Category: Internaitonal Visitor

H.E. Mr. Allan McKinnon PSM, Australian Ambassador to Thailand paid his first official visit to Khon Kaen University on 31 March 2022. He met with Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University and other KKU administrators to discuss the feasibility of further academic collaboration between Australian universities and Khon Kaen University such as student exchange programs, human resource developments, and research.

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University was one of the KKU administrators to welcome and discuss the collaboration between MDKKU and the Australian universities. He said, “As an alumnus of Australia, I have a great pleasure and honor to welcome H.E. Mr. Allan McKinnon to Khon Kaen University today. I look forward to giving full support, in my capacity as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, to make our collaboration with Australia fruitful”.

KKU also welcomed two senior staff from the Australian Embassy who accompanied the Ambassador, Ms. Anita Wise, Second Secretary for Political Affairs and Mr. Chanapat Maneedul, Senior Staff on Political Affairs.

The meeting was held in the Sarasin Meeting Room, KKU, and the following administrators also joined the discussion:

1. Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President KKU

2. Associate Professor Nawarat Wara-Aswapati, Vice President for International Affairs

3. Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

4. Associate Professor Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Dean, College of Local Administration

5. Associate Professor Jureerat Daduang, Dean, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences

6. Associate Professor Darunee Jothityangkoon, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture

7. Associate Professor Pensri Jaroenwanit, Dean, Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (KKBS)

8. Dr. Ploypailin Kikasiwat, Asistant Dean for International and Communication Affairs, Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (KKBS)

9. Assistant Professor Sirimonbhorn Thipsingh, Dean, Khon Kaen University International College

10. Assistant Professor Chavis Ketkaew, Associate Dean for Strategy, Research, and International Affairs, Khon Kaen University International College

11. Associate Professor Teekayu Plangkoon Jorns, Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies and International Affairs, Faculty of Dentistry

12. Assistant Professor Thanapauge Chamaratana, Assistant to the Dean for Academic and International Affairs, the Faculty of Humanities and Sochoal Sciences

13. Mrs. Wilawan Ungsunantawiwat, Acting Director, International Affairs Division

on February 24, 2022, Associate Professor Wimonrat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Affairs, MD, welcomed Dr. Andrea Grillo from the Italian Society of Nephrology and Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest Local Health Unit Northwest Tuscany, Italy, to a meeting with colleagues from MD-KKU Chronic Kidney Disease Research Team.

The meeting, held in Kawee Tungsubutr Meeting Room, MD-KKU, was to exchange and compare academic knowledge and management of Kidney Disease prevention for populations in the northeast region of Thailand and in Meso, or, Central America Continent: Nicaragua.

The meeting discussed possibilities for cooperative research projects between relevant teams across Thailand, Italy, and Nicaragua.

Speakers at the meeting were:

1. Dr. Andrea Grillo, PhD, on “CKD in Nicaragua”,
2. Associate Professor Sirirat Anutrakulchai, MD, CKD Research Group, MD-KKU, on KKU “CKD Net”, and
3. Assistant Professor Dr. Ubol Cha-on, CKD Research Group, MD-KKU, on “Community/ Basic research to detect the root of problems and for sustainable correction”

Others Thai delegates who participated in the meeting were:

1) Dr. Jutarop Petcharaburanin, MBBS, PhD, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations

2) Professor John F. Smith, PhD, International Relations Office

3) Professor Somchai Pinlaor, PhD, Parasitology Department

4) Dr. Amod Sharma, PhD, CKD Research Group

5) Assist. Prof. Dr. Ratthaphol  Kraiklang from the Public Health Faculty, Khon Kaen University.

6) Dr. Apinya Jusakul, from the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University.

7) Dr. Apisit Chaidee, from the Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

Here is a news link about KKU’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS): Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET) https://www.kku.ac.th/12104.

Reported by Duangsamorn Chankwang, IR Office, MD-KKU

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University recently welcomed Professor Piotr (Peter) Sicinski, MD, PhD, Department of Genetics, and Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Ferber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, USA, to MD-KKU.  Professor Sicinski visited Khon Kaen between 9 and 13, 2022, as an overseas visiting professor in the Division of Research and International Relations Affairs.  During his visit he was the keynote speaker on “Cell cycle machinery in development and in cancer” at the Joint symposium of Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program (PMAYP) and eAsia Meeting on “Targeting cell cycle for precision treatment of cancer” and “Advanced technology for cancer research”.  He also gave a special talk on “How a medical doctor came to be outstanding scientist” and contributed to “Meet the mentor” supervisory round table discussion.  Professor Sicinski to MD-KKU give our medical students valuable opportunity to interact with a world class clinician/ researcher, to stimulate their future medical practice and research.

