The Ophthalmologist Who Finds Joy in Volunteer Medical Missions
– Dr. Chutima Supawavej –
Currently, Dr. Chutima Supawavej is an ophthalmologist specialising in glaucoma at BNH Hospital’s Eye Department. She usually greets patients with a cheerful demeanour and speaks to them in a friendly manner, making them comfortable to converse with. Her interests also easily extend patient conversations, and one of her patients is a world-renowned celebrity.
Starting Life as an Eye Doctor
“Initially, I passed the law entrance exam.”
That was during her equivalency exam in Year 10 (Mathayom 4). However, she eventually felt it would be a waste to leave her secondary school life at Triam Udom Suksa School, combined with her uncertainty about whether she wanted to memorise legal texts. So, she chose to continue to Year 11 (Mathayom 5) and took the equivalency exam again, selecting medicine and dentistry. Ultimately, she became a medical student at Ramathibodi Hospital.
At first, Dr. Chutima wanted to be a paediatrician. She even chose to specialise in Paediatrics during her rural service in Phitsanulok Province. At that time, the doctor was very passionate, diligently taking on cases, working many on-call shifts, and getting little rest, until she developed pneumonia and became a patient in the very hospital she worked at. She had to stop working for a considerable period. During that time, she re-evaluated herself and decided to return to Bangkok to continue her studies.
Dr. Chutima remained interested in paediatric work, but she also applied for other medical specialisations, including Ophthalmology. She eventually came to study as an eye doctor at Rajavithi Hospital.
“It was good because I got to care for patients from birth to old age, and the treatment methods weren’t boring. There was medication, laser treatment, surgery – it wasn’t monotonous. There were many fun things to learn.”
Ophthalmology was almost entirely new territory for newly graduated doctors, as during the six years of medical school, they would only study eye diseases for four to six weeks. Upon graduation, they only knew how to manage ocular emergencies; surgical procedures were content learned only during specialisation.
“So, it was like starting to learn all over again.”
During her time studying and working at Rajavithi Hospital, Dr. Chutima discovered another joy: participating in medical missions. This wasn’t entirely new to her, as the six years of medical training required students to engage with local communities, converse with and understand the villagers’ way of life, to better comprehend the problems faced by people in areas where public health services were not fully accessible. However, with more life experience, she felt more empathetic and sympathetic towards patients than she did as a medical student
“Going on mobile medical missions was fun. During my time as an eye resident, there were missions both at the hospital and outside. They would publicise it to allow local patients to receive free examination and treatment. The missions were for cataract surgery. Local doctors would screen a portion of the patients, and when we arrived, we would perform the surgeries.”
Upon completing her specialisation and becoming a fully qualified ophthalmologist, Dr. Chutima continued to participate in volunteer medical missions with the ‘People’s Eye Protection Foundation’, performing cataract surgeries and examining patients in various provinces. The more she worked in these areas, the more the doctor understood the hardships faced by people in remote regions. Many had severe cataracts, pterygium, diabetic retinopathy, and other co-existing conditions. Although the universal healthcare (‘Gold Card’) system or social security helped reduce treatment costs, in reality, the difficulty of travelling to see a doctor was another major obstacle for patients in remote areas.
“When we went to perform eye surgery on-site, it helped them a lot. Once they could see clearly, they could do many more things and live their lives more conveniently. If there’s volunteer work, and it’s something I’m already good at, like eye examinations, I’m always happy to help.”
To this day, the doctor still participates in volunteer medical missions when opportunities arise because it’s another role that helps her understand life and find happiness in it.
An Eye Doctor Far from Home
“Los Angeles is quite similar to Bangkok. I thought it would be easy to adjust to living there.”
Dr. Chutima hadn’t initially considered going abroad, but a close ophthalmologist friend had just been accepted to study in the USA and invited her along. She applied to several institutions in various states. After already beginning her glaucoma specialisation at Rajavithi Hospital, she received acceptances from multiple institutions. Upon completing her glaucoma specialisation at Rajavithi Hospital, she decided to pursue further studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, following the advice of her respected professor.
“It was my first time living abroad seriously for an extended period. I had to rent an apartment alone and cook for myself. It was challenging. On weekends, I would buy groceries from the supermarket and cook meals to store in containers in the fridge. On weekdays, I’d eat breakfast at my apartment, then go to work to the operating theatre or see patients. During breaks, I’d microwave my pre-cooked meals. The cost of living was high, and cooking myself meant I got food I liked, plus it was fun. If I didn’t cook, I wouldn’t know what else to do on weekends either.”
