Better Health 25 Eng

M.D. FOCUS
Get to know our doctors
Meet four Bumrungrad physicians as they share their thoughts on
a range of health care topics.
Providing the highest standards of patient care requires a hospital-wide commitment and
professional expertise. Bumrungrad’s medical staff includes over 900 world class doctors
of the highest caliber, with outstanding professional credentials and advanced training
across the full spectrum of medical sub-specialties.
Dr. Ketchai Suavansri Neurologist
After graduating from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Neurology, Dr. Ketchai began
his medical practice as the sole neurologist in the province of Samut Sakhon. He
gained a wealth of practical experience while fulfilling his tuition waiver commitment.
Dr. Ketchai later joined the Prasat Neurological Institute and eventually headed
to the US to continue his medical training in Alzheimer’s disease.
Q: In your experience,
what aspect of your work
has been the most
challenging?
A: As a doctor in the
suburbs, it can be difficult
to correct people’s misconceptions
and false beliefs
about medicine. I once had to deal with a patient whose
paralysis got better after a rinsing with “magic” water.
Despite my attempts to show that paralysis can sometimes
heal by itself, word quickly spread about the wonders of
magic water.
Dealing with patients who brew their own home-made
medicine poses a real challenge. Sometimes the home
brew contains steroids, giving the patient the impression
they’re feeling better at first, and the serious side effects
only crop up later. There is still much to be done to change
these mistaken beliefs.
Q: What made you decide to join the medical team
at Bumrungrad?
A: Although Bumrungrad operates as a private hospital,
the management doesn’t focus solely on the business side.
The hospital has a good academic atmosphere that
encourages learning and collaboration, and there is a
strong emphasis on staying true to medical ethics. I feel
proud to be a part of the team here.
Dr. Tanawat Jirakulaporn Hematologist and oncologist
While studying at Washington University in the US, Dr. Tanawat had the
opportunity to take part an important research in the field of hematology
and oncology. That spurred him to expand his knowledge and gain experience
treating patients in this field, and he went on to earn a number of board
certifications from international institutes.
Q: Are there cases that you find most memorable?
A: I once had a patient from Ethiopia who had been
diagnosed with stomach cancer by another hospital.
After we ran some tests on his condition, we discovered
he was actually suffering from a rare disease called myeloid
sarcoma, where leukemia cells combine together to form
a solid mass.
Preparing for the treatment was quite frantic, but
there was no choice but to rush because of leukemia’s
fast-developing nature. There are cases like this from
time to time, where the original diagnosis is not correct
and where you really see how having fully competent
medical staff and advanced technology makes a difference
in producing an accurate
diagnosis.
Q: What challenges
you the most in your
work in oncology?
A: It is always difficult
when a patient’s cancer
is not treatable and the
prognosis is terminal. We oncologists, need not only to
provide end-of-life care for patients but also to assist
families and loved ones. It is a difficult time for everyone
involved, and we have a duty to alleviate as much of the
pain and grief as possible.
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