Category: News

The results of the QS Asia University Rankings 2022 were announced on November 2, 2021.  From the 675 universities participating, Khon Kaen University was ranked as 5^th in Thailand and 133^rd in Asia.  It is also ranked #801-1000 in QS Global World Rankings 2022, and ranked 351–400 for Medicine.

Khon Kaen university is 5th top public university in Thailand

The QS Asia University Rankings are based on 11 key indicators including academic and employer reputations, the number of staff holding a PhD, and the percentage of international students. The methodology used to create the ranking is similar to that used to create the QS World University Rankings, but with a few additional indicators and weightings. This set of criteria, developed in collaboration with regional experts and stakeholders, is intended to reflect key priorities for Asian universities by utilizing as much available data as possible.

The 11 indicators used to compile the QS Asia University Rankings are as follows:

1. Academic reputation (30%)
2. Employer reputation (20%)
3. Faculty/student ratio (10%)
4. International research network (10%)
5. Citations per paper (10%)
6. Papers per faculty (5%)
7. Staff with a PhD (5%)
8. Proportion of international faculty (2.5%)
9. Proportion of international students (2.5%)
10. Proportion of inbound exchange students (2.5%)
11. Proportion of outbound exchange students (2.5%)

The overall results of the QS Asia University Rankings are published in an interactive online table, which allows users to compare universities’ performance on individual indicators, or view those with the highest combined scores. To fully access the table, you need to log in or register as a site member – this is free and allows you to access exclusive content and resources.

(Source: https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/asian-university-rankings/2022)

Written by: Kanyakan Muangson

Edited by: Professor John F Smith PhD.

On January 13, 2022, Associate Professor Pattarapong Makarawate, MD, Director of Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast (QSHC), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, presided over the ‘Infection Control DAY 2022’ event and gave a keynote speech on the topic “Quality Guidelines for QSHC Management.”

The Ministry of Public Health and KKU-MD administrators are continuously reviewing and providing the latest information on universal precautions for safety of individuals in our care as part of the National Patient and Personnel Safety Goals Program (2PSG).

Written by: Kanyakan Muangson

Edited by: Professor John F Smith PhD.

The Breast Disease Society of Thailand hosted their 14th Annual Academic Meeting 2021 at the Siam Crown Prince Room, 50th Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty the King Building, Bangkok on December 24 – 26, 2021. The meeting’s goal was to keep up with and exchange interdisciplinary ideas on the treatment of breast cancer patients in Thailand.

Srinagarind Hospital was named the winner of the ‘Data management and information system for breast cancer patients’ award, as well as the second runner-up in the ‘Pre–analytic process quality and multidisciplinary team’ category’.

Doctors from faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University attended the meeting where the awards were announced.  Associate Professor Dr.Supinda Koonmee, from  the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University and her team were invited to speak on the topic of Pre-Analytic Show Cases, as well as to  announce  the 2021 Breast Cancer Information System Development Contest and award,   a collaboration between the Association of Breast Diseases and the Pathology Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. Lt . gen. Associate Professor. Dr.Wichai Wasanasiri, President of the Breast Disease Society of Thailand, presented  the awards to the various hospitals.

The two categories of awards, were presented to the hospitals below;

Category 1: Pre–analytic process quality and multidisciplinary team

Winner: Namarak Hospital.

First runner-up: Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital.

Srinagarind Hospital and Vachira Phuket Hospital received the second runner–up award.

Category 2: Data management and information system for breast cancer patients

Winner: Srinagarind Hospital.

First runner-up: Namarak Hospital.

Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital and Udon Thani Hospital received the second runner-up award.

Written by: Kanyakan Muangson

Edited by: Professor John F Smith PhD

MD-KKU students were actively involved in World Hearing Day 2021 activities

Master of Science (Communication Disorder) students, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, produced short videos on hearing loss signs and symptoms in both children and older people to raise the awareness of hearing loss and encourage people to seek medical services in their area.  They also produced leaflets on newborn hearing screening, including how to access hearing services in the area.  Policy makers also sponsored a newborn hearing screening pilot project.

This ENT Department pilot program helps to screen and detect the hearing ability of newborns throughout the whole Health Region 7 area, and is separated from the hospital screening program for hearing loss only.

Those activities were reported in WHO website https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/world-hearing-day-2021—report-of-activities

Pregnancy of acardiac twins (twin-reversed arterial perfusion sequence) is an abnormality considered a severe case because of the disorder of the twins’ arteries, leading to abnormal development of the babies, i.e., only lower organs grow while no growth develops for the upper trunk and head. The blood from the decently developed fetus will transfer itself to nurture the disorderly growing fetus, leading to heart failure and eventually death of both.

Asst. Prof. Kiattisak Kongwattanakul, M.D., a specialist of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University revealed that treatment of such case necessitates ablation of the abnormal umbilical artery of one baby in order save the other baby. The surgery needs a specialist and advanced equipment. It is the first time at Srinagarind Hospital and the first time in Thailand for this ablation for cord coagulation. The outcome is saving the babies from heart failure and allowing future pregnancy of the mother.

