Category: News

Over March 18-22, 2024, Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University received its 2^nd hospital quality inspection visit by the JOINT COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL(JCI) Re-accreditation team.

We are pleased to announce that Queen Sirikit Heart Center was re-accredited, with JCI accreditation renewed for 3 years from March 23, 2024 to March 22, 2027.

Queen Sirikit Heart Center is thus certified as an international standard hospital by the USA- based JCI and with advanced HA quality certification from the Thai-based Healthcare Quality Accreditation Institute.

Source: https://th.kku.ac.th/180871/

Reporters: Sathaphorn Onlamun & Waratchaya Rachpoochai

Editor: Prof. John F Smith

MDKKU congratulates Prof. Sopit Wongkham and Assoc. Prof. Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn, two Biochemistry Department professors, on their appointments as Visiting Professors at Kumamoto University, Japan from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On September 25, 2023, MD-KKU congratulated Miss Orasa Panawan and Miss Saowaluk Saisomboon, the two latest graduates from the Double Ph.D. Degree Program (DDP) between Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, MD-KKU and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kumamoto University (KU), Japan.

Miss Panawan was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Atit Silsirivanit and Assoc. Prof. Norie Araki, and Miss Saisomboon was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn and Prof. Seiji Okada.  Assoc. Prof. Vaeteewoottacharn and Assoc. Prof. Silsirivanit, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program representatives, also attended the students’ graduation day.

The DDP agreement between Kumamoto University and Khon Kaen University was initiated in 2017, and now also includes Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Faculties of Medicine and Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, and Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On July 27, 2023, MD-KKU welcomed four pharmacy students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia. They participated in a training program at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, KKU between July 8 and 30, 2023.

They also met the Directors of Nursing and Pharmacy Divisions of Srinagarind Hospital and were introduced to our pharmacy services and also visited Ward 4A to see our medical service system.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU-MD recently welcomed Professor Dr. Margaret Harris School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Australia, together with seven nursing students: Miss Katie Hole, Miss Lili Philipott, Miss Elena Norley, Miss Cassidy Wildman, Miss Jillian Brow, Miss Brianna Jenkins, and Miss Shelly Kleefsman. They participated in an exchange program at the Faculty of Nursing, KKU between June 25 and July 8, 2023.

On June 29, 2023, Assistant Professor Dr. Samoraphop Banharak, Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and International Affairs, Faculty of Nursing, KKU, led them on a visit to Samliam Primary Care Unit of Srinagarind Hospital. They saw this medical service system that integrates medical, nursing, psychological, and social sciences knowledge for treatment, rehabilitation, health promotion and disease prevention in this urban setting.

On July 3, 2023, they met the Director of Nursing Division of Srinagarind Hospital and were introduced to the hospital nursing service system and also visited the SEMI Medical Intensive Care Unit 4B.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

KKU delegates led by Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine together with Asst. Prof. Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations, KKU-MD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Watcharin Loilome, Director, Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute (CARI), Dr. Poramate Klanrit, researcher, CARI, Dr. Arporn Wangwiwatsin, researcher, CARI, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Penprapa Phetcharaburanin, advisor for Museum and Lifelong Learning Center, visited the United Kingdom between May 7 and 14, 2023.

The first visit was to the University of Liverpool. KKU delegates toured research facilities in the Biosciences Building, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing the field of biological sciences. They also visited the Digital Innovation Facility, a leading center for digital technology development and industrial application in the UK, and the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Labs, Sherrington Building. The visit to the University of Liverpool was very meaningful for KKU especially in research and development.

KKU delegates visit the University of Liverpool.

At the University of York, they participated in short presentations and roundtable discussions and visited the Biology Building to be shown the Bioscience Technology Facility, where access to technology and research services for the biosciences in academia and industry is provided for the university and others throughout the world.

KKU delegates visit the University of York.

Another visit was at the Wellcome Genome Campus undertaking genome and biodata research. The Campus also provides bioinformatics resources for the global scientific community and delivers vital training in genomics and biodata to scientists and clinicians. At the Campus, KKU delegates delivered presentations about KKU Phenome Centre and the Faculty of Medicine, and also had a roundtable discussion on collaborative research development.

KKU delegates visit the Wellcome Genome Campus.

KKU delegates present about KKU Phenome Centre and KKU-MD.

Imperial College London was the last visit on the program. There, the delegates discussed MOU renewal and possibilities for further education and research collaboration between the College and KKU Faculty of Medicine especially with our Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute.

On this occasion the delegates also participated in the AMMF 2023 European Cholangiocarcinoma Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport and attended the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Thailand Talk by Dr. Ruengsin Thennadee and the Professor Narong Khuntikeo Memorial Lecture by Professor Ross Andrews.

This UK visit greatly strengthened KKU-MD’s international collaboration relationships, in medical research and educational development, and teaching exchange and research documentation opportunities.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

The latest QS World University Rankings for Medicine (2023), KKU-MD ranked among the top 301–350 medical schools in the world, in the top 60 in Asia, and in the top 4 in Thailand.

The six indicators that determine the QS World University Ranking 2023 are academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international student ratio and international faculty ratio.

This year’s QS World University Rankings included almost 1,500 institutions from around the world. The highest rankings included universities from diverse locations across Europe, Asia and North America, and not just traditionally iconic institutions.

Source: https://www.topuniversities.com/subject–rankings/2023

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On March 29, 2023, twenty exchange students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, visited the Pharmacy Section at the Chemotherapy Ward 5E, Srinagarind Hospital, hosted by Asst. Prof. Suthan Chanthawong, PhD, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, KKU.

These exchange students participated in a pharmaceutical profession training program at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, KKU from March 20 to April 20, 2023.

Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun

Editing by Prof. John F Smith

On behalf of His Majesty the King, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the Commencement Ceremony of Khon Kaen University for the year 2022

Photo Illustration: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn bestowed an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular-biology to Professor Norie ARAKI, on December 19, 2022

On December 20, 2022, the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University hosted the Congratulatory Ceremony for the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular-biology awarded to Professor Norie ARAKI, Department of Tumor Genetics and Biology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Science, Kumamoto University, Japan.  The Venue was the Fah Mui Rooms 1-2, Pullman Raja Orchid Hotel, Khon Kaen. 

Participants at the Ceremony were Professor Professor Chanchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravutthipong, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Professor Norie ARAKI, Professor Tomohiro ARAKI, Associate Professor Wimorat Sriraj, Associate Dean for Research and International Affairs, Professor Sopit Wongkham, and distingshed guests.

Photo Illustration: Baisi Ceremony (Thai blessing ceremony).

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravutthipong, express the Faculty’s congratulations to Professor Norie ARAKI on the award of her KKU Honorary Doctorate Degree in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and our gratitude for the longstanding friendship between Kumamoto University and Khon Kaen University.  Professor Araki has been a key person in weaving the strong connection, not only between the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University and the Faculty of Medicine but also with other Faculties at Khon Kaen University, such as Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences.   For over twenty years, Professor Araki has put much effort into support our staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students from Khon Kaen University.

The Dean also expressed our deep gratitude to Professor Araki for her long-time support, collaboration, and generosity to our Faculty members and students.   And the hope that this warm friendship will endure and grow forever.

This congratulatory ceremony on December 20, 2022, was arranged by Department of Biochemistry and the Research and International Relations Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, KKU.

News written by Duangsamorn Chankwang, English Editing by Professor John F. Smith