Dr. Chutima learned to cook extensively whilst abroad, studying from YouTube. Not only did she gain a new hobby and save money, but she also made foreign friends who loved her cooking so much that they often stopped by for a taste.
“They’d want to eat Pad Thai or Pad See Ew. When they complimented me, I had to make it for them, and then we’d share it. This allowed me to have friends to chat and eat with during breaks. It was fun.”
Her social circle led the doctor to try new things, like salsa dancing, which a Spanish friend invited her to try. But even with constant activities, she still missed home.
“I felt lonely and disheartened, constantly thinking when it would end, when I could go home. At that time, hearing Thai songs abroad made them feel like the most beautiful music ever.”
Los Angeles is a large city with many Thai expatriates. In the medical community at the same hospital alone, there were dozens of Thais. Sometimes they would gather for trips, parties, and Thai food. One of the doctor’s friends, a Thai-American nurse born and raised in the USA, often took the doctor on road trips or to visit her Thai parents. This warm community greatly helped Dr. Chutima overcome her loneliness.
“I even treated Anthony Hopkins once, the actor who played Hannibal.”
Dr. Chutima recounted her encounter with the leading Hollywood actor. However, when he came to see the doctor, he was just an ordinary patient waiting in line for his name to be called like everyone else. The only difference was that the staff wouldn’t call out his name loudly but would whisper to him personally to maintain his privacy and prevent a commotion.
“I examined his eyes. After the examination, we had a brief moment to chat. He mentioned he had visited Thailand before, specifically Phuket.”
Given UCLA’s location not far from Hollywood, VVIP patients often visit the university hospital for treatment. And under UCLA’s treatment system, patients always have their history taken and eyes examined by residents or fellows specialising in glaucoma first. If there are problems, they are then considered for consultation with a professor. However, all cases remain under the supervision of a professor, giving ophthalmologists from Thailand, like Dr. Chutima, who hadn’t been studying in the USA for long, the opportunity to treat famous patients.
But because doctors must treat every case sent to them, some cases also left Dr. Chutima quite startled.
“I’m extremely afraid of dogs. So, visually impaired patients often have guide dogs. I sympathise with the patients and understand that the dogs won’t bite, but I wasn’t used to it because it wasn’t common in Thailand at the time, and the dogs were large. The patient brought the dog into the examination room. I was very scared at that moment.”
Treating patients abroad, even with some language barriers, Dr. Chutima didn’t find communicating with patients difficult. She believes that the inherent politeness of Thai people makes conversations gentle, facilitating easier communication with patients.
Upon returning to Bangkok, Dr. Chutima’s first job was at BNH Hospital. To date, she has been there for approximately 14 years.
“I like the working style of the senior consultants, and I believe my own approach to patient care was inherited from them. The patient care at BNH Hospital is like being a consultant to the patient, caring for their entire family, and not just for a specific illness, but holistically – both physically and mentally. The working atmosphere is good; everyone is willing to help when we consult on cases. The medical team is quite close, so we care for patients as a team.”
The Eye Doctor's Patients
“Wow! I can see so clearly! I haven’t seen this clearly in such a long time!”
The doctor’s motivation comes from these words spoken by patients who regain their sight after surgery. Among all cases, one of Dr. Chutima’s most memorable was helping a cataract patient, who was bedridden due to terminal cancer and multiple co-morbidities, have the opportunity to see for the last time in their life.
For elderly patients with multiple co-existing conditions, it’s often impossible for them to lie still for cataract surgery using only local anaesthesia. Doctors must also administer general anaesthesia, which carries a high risk.
“The patient was a foreigner. He pleaded, asking not to see perfectly clearly, just enough to see the faces of his children and grandchildren. He wanted to video call his family at home.”
Although it seemed like a high-risk case, it might have been the patient’s last wish. Dr. Chutima decided to proceed and prepared a team of doctors from all relevant departments to provide comprehensive care and help prepare the patient. The result of the treatment was that the patient could read subtitles on the television screen from their bed in the ICU and video call their grandchildren.
“He smiled; he was so happy. After that, his condition deteriorated until he passed away. But we were glad to have helped him see for the last time in his life and to have witnessed his smile.”
Most eye patients require continuous care and follow-up appointments, even after successful surgery. This means Dr. Chutima regularly sees her patients. Her calm demeanour and gentle communication style allow patients to feel comfortable sharing other problems, enabling the doctor to identify other abnormalities. If an issue arises, Dr. Chutima can promptly refer them to a specialist, in line with BNH Hospital’s Complete Care approach, which emphasises prevention over treatment, especially for conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, which are often related to eye diseases.
