✨Translated by AI

The Path Guided by God: Dr. Dueanpen Keetatrakul, a Dentist from a Large Family Who Finds Joy in Cinema, Sports, and Her Faith

– Dr. Dueanpen Keetatrakul –

Dr. Full Moon is the English name that foreigners use to call Dr. Dueanpen Keetatrakul, or “Dr. Jiw,” as she is affectionately called by her close patients. This endodontist at BNH Hospital’s Dental Centre is not only kind, straightforward, and fun to talk to, but her love and goodwill towards others also radiate from her own physical and mental happiness. The sources of her happiness come from these stories.

Born into a Large Family

In a traditional Chinese family that longed for a son, four daughters were born before the first boy arrived. When the sixth pregnancy came around, the parents were certain this forcefully kicking baby was another son. But it was a girl, born on a full moon day, and so she was named Dueanpen.

“My parents just went with it. They thought, ‘Why not have nine children? It’s a nice, lucky number.’”

Ultimately, the eighth and ninth children were boys, much to their delight. Dueanpen grew up in a large family with nine siblings.

“It was so much fun having so many of us. We all loved each other. I remember we would rent a van to go to the Chinese cemetery for the Qingming festival, and then we’d all go on to Bang Saen Beach to swim. We’d all come home completely sunburnt.”

Despite the preference for sons, this Chinese family, who were not well-off with a father as a typesetter and a mother as a housewife, supported their daughters’ education just as much as their sons’. Every child was encouraged to study as much as their abilities allowed.

“I was bright. Since I was a child, I read books on my own and was the academic champion of the house. My parents didn’t have to push me. I was self-motivated and would always get first place in exams and scholarships from the school.”

During her time at Satriwittaya High School, Dueanpen considered becoming a doctor like other top students. However, she overheard her older cousins, who were in medical school, complaining about how difficult and exhausting the studies were. This led her to switch her focus to dentistry.

“I didn’t have great teeth back then; they were quite decayed. I went to the Faculty of Dentistry at Chulalongkorn University for treatment and became a patient for the dental students. While waiting, I saw the students in their white coats, and I thought, ‘They look so good. I want to be a dentist too.’”

After graduating, Dr. Jiw chose to become a professor at the Faculty of Dentistry at Khon Kaen University for three years. She became a mentor to sixth-year students who were close to her in age, and they became like friends. She would teach during the day, and in the evening, her students would pick her up on a motorbike to play tennis.

“But I was a homebody who loved Bangkok. I returned to Bangkok every weekend. Since I was already coming back, I opened a clinic here so it wouldn’t be a wasted trip. I would take the bus from Khon Kaen on Friday night, work at my clinic near home on Saturday morning, go to church on Sunday, and take the night bus back on Sunday night, sleeping on the bus and going straight to work in the morning. I did this for three years and I wasn’t tired. I guess it was because I was young and my body could handle the lack of sleep.”

During her time as a professor, Dr. Jiw received the highest honour of her life when she was chosen to lead the student procession during a graduation ceremony. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (King Rama IX) presided over the ceremony himself. The experience was similar to when she received her own degree from Chulalongkorn, but this time, His Majesty also granted the professors an audience after the ceremony.

“It was the first time I had the honour of an audience with His Majesty, and it was a very memorable moment in my life as a professor. It was a blessing that I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t been a professor there.”

Life in Khon Kaen was good for Dr. Jiw, but her longing for Bangkok was stronger. After completing her three years of rural service, she decided to move back to Bangkok, giving up a scholarship for further specialisation abroad that Khon Kaen University had offered her because she didn’t want to be tied down to more years of work far from home. Instead, she chose to gain experience in a private clinic and at BNH Hospital.

“Do I regret choosing this path? No, I don’t. I’m happy. But when it came time to take the endodontics specialisation exam, it was much harder because I wasn’t affiliated with a public hospital.”

Despite the difficulty, Dr. Jiw got the highest score on the specialisation exam and became the only student without a public hospital scholarship to study endodontics, fulfilling her goal of treating patients’ problematic teeth so they could be saved rather than pulled, which would require an implant or dentures.