November 11, 2021 – a team of specialists of Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, consisting of Asst. Prof. Kiattisak Kongwattanakul, M.D. and Asst. Prof. Ratana Khamwilaisak, M.D., from the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, with Doctor Anucha Ahuya, M.D., a specialist in body interventional radiology, Department of Radiology and Doctor Monsicha Somjit, M.D., a specialist of the Department of Anesthesiology; and the nurse team from the delivery room, performed the surgery on the case by microwave ablation for cord coagulation. The mission was a complete success! The mother is now under rehabilitation while the babies are taken very close care of. It is the first time ever in Thailand!

The equipment and tools have been procured for this purpose from the Social Security Unit of Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, KKU, which cost 30,000 baht.

Support content : https://www.kku.ac.th/12232

Under WHO Global Agenda and Thailand’s Constitutional Law every patient has the rights to receive basic medical care.  Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University Telemedicine Service helps to meet this right, especially, during the travel and social restriction periods associate with COVID-19 pandemic.

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, encourages our hospital to use digital age of communication services to increase people’s health care access during this COVID-19 crisis and social distancing and travel restriction requirements, telemedicine services can help reduce hospital services’ crowding, and reach out into the community via, its medicine postal delivery functions.

The pandemic situation is a catalyst for all sectors to adopt   innovative technology that makes a difference, in reducing infection risk and clinic waiting times, and decreases travel and health care access expenditure stress.

Our specialist doctors can provide long-distance telemedicine consultation for patients and district and community health services.

This online service is increasingly popular from the SMC, Srinagarind Hospital.  For more information, please contact Special Medical Center (SMC), Line ID: @925lcmck

Another key best practice of telemedicine option is “Postal medicine delivery” which has received high customer satisfaction ratings.  Both Professor Songsak Kiatchoosakun, MD, Director of Srinagarind Hospital, and Deputy Director Professor Somsak Tiamkao, MD, support and encourage the “Postal medicine delivery” approach to

decrease COVID-19 infection risk and improve patient services.

Patients registered under, either;

• Thailand Social Security Scheme, or
• Thailand Government or State Enterprise Office & Local Government Office Scheme,

have no need to come to hospital to receive.

Criteria for using Medicine Postal Delivery Scheme:

1)  Patient with stable illness status, has uses same medicine and dose, continuously for at least 6 months, without complication; 2) Medicine which is not dangerous, and will not deteriorate during the delivery.  Medicines not eligible for postal delivery are; strictly controlled medicines such as chemotherapy drugs, those that require chilled or low temperature storage, and psychoactive drugs; 3) Patients must register for this “Postal medicine delivery” program prior to their medicine running out.  Please register via LINE Official: @247tktko

The Online International Postgraduate Student Conference on “Striving for a Successful Postgraduate Research” from the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) will be held during 11 – 13 November 2021.
The organizing committee has a competition period where students can present a 3-minute oral presentation based on the following subject areas:

– Engineering
– Science
– Humanities and Social Sciences
– Architecture and Design
– Business Management

For queries, please contact Ms.Yani, Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Sukolito Surabaya Indonesia
Email: int_off@its.ac.id or learn more information from the website https://www.its.ac.id/international/ipsconf/

Deadline of extended abstract submission: 30 September 2021.
Registration: 31 October 2021
Conference date: 11-13 November 2021
3-minute oral presentation: 13 November 2021

September 22, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. – Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University presided over the opening ceremony for the advanced technological learning project by means of the ‘Metaverse Experience’, a project run by KKU Library. KKU is among the first universities in Thailand to introduce the metaverse experience or a supporting tool for learning that will inspire students, staff members and even the public to acquire knowledge.

Metaverse is a digital virtual world that, when fully developed, will be a place where people can interact as if there is another entity in the digital world. It has been predicted that in the future, people will be living in two worlds equally. Access to life in the metaverse can be done through Virtual Reality (VR), which, at present, is something being competed by leading technological companies such as Facebook, Google, Tencent, or Microsoft, in terms of the technologies that will increase the convenience of users. In the meantime, the virtual world and its ecosystem are being developed for readiness to enter the metaverse in the close future.

Khon Kaen University as the Learning Center for All is aware of the quick changes in technologies or the technological disruption that will lead towards the transforming of the lifestyles of people in the near future, especially the development towards the metaverse. KKU Library has therefore come up with the project that promotes learning through metaverse experience. Under the project, VR Headsets are procured in order to enable users to have contact in the virtual world. The device is a bridge that spans the gap between the real and the virtual worlds. The VR Headsets will be ready for students and staff members as well as the public to use in October this year. The library will be among the first in Thailand that sees the importance of such an advanced technology. The device will allow users to have access to new technologies and platforms that are of interest and that may become the technologies that change the world and lifestyles of us in the near future.

