Category: News

On March 9, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Bayasita Hotel. Khon Kaen University Foreign Affairs Division Organized an activity to strengthen the network of AI in Healthcare under the theme of “AI Khon Kaen, follow your dreams” to exchange ideas and experiences in operating AI in Healthcare among project participants, to promote human potential for artificial intelligence excellence (AI) by studying an online course Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare organized by the MIT Critical Data Team. Following the exchange of knowledge on this occasion, the participants presented management ideas about how to further implement AI operations for Khon Kaen University, namely the management and shared use of centralised information systems, having consulting agencies, continue to develop human resources in AI, as well as promote the integration across sciences. Develop AI courses to gain recognition both nationally and internationally etc.

In addition, this activity was honored by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, who presided as chairman to congratulate the project participants, along with expressing the visions of Khon Kaen University on AI in Healthcare. The president said: “Khon Kaen University aims to provide courses in AI in Healthcare with the objective to produce graduates and qualified staff in AI in Healthcare in Thailand, including providing services and innovations. Innovation has pushed Thailand to be reputable on AI in Healthcare at international level.

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March 3, 2021 – Assoc. Prof. Pattarapong Makornwes, M.D., Director of Queen Sirikit Heart Center told KKU news reporter that the Center has started to use the remote monitoring or the diagnosis and transfer of information of patients with heart diseases – the latest medical innovation. The innovation is based on the application and technology to follow-up the patients with a defibrillator, without the patients having to travel a long way to Sirikit Heart Center.

The technology used in the patient care and treatment can follow up the patient living in a province nearby, who can make a visit to a network hospital in his or her province. The doctor at the network hospital will use the remote monitoring to read the signal from the defibrillator in the patient. All of the information then appears on the tablet monitoring screen at the Center, enabling the doctor at the Center to follow up the treatment conveniently and fast just like the patient comes to the Heart Center.

The Director of Queen Sirikit Heart Center revealed that the Center is the first to use this remote monitoring technology, which is linked to the first group of network hospitals in 8 provinces, and then in this near future, it will be used in the other provinces in the Northeast.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pattarapong Makornwes added that the remote monitoring technology reduces the time and expense of a patient and his or her family who may otherwise have to travel to Khon Kaen. Moreover, it reduces the crowdedness at the Center at over 50%, which, under the surveillance of Covid-19, is good for all that are concerned.

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On February 18, 2021, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Associate Professor Kamolwan Jenwiteesuk, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and other executive officers, represented the Faculty of Medicine in receiving laptop computers from KKU Library represented by Associate Professor Supat Sinawat, Director of the Khon Kaen University Library, and Associate Professor Pipatphong Kanla, Associate Dean for Administration Affairs, KKU Library.

Due to the increasing risk of COVID-19, education systems need to adapt for the safety of both students and teachers.   Future education will increasingly be on computer-based platforms.   To ensure students with limited computer access have equal learning opportunities, Khon Kaen University, has started a rental computer for learning project. The project will be managed by the Faculty of Medicine Library and MDKKU will become the first faculty to start this rental computer for education project.

All are invited to join USF Health International’s Global Health Conversation Series. The theme for Spring 2021 is The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Health Efforts.

Our next session will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EDT. The topic of Dr. Umakanth’s presentation is “Public-Private Partnership During a Pandemic – Experience in Udupi District of India.”

Register click here https://usf.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MU2kHuCuxF9aGa

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, King Rama 10, and Her Majesty the Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, Queen of Thailand, presided at a ceremony on February 15, 2021, to award outstanding civil servants with the Dushdi Mala Medal of Honor. Professor Pisake Lumbiganon, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, was awarded the Dushdi Mala Medal of Honor at this ceremony, with six other professors from other Thai Institutes.

The Dushdi Mala Medal was created in 1882 and is the highest level of award for a Thai civil servant. It is divided in to 9 different fields 1) Humanitarian 2) Education 3) Art 4) Social Science 5) Science 6) Engineer 7) Medicine 8) Agricultural 9) Other field as the committee sees fit. The medal is only awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions to the development and growth of Thailand. Professor Pisake Lumbiganon was Dean for the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, between 2009 – 2013 and his national and international recognition includes:

• President, The Royal Thai College of the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Technical advisor, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
• Technical Consultant, Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Reproductive Health, USA
• Member of the Steering Committee, Task Force for Epidemiological Research in Reproductive Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
• Member of the Editorial Board, WHO Reproductive Health Library, Geneva, Switzerland
• Member of the Core Committee on Perinatal Health, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
• Member of the Health System Research Task Force, The World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
• Maternal and Perinatal Health Near Miss & Preterm Birth Steering Committee, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, The World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
• And many other position internationally.

The Faculty of Medicine heartily congratulates him on this great auspicious occasion.

Written by: Natakon Naowarojna and Santipong Hongseangthai (programer and graphic designer)

International Relations Office, Research and International Relations Affairs

Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

Three more Associate Professors from our  Faculty of Medicine, have  been promoted to full  professor  status, in the latest announcement from the Office of the Prime Minister on February 15, 2021. They  are:

1. Professor Somsak Tiamkao                       Department of Emergency Medicine
2. Professor Jintanaporn Wattanathorn       Department of Physiology
3. Professor Narong Khuntikeo                     Department of Surgery

The Faculty of Medicine  warmly congratulates them on this great acknowledgment of their outstanding  career achievements.