Associate Professor Wimonrat Sriraj, MD, Associate Dean for Research and International Affairs, Professor Sopit Wongkham, Associate Professor Atith Silsirivanit, Acting Head of Department of Biochemistry, and Dr. Jarupong Saengboonmee, Department of Biochemistry, MD-KKU, also participated the joint symposium.

At a business meeting on February 11, 2022, Dean Apichat Jiravuttipong and Professor Peter Sicinski, discussed:

• the development of collaborative research between MD-KKU and Dana-Farbor Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, with Professor Peter Sicinski and Dr. Jarupong Saengboonmee as Principal Investigators.
• the development of a joint course between MD-KKU and Harvard Medical School. Fortunately, Professor Peter is the Director of that particular course at Harvard Medical School.
• the Dean also arranged for Professor Sicinski to visit the Kidney Dialysis Unit in the HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana Memorial Building in Srinagarind Hospital.

Professor Sicinski also have discussed with Associate Dean for Research and International Relations approaches for promoting medical students’ research skills.  Reported by Duangsamorn Chankwang, IR Office, MD-KKU

Associate Professor Naesinee Chaiear, MD, MMedSc, PhD, Chief, Div of Occupational Medicine, Dept of Community Medicine, and Chief, Occupational Health and Safety Office, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand will oversee a Clinical Fellow in Occupational Medicine for Dr. Balachandar S Sayapathi, MBBS, DrPH, Occupational Medicine Sub-specialty candidate, Public Health Development Division, Ministry of Public Health, Malaysia, from September to December 2021.

        This sabbatical placement as the Clinical Fellow in Occupational Medicine will include clinical observation of patients with work-related or occupational diseases, and in other areas, such as; dermatology, respiratory conditions, ENT, etc., plus study visits to industries in Khon Kaen Province and nearby areas. In addition, Dr. Balachandar S Sayapathi is also observing the occupational health management and occupational health service for the Faculty’s staff and employee.

On March 15, 2021, Professor Kondo Hisatake, Department of Anatomy, paid a courtesy visit to Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, for the renewal of his KKU International Resident Professor ship from December 25, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

Professor Kondo Hisatake has been a KKU International Resident Professor visiting the Department of anatomy, the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University since 2012. He is also a:

1. A member of the Board of Directors of the JapaneseAssociation of Anatomists
2. A member of the medical doctorate qualification committee in the National Institution for Academic Degrees, an outside branch of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan
3. A member of the evaluation committee of JSPS (Japan Science Promotion Society)
4. A member of the Board of Directors of the Japanese Association ofAnatomy

A representative(=dean) of the School of Medicine for the Council of Tohoku University

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University welcomed Miss Alexandra McKenzie, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Bangkok, and delegates, on her visit to visit the MD-KKU laboratory that first discovered Innate Immunity factors relating to Cholangiocarcinoma.  The purpose of the visit was to follow up the progress of Newton-Funded collaboration between UK Universities and MD-KKU.  The welcome was held on March 12, 2021, in Nong Waeng Meeting room, Dean’s Office.

Professor Banchob Sripa, Principal Investigator, MD-KKU Tropical Disease Research Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis,  presented on the collaborative work of the “Newton Funded liver fluke research between University of Liverpool-UK and MD-KKU”.  Following that, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy and delegates visited the Tropical Disease Research Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease).

The major Newton Fund collaborative research between the two institutions focuses on the mechanism of innate immunity in Cholangiocarcinoma.  This phenomena was first reported on by this collaborative project and has resulted in 2 international publications to date and another in preparation.

Over the past 5-years (2015-2020), MD-KKU and University of Liverpool has had active academic exchanges 6 undergraduate students, 2 master degree students, 2 Junior staff. Master degree students from Liverpool University have researched   innate immunity in cholangiocarcinoma at MD-KKU for 9 months, with University of Liverpool staff visiting for supervision.  In 2017, MD-KKU hosted an international conference with University of Liverpool, and the same year, the Dean of MD-KKU and administrators visited the School of Tropical Medicine at University of Liverpool.

Over the past five years, UK Research Funding awards to the MD-KKU Tropical Disease Research Laboratory and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease) include:

• Newton Fund Institution Link Grant.   
• The Royal Society
• Newton Fund Impact Scheme

And, a recent grant submission to the UK Medical Research Fund (MRC) has been approved in the first evaluation round.

