Doctor wins rural work award

Doctor wins rural work award

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

The director of Mayo Hospital in Pattani has been named Outstanding Rural Doctor for 2013 by Siriraj Hospital's faculty of medicine.

Dr Nirun Wichasetthasamitre, director of the state-run Mayo Hospital, has been named Outstanding Rural Doctor for 2013 by Siriraj Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine. Pawat Laopaisarntaksin

Dr Nirun Witchasetthasamitre was named as the award recipient yesterday.

Initiated in honour of Udom Posakrisana, a former dean of the faculty and public health minister, the Outstanding Rural Doctor Award is given annually to doctors who make significant contributions to the health of people in remote areas.

A Nonthaburi native, Dr Nirun, 45, is the 40th doctor to be honoured with the award.

He was selected from 14 candidates for his unwavering commitment to providing medical care for people in the restive deep South for almost two decades.

"He plays a pioneering role in the development of an integrated health care system that helps ease the minds of patients, medical staff at the hospital and residents in the community, allowing them to all live in harmony," said Assc Dr Anuphun Tantiwong, president of the award committee.

Dr Nirun is a positive role model for new medical graduates, Dr Anuphun added.

He has shown remarkable resilience during his work in the deep South, where he faces unrest and violence, yet always interacts positively with others, Dr Udom Kachinthorn, the present dean of Siriraj Hospital's faculty of medicine said.

Dr Nirun will receive the award and a 100,000-baht cash prize on June 23, when he will deliver a keynote speech on the topic, "Ways to create peace in the deep South".

On winning the award, Dr Nirun said, "The speeches delivered by past winners of the award inspired me to become a rural doctor."

Dr Nirun said he was particularly inspired by Dr Worawit Tantiwattansap, a director of Umphang Hospital in Tak province, who said he was kept fulfilled by working hard in a rural hospital.

"I thought that using the medical skills and knowledge I had acquired from medical school, I could make a difference to the lives of patients in remote areas," Dr Nirun said.

After graduating from Siriraj Medical School, Dr Nirun and his friends decided to work in Mayo Hospital, where he has remained ever since.

Dr Nirun said he has been well received and supported by medical staff at the hospital and residents in the community. This, he said, is what has made him able to overcome difficulties both working and living in the deep South.

He noted the prominent role played by medical personnel in trying to bring peace to the violence-plagued South by offering services to both sides in the conflict.

"I believe we can use our skills and knowledge to solve social problems and create peace among people in the community," Dr Nirun said.

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