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University explained that Khon Kaen University has a policy to support learning through Metaverse experience as follows: “Metaverse is something Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO mentioned not long ago that Facebook will change to a Metaverse company. We have heard about VR for some time. But now when Metaverse comes into pass, Metaverse will gain its popularity rapidly and will be useful in many aspects, including communication, social media and connection of all people in the world to be at the same virtual world. The technology will also take its roles in entertainment and instruction. I believe that metaverse and VR are the new technologies of the near-future world. Khon Kaen University by the Library has procured the equipment for VR-based learning for students and staff. We are among the first in the country to be using this. When started, students and researchers in KKU should have a chance to develop the thing they are doing and will be able to utilize it for benefits in innovations, instruction, entertainment, and development of channels for future  communication.”

Assoc. Prof, Supat Sinawat, M.D., Director of Khon Kaen University Library said, “The Library is aware of the importance in opportunity building and enhancing a learning atmosphere by means of modern technologies in order to prepare the readiness of KKU people to catch up with the changing world.”

The Metaverse Experience project has been ongoing with academic information support from Asst. Prof. Witcha Fuangchan, Ph.D., an expert in VR technology from the Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University. With his support, VR headsets have been acquired. These headsets are easy to use. They enable uploading of various educational apps that will increase learning experiences such as the app that helps the students of the health science fields to learn and understand human atomy efficiently, for the metaverse experience will provide the 3-dimension perspective for them.

Assoc. Prof, Supat Sinawat, M.D., added, “For high coverage for the use of this advanced technology, the Library will provide the VR headsets at the main library and at the 13 library branches on campus.”

“I am grateful to KKU President for the support to the Library to use this equipment and serve the students, staff, and the public in this respect. We are pleased to invite everyone to experience the new learning platform with the ‘Metaverse Experience’, which is available at all libraries in Khon Kaen University from October, 2021 on.”

Support content : https://kku.ac.th/11956

We are excited to invite you to join the Tropical Medicine Webinar Series via ZOOM on the topic “Asian Schistosomiasis: Prospects for Elimination” by Professor Lydia R. Leonardo, DrPH, Director, Office of Research Coordination, University of the East, Philippines. 

Date: August 20, 2021. Time 10-11 am Bangkok

Register now: https://forms.gle/k829hswm98UCKA7A9

Online by ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://kku-th.zoom.us/j/98023241194?pwd=bmVmMEZCS0s3NEpxVjlxQlBwK09mdz09

Meeting ID: 980 2324 1194

Passcode: 411238

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Faculty of Medicine Khon Kaen University has collaborated with many parties on 6 innovative devices for increasing safety and medical care.

Long Range Stethoscope

The stethoscope is a commonly used medical instrument for checking hearth beat and lung function.  Stethoscope use requires the doctor to be close to the patient which could endanger both patient and the doctor during this crisis. Associate Professor Sarawuth ChaiMool, fom the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering and Dr. Auttipat Arunsawat, from the Faculty of Medicine and Mr. Chinchoti Vetsawanitchakul, second year engineering student invented a long-range stethoscope using wireless technology. This reduces the need for close contact between the patient and the doctor thus reducing the chance of disease transmission.

PAPR Suit (Powered Air Purifying Respirator)

The Powered Air Purifying Respirator (Suit PAPR) draws fresh air through a Virus Filter and is 99.99% effective in filtering bacteria and viruses. It also has a noise cancellation system to prevent noise while in use.

Battery (PAPR)

The Lithium-Ion Battery Institute, Khon Kaen University has now produced more than one thousand batteries (PAPR medical devices). For delivery to The Ministry of Public Health and hospitals all over the country. Scheduled for November to December 2021. It will also reduce the cost of purchasing commercial equipment.

Ozone Generator, Brand Prozone, Model Modified PZ7-2HO

The Ozone Generator, Brand Prozone, Model Modified PZ7 – 2 HO is a bacteria and viruses.

The Ozone Generator converts oxygen to ozone that can penetrate deep surfaces and disinfect well-enclosed space. It has been used to disinfect masks, materials, and PPE suits for medical personnel. It is now being further developed for use in hotel, office, and household setting.  The Innovation and Enterprise (KKU-innoprise) Group, the Faculty of Architecture and Northeast Science Park are working with students on this design and development project.

TOT-KKU SWAP Test Box (Positive Pressure)

TOT-KKU SWAP Test Box (Positive Pressure) is a device for increased safety for health workers and patients during COVID-19 testing. Converted from an old public phone booth donated by the National Telecom Public Company Limited, a UVC lamp and fan have been installed for air sterilization and ventilation system. Wheels for easy movement. The door has been modified with a magnetic open-close  system and there is a tray to hold medical equipment.

Service Robot (TEMI)

The KKU Library has also contributed to stopping COVID-19 transmission by donating Librarian robots to Srinagarind Hospital for servicing patients. The robots can be controlled via mobile phone or tablet with a real-time streaming option to allow doctors to examine high risk patients from a safe distant. A basket can be attached to the robot to allow medicines to be delivered to patients. This invention is another excellent solution for minimizing contact between patient and doctor to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

“Time Line Map” showing COVID-19 patients linkages to assist medical management

KKU Smart City Project works with the government and private sector, via using KKU Science Park to build technologies and innovations that will contribute to community.

The Time Line Map will support the government to manage to COVID-19 patients in the area and those returning to Khon Kaen.

Written by Miss Taksaporn Vongsa-Nga