The Thai Government has selected Khon Kaen province as one of 7 prototype cities for the Smart City project, together with Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chachoengsao, and Bangkok. The project includes sub-projects, such as, Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Environment, and Smart Governance. Khon Kaen Province is now focusing its attention on Smart Living and Smart Mobility.   Associate Professor Cholatip Pongskul, Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, has represented “Khon Kaen Smart Living in Khon Kaen Smart City project.  He says Khon Kaen Smart Living project has 3 main areas including Preventive Healthcare Service, Smart Ambulance, and Health Information Exchange. DEPA (Digital Economy Promotion Agency) Thailand and other government agency confirms the importance of smart living and is now working with Khon Kaen Municipality in the areas of Preventive Healthcare Services and Health Information Exchange.  The transformation will create a citizen health data hub from various sources and process them to predict the state of health for each person. The growing numbers of elderly in Thai society is creating new challenges for the healthcare sector.  Some elderly people live alone and are susceptible to many injuries and illness. The Preventive Healthcare Service is creating monitoring project to track specific patient’s living habits and wellbeing so doctors can track their state of health and respond promptly to any accident that might happen to them.   The Smart Ambulance is a new system that will increase ambulance dispatch efficiency and allow paramedics to do simple diagnosis and relay information back to the hospital in advance of the patient’s arrival. This prototype project is currently being tested at Srinagarind Hospital.  When the project is completed and   implemented country wide, it is anticipated Thai citizen’s health status will increase while health personnel’s workload will decrease.

Written by: Natakon Naowarojna

International Relations Office, Research and International Relations Affairs

Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, and Associate Professor Songsak Kiatchoosakun, Director of Srinagarind Hospital, attended the “Shine Light on Cholangiocarcinoma” campaign event on February 11, 2021. Also attending were medical staff and researchers from the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation of Thailand, Cholangiocarcinoma Excellence Center, Srinagarind Hospital, and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Khon Kaen University.

Associate Professor Narong Khuntikeo, Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center said that “12 February of every year is a designated World Cholangiocarcinoma Day”. Cholangiocarcinoma associated organizations around the world come out to promote the danger of Cholangiocarcinoma to the public. The event aims to prevent possible damage from Cholangiocarcinoma which kills more than 20,000 people in the northeast of Thailand each year. This causes a massive cost to the Thai workforce and heavily affects the economy and development of the country. The solution to the problem requires the combined help from citizens, government and private sectors. The solution involves making sure raw fish meals are clean and parasite free, adequate sanitary systems, improvement in education and basic knowledge of the disease, and efficient screening and treatment for Cholangiocarcinoma. . The Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center continues working with others to get rid Thailand of Cholangiocarcinoma and prevent the loss of our loved ones to this disease.”

Written by: Natakon Naowarojna

International Relations Office, Research and International Relations Affairs

Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

On February 8, 2021, Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, hosted the ceremony to mark the start of the construction of the Medical Hub project. Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean, the Faculty of Medicine, Associate Professor Songsak Kiatchoosakun, Director of Srinagarind Hospital, as well as former deans of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Pisake Lumbiganon, Professor Polasak Jeeravipoolvarn, Associate Professor Suchat Areemit, Associate Professor Sompron Pothinam and other staff from the Faculty of Medicine and Srinagarind Hospital, also participated.

The Medical Hub construction budget is over 4,000 Million Baht. When completed the Medical Hub will increase Srinagarind Hospital’s service area by 120,000 square meters. There will be 600 more beds, 25 more operation rooms, 117 ICU rooms as well as 400 units for patients’ relatives housing and parking capacity for 1,000 cars. The construction of the Medical Hub will not only expand Srinagarind Hospital’s clinical services, but also increase MDKKU’s training capacity for an extra 150 doctors each year. It will also expand research and innovation opportunities. The  Medical Hub will not only benefit northeastern Thailand, but surrounding regions as well.

The Medical Hub formal construction start date was   September 15, 2020, when the construction contract was signed   between Khon Kaen University and Christiani & Nielsen (Thai) Public Company Limited.   Representatives from each side were Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University and Mr. Khushroo Kali Wadia, Managing Director and Executive Director of Christiani & Nielsen Thailand Public Co. Ltd.  A contract was also signed with Arun Chaiseri Consulting Engineers Company Limited to supervise the construction with Dr Piyawat Chaisayree as their representative.   Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dr Narongchai Akrasanee, President of the Khon Kaen University Council were also present as witnesses.

Following  the construction plan signing ceremony, on December 25, 2020, a meeting was held to discuss  construction progress on  the phase 1 construction plan, involving a right for construction area, the deconstruction of public road, and landscape transformation.   In attendance were Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University,  Associate Professor Arwut Yimtae, Vice President for Infrastructure and Environment, Khon Kaen University,  Associate Professor Piyawat Foytong, Assistant to the President for Infrastructure and Environment, Khon Kaen University, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean, the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, as well as the board committee in charge of the construction of the medical hub, and representatives from architect firm Nungroisip Ltd. and ATT Consultant Ltd.

Much preparatory planning had led to this day, the formal construction starts for Khon Kaen University’s Medical Hub.   The Medical hub construction has now begun and is estimated to finish and be ready for use in 2024. It will significantly enhance  the Faculty of Medicine’s mission to pursue excellence in academic education,  research, and clinical services  for people in Greater Mekong subregion as well as nearby regions.

Written by: Natakon Naowarojna

International Relations Office, Research and International Relations Affairs

Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

All are invited to join Global Health Conversation Series by USF Health on the topic “The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers Globally” Present by Professor Barbara Smith, College of Nursing, University of South Florida. The session starts on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at 9:00 am – 10:00 am EDT

To register click here https://usf.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7Vacv9OLANor3oy