The BNH Hospital Dental Centre opened in 1996, and Dr. Jiw was one of the first dentists there, initially as a general dentist. After completing her endodontics specialisation, she returned to BNH, where she has been for almost 30 years.

“The hospital management values its staff a lot. They take care of our well-being, and the welfare benefits are great. If we need any instruments, and it’s deemed appropriate, they provide them, which makes our work easier. I see doctors from other departments every day, so we all know each other well. Some of them even come to me for their dental work. We help and take care of each other. It’s a good, warm community, and I’m happy to work here, which is why I’ve stayed for so long.”

A Life of Dental Care

“I feel deeply honoured to have provided treatment for the Queen Mother of the King of Bhutan.”

BNH Hospital has an international reputation, and many important people from around the world entrust their care to its staff. One of them is the royal family of Bhutan. About 10 years ago, Dr. Jiw had the opportunity to provide treatment for Her Majesty Queen Mother Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, the mother of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

“I was so emotional that day. I had to welcome her at the hospital entrance, curtsy, and then escort her to the dental department. The work was a routine case, but it felt like a dream to provide treatment for her. Afterwards, during the celebration of Thai-Bhutan relations, she invited me to an event at the embassy. It’s an unforgettable experience in my life.”

Her treatment style is also in line with BNH Hospital’s Complete Care policy, which focuses on comprehensive and all-round care. Some patients might come in with beautiful-looking teeth, where the doctor can’t find any external abnormalities. However, an X-ray can reveal hidden issues between teeth that are not easily visible, allowing for proper treatment planning and targeted care.

When patients call in with a toothache, the nurses usually send them to Dr. Jiw first because her main job is to act as a pain killer for the patient. Whether the pain is from tooth decay, an impacted tooth, or a root nerve issue, Dr. Jiw will find the cause and treat the pain. Dr. Dueanpen places great importance on the patient’s understanding. She will explain the symptoms, treatment methods, and the expected outcomes until the patient understands and can decide on the best course of action. If the pain is from decay or an impacted tooth, she treats it accordingly. But for endodontic treatment, the goal is to save the tooth so it can be used normally again, rather than being pulled, which would require an implant or dentures. Of course, most patients want to save their tooth, so Dr. Jiw tries her best to help them, ensuring not only good oral health but also peace of mind.

“Many patients come to me because their previous dentists wanted to extract their teeth, but they wanted to save them. If I evaluate that there’s a way to save the tooth and they follow my instructions, they can often keep their teeth. Most of these teeth have been heavily affected, and I fix them so they can be used again. In the end, they can keep their teeth. When the patients are happy, I’m happy too.”

Speaking extensively with patients also helps the doctor make an accurate diagnosis because tooth pain can sometimes be a symptom of other issues, such as muscle pain or jaw inflammation from grinding teeth at night. The doctor can then make the correct diagnosis and coordinate with other relevant doctors for targeted treatment.

“I always think that if I were the patient, I would want the best possible care. So, when I treat a patient, I give my all, just as I would for a family member. I do my best to the best of my ability.”

Another group of patients that the front desk nurses often refer to Dr. Dueanpen are those who specifically request a dentist with gentle hands. Dr. Jiu herself has never been treated by herself, so she can’t say how gentle her hands are, but seeing these patients continue to return to her indicates that her treatment truly meets their needs.

Additionally, Dr. Dueanpen is known for being punctual and efficient. She works quickly. She knows how much time each case will take, so she can estimate the next appointment time with great accuracy, meaning she is almost never late for an appointment.

Grew up with Movie Theatres

“My dad used to ride a Vespa, and that Vespa is still with us today. People have tried to buy it, but we won’t sell it. My dad loved movies, so he would ride the Vespa with my mom on the back, and my younger sister and I would be in the front, all four of us. We would go to movie theatres in Yaowarat that don’t exist anymore. We went to the movies every weekend.”

That childhood experience is why Dr. Jiw loves watching movies to this day. She will watch any genre, as long as it’s at the theatre.

“I have an M Pass card. I’m serious about watching movies; at least one a week makes it worthwhile.”