“We often collaborate with other specialists for diabetic patients because they often have eye complications such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, or glaucoma. Also, for glaucoma patients, who have a chronic condition that requires long-term care, and it’s hereditary. If we detect it, we recommend family members also get checked, because sometimes they may not have symptoms yet or be unaware. And I teach patients the correct way to administer eye drops in every case to ensure the medication is most effective. During follow-up, I’ll review to see if the patient is indeed administering the eye drops correctly.”
But even if they’re not glaucoma patients with familial risk, many patients consider Dr. Chutima their family eye doctor. They are so impressed with her care that they encourage everyone to see her.
Dr. Chutima also pays close attention to her patients’ stories, which is an effective way to connect with them. For example, if she sees a patient in exercise attire, she’ll initiate a conversation about exercise, which can open the door to a myriad of other issues the patient might have, potentially linking to health problems that the doctor can then accurately diagnose. Additionally, the doctor makes small notes about her patients, such as a cat lover who later developed itchy eyes, with cat fur potentially being the cause. Dr. Chutima can then provide self-care guidelines appropriate to the patient’s habits, so they don’t feel too uncomfortable following the advice.
An Eye Doctor and Her Podcasts
“When I’m free, I enjoy listening to podcasts.”
Dr. Chutima often finds opportunities to go to the fitness centre to exercise. She focuses on stretching to prevent office syndrome, and whilst doing so, she listens to podcasts. The doctor listens to various genres, but mostly health-related content that can be applied to patients. On days when she feels tired, dharma-related content helps her relax and stay mindful in the present moment. The channel she frequently listens to is a podcast on the philosophy of life and inner happiness by Luang Por Paisal Visalo.
“I had the opportunity to pay my respects to him once when he came for a check-up here, many years ago.”
Additionally, in her free time, the doctor also listens to podcasts. Sometimes, lifestyle, news, or financial content helps her stay updated with the world and gives her more topics to exchange with patients.
The Eye Doctor's Plants
Plants are another topic that helps Dr. Chutima initiate conversations with patients because there’s a dwarf ‘Silver & Gold Spoon Plant’ in her examination room, which was also a gift from a patient.
“I was wondering why it wasn’t flowering much. The patient advised me to put it out in the sun sometimes. Or at home, I have a jasmine plant that also doesn’t flower much, and the patient advised that it needs frequent pruning; the more you prune it, the more it grows.”
Dr. Chutima followed the patient’s advice, buying seeds for flowering plants, ornamental plants, and kitchen vegetables to grow. Some grew, some didn’t, but the doctor continued to learn from podcasts and patient advice.
“Until the Cantonese bok choy grew abundantly, and I could make a whole dish with it. I felt, ‘I can’t believe it, I’m quite good at this! I actually grew something edible!'”
On her days off, the doctor often spends part of her time tending to the potted plants around her house and on the balcony: watering, loosening the soil, fertilising, and moving them so each plant gets enough sunlight. She spends another part of her time thinking about what new plants to grow.
“Now I have to text the plant shop and ask what plants are easy to grow, don’t need too much care, and don’t require much space.”
Eye Care Tips from an Eye Doctor
“For self-care tips for your eyes, I have an easy rule to remember: 20-20-20.”
This means every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and look 20 feet away, blinking as you do so, to rest your eyes and reduce strain. Staring for too long can cause eye fatigue and dryness.
“Wearing sunglasses is an important thing I always emphasise to patients, because the sun in our country is hot. Sunlight not only causes cataracts but also leads to macular degeneration and pterygium. Wearing sunglasses can prevent many diseases.”
And the doctor also recommends getting an eye examination at least once a year.
“A professor once told me that ‘Chutima’ means ‘lamp’, signifying prosperity, or perhaps the meaning the professor intended was ‘giver of light’. So, I feel that as an eye doctor, I’m like giving light to patients, enabling them to see. And I feel good about contributing to society.”
Every time patients see more clearly, live easier lives, gain independence, and become more self-reliant, it brings incomparable happiness to a doctor like Dr. Chutima.
Customer’s Story
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
CHUTIMA SUPAWAVEJ, M.D.
พญ. ชุติมา สุภาวเวช
Speciality
Ophthalmology
Glaucoma
Clinical Interest
Glaucoma
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
Thai Medical Council, Ophthalmology
Certificate
BDMS Bylaws, BDMS, Thailand
Code of behavior (TH), BDMS, Thailand
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Female
Schedule
Eye Department
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12:30 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 12:30 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 12:30 |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.