The Humorous Doctor and Musician
– Dr. Ketchai Suavansri –
It’s not surprising if you walk past the Brain and Nervous System Centre at BNH Hospital and hear laughter coming from Dr. Ketchai Suavansri’s consultation room. This neurologist is known for his great sense of humour and his desire to make patients laugh during treatment. Many of his life stories are simple to tell and easily bring a smile to his patients’ faces, so it’s no wonder you often see him in a good mood.
The World of a Brain Doctor
“I never thought I’d be a doctor. I’m afraid of ghosts, blood—everything.”
But by a twist of fate, Dr. Ketchai ended up in medicine by following his friends, much like when he transferred to Triam Udom Suksa School in high school because almost his entire class was moving there.
When he started studying at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, he discovered he had a short attention span and a fear of blood. In his fourth year, when he had to enter the operating room, he would get bored and sleepy during long surgeries, sometimes nearly dozing off. It was then he realised he was definitely not suited to be a surgeon or an obstetrician.
At the time, students were divided into groups for their hospital rotations. By chance, medical student Ketchai was placed in a group consisting entirely of women. When a brain case came up, which was new and difficult and no one wanted to take on, he, as the only male in the group, often had to sacrifice and take the case.
“It turned out that 70-80% of my cases were brain-related. At one point, I realised I knew more than others. When someone asked me something, I could answer, so I felt proud and started to enjoy neurology. Back then, there weren’t many MRIs, so you had to use a lot of imagination. I began to feel that this field was fun and challenging, so I took it seriously. And once I did, I loved it.”
Thirty years ago, neurology was considered a specialised field that needed promotion, so the government encouraged medical schools to produce more specialists. Dr. Ketchai was immediately given a scholarship from Samut Sakhon Hospital to study neurology, with the condition that he had to return and serve a longer period of time. Normally, a new doctor has to serve for three years, but after getting a scholarship to specialise, he had to serve an additional six years at his original hospital, for a total of nine consecutive years. This was a good thing, however, as it allowed him to accumulate a lot of flying hours in his specialised field.
The Neurology Department at Ramathibodi Hospital easily accepted him into the programme because all the professors knew he had a passion for neurology since his student days. After graduating, he was stationed at Samut Sakhon Hospital.
The Neurology Department at Ramathibodi Hospital easily accepted him into the programme because all the professors knew he had a passion for neurology since his student days. After graduating, he was stationed at Samut Sakhon Hospital.
“I only stayed for five years. Fortunately, there was a position at the Prasat Neurological Institute. I have to thank Dr. Pinit Hiranchote, the director of Samut Sakhon Hospital at the time. He was so kind. Normally, no one would let a doctor leave before their rural service is complete, but he saw that the institute was directly in my field and would allow me to advance much further. So, he let me transfer there to finish my service.”
Dr. Ketchai worked and taught at the Prasat Neurological Institute for almost four years. He was just three months away from completing his nine-year rural service when an opportunity from BNH Hospital arose, offering him the chance to pioneer a new brain department there. He had to make a tough choice, but his decision in 2002 led him to become the first neurologist at BNH Hospital. Seven years later, he went on to study dementia at the University of Florida with Professor Kenneth Heilman, one of the world’s foremost experts on memory.
After returning to Thailand, Dr. Ketchai worked as a dementia specialist at another hospital for a long time, eventually taking on an administrative role. When he reached a point of saturation, Dr. Nopparat, the director of BNH Hospital, approached him to return to BNH. The big goal was to establish a Memory Clinic to provide comprehensive and integrated care for brain diseases, especially memory and dementia, in line with BNH Hospital’s Complete Care policy.
“Coming back was so heartwarming. So many staff members remembered me. On the first day I came to sign documents, everyone greeted me. I was surprised because I had been away for 15 years. I think the key strength of BNH is the strong bond between the doctors and staff. It’s not a huge hospital, so we live like a family. All the new people who have joined are lovely. When I sit in the cafeteria, I can talk to everyone. The atmosphere is wonderful. I knew I would be happy here and that I made the right decision to come back. There are so many new challenges to take on.”
Dr. Ketchai is also a pioneer of the Thai Dementia Association. Back when he was at the Prasat Neurological Institute, he was interested in dementia, a field that, at the time, had no professional association in Thailand. Professor Dr. Prasert Boonkerd, Dr. Ketchai’s mentor, gathered doctors interested in the field to form a club. Dr. Ketchai was the one who wrote the proposal to the Department of Medical Services, leading to the establishment of the Dementia Club, which had just over 10 members. As more doctors joined, it was eventually upgraded to the Thai Dementia Association.
As one of the leading experts in dementia, Dr. Ketchai is often invited to lecture to medical students at various medical schools and at the Prasat Neurological Institute.
“When I teach, I focus on being funny and making it enjoyable for them. If we try to give them 100% of the knowledge in a lecture, they might only retain 60% because it’s so stressful and requires a lot of thinking. I don’t give them everything. I just give them what they absolutely need to know, maybe 80%, and I make it fun, easy to remember, with some cheeky humour. The students like it, and they probably retain all 80%. When I get feedback, they usually write, ‘It was so much fun,’ and ‘You’re so funny,’ instead of saying, ‘It was a good lecture, and I learned a lot.’ I just laugh when I read it. I guess it’s become my signature teaching style.”
Making Patients Laugh
Dr. Ketchai teaches students with a light-hearted approach, and he treats his patients in a similar, friendly, and informal way.