In addition to the collaborative research activities with Tropical Diseases Research Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis, there is another MD-KKU research group that has received Newton Fund Project Grant support.  It is the Research Project  “Targeting the FOXM1 signature for early diagnosis and treatment in Cholangiocarcinoma” (2016-2018) an active e collaboration between an Imperial College London (ICL)  research team led  by  Professor Eric Lam, Department of Surgery and Cancer, ICL, Principal Investigator, and a MD-KKU research team led by  Professor Sopit Wongkham, Co-investigator.

On this visit, the Deputy Head of Mission, and her delegates learnt about the MD-KKU’s International Researchers’ achievements and further opportunities for collaborative partnerships to sustain research leadership and promote SMART HEALTHCARE connectivity.

Other delegates from British Embassy were Miss Pafan Aumnuysawat, Assistant for Marketing and Investment, and Miss Lalita Filhavest, Newton Fund Manager.

MD-KKU Dean’s colleagues attending the meeting were;

Assoc. Prof. Wimonrat Sriraj, MD Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs;

Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin Assistant to the Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs;

Prof. Banchob Sripa, Principal Investigator, Tropical Disease Research Center & Department of Pathology;

Prof. John F. Smith English Specialist;

Asst. Prof. Sutas Suttiprapa, Asst. Prof. Prasert Saichua, Dr Kanin Salao,   and Dr. Sujittra Chaiyadet, all from the Tropical Diseases Research Center and Postgraduate Students.

On December 21, 2020, delegates from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Thailand Office visited Khon Kaen University and the Faculty of Medicine to discuss further collaborative possibilities for capacity building the Emergency Medicine Network to support the implementation of a sustainable Emergency Care System in Lao PDR.

The JICA delegation was led by Mr. Yuasa Keiichiro, Senior Representative, and Mr. Shuchi Ikeda, JICA Expert dispatched to NIEM.  The KKU and Faculty of Medicine representatives were, Associate Professor Maitree Inprasitha, Vice President for Education and Academic Services, Assistant Professor Acharawan Topark-Ngarm, Assistant to the President for International Affairs, Associate Professor Somsak Tiamkao, Head, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relation Affairs. The discussions were held at Meeting Room 2 (5203), 2nd floor, Wechwichakarn Building, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

The implementation of a sustainable Emergency Care Network in Laos PDR project is a joint project between Khon Kaen University Thailand, University of Tsukuba, Japan, and University of Health Science, Laos PDR, to improve emergency medical services in Lao PDR. The Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University is entrusted by the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and the University of Health Science, Lao PDR, to become the training center for emergency medical personal. Associate Professor Somsak Tiamkao, Head, Department of Emergency Medicine, is the project supervisor and evaluator for the Lao PDR doctors in training.  Already, 8 doctors whom have graduated from this training program in the Faculty of Medicine Khon Kaen University.

Written by: Natakon Naowarojna

International Relations Office, Research and International Relations Affairs

Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

On December 7, 2020, Mr. Simon Royle, Country Director Indochina, and Mr. Stuart Shaw, Chief Marketing Officer Indochina, DB Result Pty Ltd visited the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University to discuss the possibility of collaboration in developing digital transformation for healthcare.

The Faulty of Medicine led by Assistant Professor Chavakij Bhoomibunchoo, Associate Dean for Medical Hub and Center of Excellence, Associate Professor Wimonrat Sriraj, Associate Dean for Research and International Affairs, Assistant Professor Paitoon Patiyannawat, Assistant to the Dean for Medical Hub and Center of Excellence, Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant to the Dean for Research and International Affairs, and Mrs. Duangsamorn Chankwang, Head, International Relations Office, welcomed the delegates.

DB Result Pty Ltd. is an award winning Australian digital business consulting and technology company with strong capability in the healthcare sector. The DB Results Pty Ltd. Australia offered the Faculty of Medicine collaboration in implementing software to upgrade and increase Srinagarind Hospital’s work efficiency by replacing some paper-based systems with computer-based systems

Written by: Natakon Naowarojna

International Relations Officer

Research and International Relations Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

All are invited to join online conference on the topic “Hybrid Clinical Rounds: When Bedside Meets Virtual” which will be held on June, 3^rd2020, 8 AM CDT (20.00-21.00 Thailand)

Speakers: Aarti Bavare, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Critical Medicine

Director, Rapid Response Team and CPR Quality

Jordana Goldman, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Critical Medicine

Director, Critical Care Quality and Safety

Satid Thammasitboon, MD, MHPE, Associate Professor of Pediatric Critical Medicine

Director, Center for Research, Innovation and Scholarship in Medical Education

All from Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

Moderator: Rosawan Areemit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

Link: Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89721488222?pwd=ZUhZcmtzclhmSytpZjJ0Y3VoejZ4dz09

Meeting ID: 897 2148 8222

Password: 051034