Her favourite movie is ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ the biopic about Queen’s lead singer, Freddie Mercury, starring Rami Malek, who gave such a good performance that he won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

“I loved it so much because I’ve always liked Queen. When I was in high school at Satriwit, Queen was very popular, and Freddie Mercury had protruding teeth. I used to joke with my friends that I would become a dentist one day and fix Freddie’s teeth. But it wasn’t a real inspiration, just a joke. I hadn’t really thought about becoming a dentist back then.”

Unfortunately, Queen never toured in Thailand, so Dr. Jiw never had a chance to see her favourite band live. However, she has attended many other world-class concerts, including the Scorpions, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Michael Jackson, which she made sure to see.

A Life of Balance with Travel and Sports

To maintain a balanced life, she works, takes care of her health, and finds time to travel at least twice a year (her record is five times a year), having visited nearly 40 countries.

In addition to being a movie buff, Dr. Jiw balances her life with travel and sports. In the past, she played almost every sport, including basketball, swimming, and tennis.

“But I wasn’t great at any of them. I even ran a race at Supachalasai Stadium once, but I didn’t win a medal.”

Today, she limits her exercise to a gym workout three or four times a week and watching sports on TV.

“I used to love watching NBA basketball, then I switched to tennis during the era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Each shot they play requires so much strategy. Some people might not like how they just hit the ball back and forth, but I find it so strategic; it requires a lot of thinking.”

Every year, Dr. Jiw makes sure to find time to travel at least twice. She loves adventure travel in nature, like mountains and forests. She has driven through New Zealand, climbed mountains to hunt for the Northern Lights in Norway, and visited the Dolomites in Italy. She has been to nearly 40 countries, but no trip is as memorable as the night she slept at the airport in Ireland.

“It’s funny to think about now. The person who planned our trip forgot to book a hotel for one night. We were in Dublin. When we found out there was no hotel, we just thought we’d find one when we got there. But there was a city-wide football match that night, and every hotel was completely booked. So, we ended up sleeping at the airport. It was cold, and we huddled together with no blankets. I didn’t sleep much. It’s an unforgettable experience. The next morning, we found a place to stay and could finally shower.”

God Dwells in Her Heart

Dr. Jiw is a Christian. She believes that she must do her best in everything to offer it to God, as the Bible teaches. She treats her patients to the best of her ability, lives a good and balanced life, and takes care of herself to stay healthy and not be a burden to others.

“If I have a problem, I do my part to the fullest, and then I will pray and ask God that there must be a better solution. It’s my way of relieving stress and getting motivation for my work. In the end, things almost always turn out okay, so not much can bother me.”

Dr. Jiw is a devout Christian with God in her heart. Every Sunday, she goes to church in the morning for activities, sermons, and Bible study at Sathorn Church in Bang Rak.

Dr. Dueanpen was born into a Buddhist family, but a close relative was Christian. As a child, she would stay at her relative’s house during school holidays, and they would take her to church on Sundays. The activities in the church made her, as a child, feel happy and involved.

“I loved that community. There was love, empathy, understanding, and care. So, I converted to Christianity during my big summer holiday when I was in grade 9.”

That was a turning point for young Dueanpen. She was hanging out with a group of friends who liked to go out and party, and her once-excellent grades started to slip. After converting, she stopped associating with the bad crowd, started to focus on her studies, and her life improved.

Her family saw that Christianity led Dueanpen down a better path, so they respected her decision. The other family members remained Buddhist, and their relationships stayed strong.

Being a part of the church also allowed Dr. Jiw to try new things, like singing in a choir. She sings soprano and has to practise every week, with extra practice during Christmas and Easter.

“Singing helps release happy hormones.”

Working at the church also helps to fulfil Dr. Jiw’s sense of self-worth. During some festivals, the church organises charity activities for churches in other provinces. Dr. Jiw volunteers her dental skills. If she finds people with financial problems, she is part of the team that considers providing financial assistance from donations given to the church.

“As long as I have the strength to work, I will not stop doing good things. And if I can be a small force for good in society, I will try my best, even if I don’t have any special abilities besides being a dentist.”