:
Mr. Keeran Mahendra-Kumar
Designed to foster global learning and medical skill-building, the program placed final-year medical students in clinical rotations across key specialties such as radiology, emergency medicine, general surgery, OB-GYN, pediatric surgery, psychiatry, ENT, and more, all under the guidance of experienced Thai physicians at Srinagarind Hospital.
Beyond medical training, participants immersed themselves in Thailand’s healthcare system, gaining firsthand insight into patient care delivery, diagnostic tools, and the strong sense of compassion that underpins medical practice in the country. Many students shared how impressed they were by the professionalism, kindness, and warmth of both the teaching staff and hospital personnel.
But learning extended beyond the hospital walls.
During a lively Cultural Exchange Day, each nationality stepped into the role of cultural ambassador:
Thailand: Thai students demonstrated the traditional art of ribbon fish weaving—a symbolic craft representing abundance and well-being.
Australia: Students introduced Fairy Bread and the beloved Tim Tam biscuit—both staples of Australian childhood and national pride.
United Kingdom: British students recreated a classic tea ritual, highlighting the deeply rooted tradition of tea drinking in British culture.
Japan: Japanese participants shared the delicate art of origami, with special emphasis on the crane (Oritsuru), a symbol of peace and longevity.
Indonesia: Also participating in the exchange activities was Andi Nurul Fadillah, a master’s student from Indonesia, who added a unique perspective by showcasing the beauty of Bali and other iconic destinations. She brought souvenirs and shared cultural stories, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere during the event.
As the exchange coincided with Songkran—Thailand’s world-famous New Year water festival—participants joined in the traditional celebrations hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, adding an unforgettable splash of culture to their journey.
They also explored cultural and historical landmarks in Khon Kaen and the northeastern region of Thailand, creating bonds and memories that extended far beyond clinical learning.
This international exchange exemplifies Khon Kaen University’s commitment to global medical education, cultural understanding, and sustainable healthcare development. It not only equips future doctors with clinical skills but also nurtures empathy, cross-cultural communication, and international cooperation—cornerstones of modern global health.
เมื่อวันที่ 2 พฤษภาคม ที่ผ่านมา คณะแพทยศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น เปิดบ้านต้อนรับนักศึกษาแพทย์จาก 3 ประเทศ ได้แก่ ญี่ปุ่น ออสเตรเลีย และสหราชอาณาจักร รวมทั้งสิ้น 11 คน จาก 4 สถาบันชั้นนำระดับโลก ได้แก่ Wakayama Medical University และ Fujita Health University School of Medicine (ญี่ปุ่น), The University of Adelaide (ออสเตรเลีย) และ Imperial College London (สหราชอาณาจักร) ที่เดินทางมาแลกเปลี่ยนเรียนรู้ด้านเวชปฏิบัติและวัฒนธรรมไทย ระหว่างวันที่ 9 เมษายน – 8 พฤษภาคม 2568
นักศึกษาแลกเปลี่ยนทั้ง 11 คน ประกอบด้วย Wakayama Medical University:
2025年5月2日，泰国孔敬大学医学院热情迎接来自三国的11名医学生，分别来自日本、澳大利亚和英国。这些学生来自四所世界知名学府：和歌山县立医科大学（Wakayama Medical University）、藤田医科大学（Fujita Health University School of Medicine）（日本）、阿德莱德大学（The University of Adelaide）（澳大利亚）以及帝国理工学院（Imperial College London）（英国）。此次交流项目于2025年4月9日至5月8日开展，旨在促进医学临床实践及文化的深入交流。
本次参与交流的11名学生分别是：
和歌山县立医科大学（Wakayama Medical University）：
Ayaka Miyama 女士
Moe Otori 女士
Maya Seki 先生
Yusuke Kojima 先生
藤田医科大学（Fujita Health University School of Medicine）：
