– Dr. Kanlada Wongworapat –
Patients are often greeted by the warm, sincere smile of Dr. Kanlada ‘Fai’ Wongworapat, a specialist in immunology at the BNH Hospital Asthma and Allergy Centre. Her radiant smile stems from a simple truth: she finds happiness in every single day. This is the story of how she discovered that joy.
Happiness When Stepping Out of the Box
During her primary school years, Dr. Fai was an active child who loved participating in activities, from “Little Miss Noppamas” pageants and the “Fanta Young Ambassador” programme to singing and dancing contests. However, when she moved to a highly competitive secondary school filled with top-tier students, everything changed.
“I was terrified of failing, so I studied as hard as I could and eventually became top of the class. After that, I felt I had to maintain that position, so my personality completely shifted.”
From then on, Dr. Fai became a dedicated student who shunned extracurricular activities for fear they would impact her grades. She rejected every opportunity, including invitations to be a cheerleader or a school athlete. That was until a close friend asked a question that changed her worldview:
“Fai, you need to find some happiness in life, because we never know how long we have.”
Having been a diligent student, she successfully entered the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University. Passing that crucial exam felt like unlocking her life. She began to give herself permission to try new things, joining university activities, the exchange student support club, and public health promotion projects. Stepping out of her comfort zone allowed her to meet new people, gain fresh experiences, and develop a new perspective on life.
“While studying medicine, I discovered that what made me happy was children. Just seeing a child smile or watching them recover—going from lethargic to lively again—brought me immense joy.”
With her excellent academic results, Dr. Fai qualified for a specialist training programme immediately without the mandatory rural service. She pursued paediatrics at Chiang Mai University Hospital, where she discovered her passion for allergies.
“I love the immune system because it feels miraculous. It connects to every organ. If it’s too sensitive, you get allergies; if it’s too weak, you get immunodeficiency. But immunotherapy can train a body that once reacted to tolerate allergens. It’s fascinating to me, especially since both my father and I suffer from allergies.”
Since Chiang Mai lacked an immunology curriculum at the time, she applied to Chulalongkorn Hospital, waiting two years for a spot. During that wait, she turned down a scholarship to study in the USA to pursue her dream of becoming an allergy specialist in Thailand. Moving to Bangkok was another turning point.
“Bangkok felt like a new world. I started doing all sorts of activities here,” she says. In this new society, she pushed her boundaries further, learning scuba diving, jet skiing, aerial hoop, and aerial yoga. “These activities are challenging and fun. Importantly, they gave me courage, which helps me not to fear difficult medical cases.”
Happiness in Patients' Smiles
One memorable case involved a young boy who travelled from a neighbouring country. He frequently fainted after exercise. Dr. Fai noticed that during these episodes, the boy’s face would turn red, unlike the pale complexion usually associated with fainting or heart issues. This led her to suspect it wasn’t a cardiovascular problem or epilepsy.
“I investigated his history and found he usually ate bread before playing football. After allergy testing and an exercise challenge, we discovered that eating wheat alone caused no reaction, but eating wheat combined with exercise triggered severe anaphylaxis.”
The treatment was simple but life-changing: avoid wheat for at least four hours before exercising. The patient adjusted his lifestyle, eating rice instead of bread before sports, and the symptoms vanished.
“Because I could spot the unusual presentation quickly and communicate the disease mechanism clearly to the family, the patient could improve his long-term quality of life through behavioural adjustment.”
As a mother herself, Dr. Fai understands a parent’s desire for their child to grow up healthy. For children with food allergies, finding substitutes is crucial to prevent malnutrition.
“It is a challenge to ensure they grow properly without lacking nutrients, while ensuring the family’s life isn’t too difficult. We work with nutritionists to find safe substitutes and monitor growth closely. It requires a multidisciplinary approach.”
Allergy treatment often intersects with other fields—food allergies with nutrition, rhinitis with ENT, hives with dermatology, and asthma with pulmonology. Dr. Fai collaborates with specialists across these fields to provide Complete Care, ensuring precise diagnosis and targeted treatment.
