Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

1) Please introduce yourself.    

1. Name: Thanya     
2. Family name: Techapichetvanich

Age: 42

Family members: I have one son, 4-year-old 

2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty?    

I am a dermatologic surgeon from Thailand, I currently work as a full-time clinical instructor at Dermatosurgery unit, Department of Dermatology, Siriraj hospital, Mahidol university, Bangkok, Thailand

3) How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital?    

From my supervisor professor, Kee Yang Chung, we have met in the international congress Dermatologic & Aesthetic Surgery International League (DASIL) workshop, hosted by Siriraj hospital 6 years ago when I was doing my dermatologic surgery fellowship training in Thailand. I was inspired by his expertise and kindness and would like to have change to visit Severance which is one of the outstanding competent teaching hospital in Korea.

4) How long is your training period in Korea?  

1 year and a month (from July – December 2019 and September 2020 – March 2021)

5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? Who is your supervisor?  

I am focusing on Mohs micrographic surgery on cutaneous cancer and scar revision.

6) What is the most impressive feature of Severance Hospital?  

Not only Severance hospital is a leading teaching hospital that has good academic environment, full of multidisciplinary health care professionals and innovative medical technology, but also provides holistic health care for patients with quality and humanized care. I have seen that Severance trying to create a healing environment for the patients, such as Woori Lounge and a cozy little garden on the 6^th floor of the main building, which I am very impressed. Severance provides an integrated care for both wellness and curative for the patients.

7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship program at Severance?  

Since I have already completed my dermatologic surgery training program in Thailand 6 years ago and have been currently working in university hospital. My fellowship training program is emphasized on advanced techniques for cutaneous cancer surgery predominantly Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction techniques which various flaps and graphs. The surgery is focused on benign skin tumors, malignant skin tumors such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, merkel cell carcinoma and rare skin malignancies including cutaneous sarcomas and extramammary Paget’s diseases. In addition, scar management using surgical revision, Laser therapy and other techniques.

8) If you were to get the chance to come back, which field of clinical study would you like to focus on?  

I would like to focus on liposuction and fat grafting. Since in Thailand, we are still lacking dermatologic surgeon who specialized in this particular field. I additionally hope that I could have a chance to sharing and conducting researches between Siriraj hospital, Mahidol university and Severance hospital. 

9) What was your first impression of Korea?  

Coming to Korea for training last year was my first-time experience in Korea and my first impression was about lovely Korean food, especially original home-made kimchi, kimbap, bulgogi, Korean-style BBQ and Jjimdak, they were very delicious. I also like the way korean people have discipline and responsibility for the environment eg. waste sorting and recycling system. Moreover, Korea has many amazing places to visit ranging from beautiful natural park to ancient heritage site. I had been to Seoul forest, Gyeongbokgung palace, coex aquarium and Gangwon province. I had visit Nami island and had Chuncheon spicy stir-fried chicken (dakgalbi) which was really tasty. This year I plan to explore Seoraksan national park too, I am certain that it would be the most incredible scenery to get there in this autumn.

10) What is the best memory so far during your stay here?  

The best memory of mine is a feeling of a very warm welcome and hospitality during working at Severance. Not only achieving more advance knowledge provided from fellowship training program, but also a great experience, to meet new friends and to be in part of the wonderful dermatosurgery team. Finally, I would like to thank you with all my heart for establishing this excellent international fellowship training program. I hope all the international doctors would have had an opportunity to visit Severance and be able to gain a memorable experience as I had now.

11) What are your thoughts and feelings about the way Korea is dealing with COVID-19, and what is the situation like in your home country?  

In my opinion, Korean government did the good work trying to control COVID-19 pandemic. Korea has an effective measurement for detection and containment of the COVID-19 including established high-capacity screening clinics to ensure an adequate supply for the test and innovative tracing systems that were utilized to get into the wide variety of data sources. I hope this new outbreak will deteriorate soon.    

The COVID-19 situation in Thailand has been quite successfully controlled since we do not have new cases in country for 2 months consecutively and almost all citizen still wear facial mask in public and try to keep social distancing as adjusted to the new normal habit. However, Thailand are facing economic crisis from impact of coronavirus pandemic especially in the tourism sector which makes up close to 15 percent of Thailand’s GDP as the border remains closed to almost all but repatriation flight to enter. Lastly, in a good aspect, I hope we can all learn from this difficult situation to have responsibility for yourselves and for society. 

12) Who are you most thankful for at Severance (who helped you the most) & why?  

I couldn’t choose just only single person. Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Chung Kee Yang, for his advice, encouragement and constant support. I also wish to thank all the dermatosurgery teams especially Miss Kyoungae Nam, the wound-specialist nurse at our department and my co-fellow, Dr. Lee Sul Hee for their hospitality and kindly help during my clinical training and research. Last but not least, my fellowship training would not have been possible without Severance academy team, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Miss SooBin and Miss Seunghyun Lee who promptly answer plenty of my emails and help arrange all my training schedule.