Although she is an allergy specialist for all ages, her background in paediatrics means most of her patients are children. “I keep a little doll on my stethoscope so the children aren’t afraid,” she smiles.
Her kind, approachable demeanour helps reduce anxiety in both children and adults. She tailors her communication to the patient’s understanding, involving them in decisions. “I use a ‘Tailor-Made’ approach. With small children, I use simple language. With older kids, I explain more details. I assess if they are ready to listen and gradually provide information. My friendly personality makes me accessible to them.”
Happiness with Family
“Generally, I’m not easily stressed. If I do get stressed, I forget it quickly. Sometimes, just going home and seeing my son’s face makes it all disappear.”
Becoming a mother was the biggest change in Dr. Fai’s life. “My view of happiness shifted. Now, just seeing my son is happiness enough.”
Her free time is simple: taking her two-year-old son for a walk in the village garden. She believes children can find excitement in exploring nature without needing complex activities. This role as a mother has deepened her empathy for her patients’ families.
“My treatment plans now adapt to the context of each family because I understand their perspective better.”
Dr. Fai is also a mother to an allergic child. Her son developed atopic dermatitis as an infant. Because of her expertise, she could manage his risks.
“Genetics are unavoidable, but environmental factors can be managed. I reduced dust exposure during pregnancy and bathed him with moisturisers. Crucially, I prevented food from contacting his broken skin. Current theory suggests that if food touches a baby’s inflamed skin before they have eaten it, it can trigger an allergy. For example, if parents eat bread and then hold the baby without washing their hands, touching the rash could cause a wheat allergy.”
She manages her son’s allergies by avoiding skin contact with high-risk foods but introducing them into his diet at the appropriate time to build tolerance. She also cares for her father, who has asthma, managing the home environment to ensure his quality of life. These personal experiences allow her to explain care strategies to patients with the insight of someone who lives through it daily.
Small Joys Every Day
“My mother taught me to look for happiness nearby, things you don’t have to search far for. Small things, like seeing a flower or a clear blue sky, can bring joy.”
Her mother has been her lifelong supporter, encouraging her to try everything from Japanese language lessons to piano, dulcimer, and taekwondo, simply for the joy of it.
In adulthood, Dr. Fai discovered a small joy in singing. “My parents and brother sing beautifully. I love singing too, but I sing terribly! I didn’t inherit that gene,” she laughs. “I tried hard, I enjoyed it, but I can’t show it off. When I sang with friends, they would ask, ‘Is that even the same song?’”
Undeterred, she finds happiness singing alone in karaoke. She even took serious one-on-one singing lessons for two years. “It fulfils me. Even if I’m still off-key, I’m happy just to sing.”
Another source of daily happiness is her work. As an allergist, she believes treatment is incomplete without allergy immunotherapy.
“I moved to BNH Hospital because they were establishing an Allergy Centre. Here, I can perform comprehensive treatments, including immunotherapy, and handle complex cases. The teamwork here is wonderful; everyone shares the same goal of giving the best to the patient.”
“I love this job. If we do what we are passionate about, we do it well. I love caring for patients and doing good things for others. I have never regretted this career path. Just seeing a patient smile makes me happy.”
For Dr. Fai, treating allergies is not just a job; it is a passion that supports her family and fills every day with small, meaningful joys.
KANLADA WONGWORAPAT, M.D.
พญ. กัญลดา ว่องวรภัทร
Speciality
Pediatrics
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Clinical Interest
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Asthma in Children
Contact Dermatitis
Food Allergy
Vaccine and Immunization
Education
Doctor's Degree, Diploma of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Doctor's Degree, Diploma of Pediatrics, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Doctor's Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Fellowship
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
General Pediatrics, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
The Medical Council of Thailand, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Chiang Mai University
The Medical Council of Thailand, Pediatrics, Chiang Mai University
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Female
Schedule
BAAC BNH ASTHMA AND ALLERGY CENTER
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 13:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 14:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | - |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.