“My personality is cheerful; I don’t take things too seriously. I smile easily and have informal conversations, telling some jokes. It doesn’t take long for patients to feel comfortable with me. It makes them feel safe and willing to talk, and they feel a sense of trust. Most dementia patients are elderly, so when they meet a doctor like me, they feel at ease and not so scared or tense. I also give my patients a lot of time to listen to them. Sometimes, I listen so much that the next patient complains.”
His patients come to him with all sorts of brain-related problems, from common ones like migraines to serious conditions like Alzheimer’s. For migraines, he can often alleviate the symptoms enough for patients to live a normal life. One patient, not yet 40, had suffered from migraines for over a decade. She had to give up her hobby of sipping wine and couldn’t even work. After treatment, while her headaches didn’t completely disappear, they were so relieved that she could start sipping wine again, work, and regain a good quality of life.
“She may not be able to drink as much wine as she used to, but she can start sipping and enjoying her favourite things. She was so happy about it. I saw her eyes light up when she told me. When she first came to me, her condition was so bad, I really felt for her.”
For serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, current treatments can only manage symptoms to ensure the patient and their loved ones have the best possible quality of life. In one case, an Alzheimer’s patient was suffering from behavioural issues, including aggression and wandering all night without sleeping, which left his family exhausted and unable to care for him. After receiving treatment, his behaviour improved to the point where he could sleep, and his family could manage his care themselves.
“The disease itself can’t be cured at this point. For difficult behaviours, we have to give them medication to manage the symptoms. If they improve, we can reduce or stop the medication. But for the medication that manages the disease, we might have to give it long-term to give them the longest period of good moments. But we eventually have to accept that the symptoms will get worse. The most important thing is to have a clear conversation with the family, because some have unrealistic expectations. We have to advise them on how to cope. The challenge is to make sure both the patient and their family can live together happily.”
No matter how severe the patient’s condition, Dr. Ketchai believes in facing it with a smile and humour. He feels that every time a patient visits him, at the very least, their spirits will lift immediately. They won’t leave feeling depressed and will be more likely to cooperate with the treatment.
“The ones who have a similar personality to me will have a long chat. We might talk about their illness for 30% of the time, and the other 70% is just friendly chat.”
Almost a Professional Football Player
“If anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say a professional football player. I wanted to play for Liverpool, but it was hard to travel there back then,” Dr. Ketchai jokes.
But his love for football is no laughing matter. He was a football player for Bangkok Christian College from primary school, playing on the junior, youth, and intermediate teams, and represented his school in the Department of Physical Education’s sports events every year.
“I have many teachers I respect, but I want to specifically mention one whom I love most: Ajarn Pusit Chanjirasatrasami. He took care of me, trained me, and developed my skills. He was also a wonderful role model of a teacher and a good person in society. He cared for all his students like they were his own children, and all his students loved and respected him like a father.”
One competition he will never forget was in his ninth year. Back then, everyone wanted to play in the Coke Cup at Suphachalasai Stadium. The young Ketchai was selected to represent his school after winning the school’s ball-juggling competition, where he would juggle the ball 400-500 times without dropping it.
“I thought I was so cool back then. I was like a celebrity at school. Every lunchtime, I would practise, and students from all over the school would gather to watch and cheer me on.”
On the day of the competition, Ketchai had to compete against representatives from 10 other schools. The football field was divided into 11 zones. Bangkok Christian College was assigned the zone right in front of the main grandstand, where the Privy Council members were seated.
“I was so nervous that day. But when the referee told us to put on our football boots, I realised I only had my sneakers on from practice because they made it easier to juggle. I had to borrow a pair from a friend. They were the right size but they didn’t fit well, and I wasn’t used to them. I lost my nerve. I told myself to just do my best and that it was okay if I didn’t win. My first juggle was a mess. The ball went flying. I had to run to get it and bring it back up. The crowd went ‘ooh’ every time. Everyone was looking at me because I was the only one who couldn’t stay still. The other 10 players were just standing there, juggling calmly. In the end, I only juggled the ball four times before it fell. I was the first person out… I was so embarrassed. At that moment, I thought my mom could have done better than me.”
After four juggles, Ketchai disappeared from the field and hid in the locker room until it was time to go home. The humiliation was so bad that his school bus driver, who was a die-hard fan of the football team, refused to look at him.
“That was one of the craziest experiences of my life.”
His biggest dream then was to represent his school in the Jaturamitr football tournament, which was like the World Cup for the four prestigious schools. But he had to wait until high school. The turning point was when a friend in his ninth year bought an extra application form for the Triam Udom Suksa School entrance exam and sold it to him. He ended up passing. Playing in the Jaturamitr tournament was the reason he didn’t want to change schools, but when almost his entire class transferred, he felt lonely and followed them, so he missed out on the tournament. It’s still a sore spot for him today.
His football journey didn’t end there, though. In his 11th year, he was selected as one of the final 40 players for the national youth football team, just as he was passing his equivalency exam for the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital. If he wanted to continue with the football tryouts to reach the national team, he couldn’t do it while studying medicine. But if he waited a year to devote himself entirely to football, and it didn’t work out, he would have no chance of passing the medical school entrance exam again because he wouldn’t have time to study.
“And another thing was that many of my friends were going to study medicine. I’m quite attached to my friends, so I gave up my chance to be selected for the team.”
After that, Dr. Ketchai’s dream of playing professional football for Liverpool ended. Football became a hobby that he still plays today.
“But since I didn’t get to play in the Jaturamitr tournament back then, they later started a senior Jaturamitr tournament. So I got to play again when I was old.”
The Old Doc Band
If you happened to see a viral clip from 2023, you might have seen a group of doctors in scrubs, like the ones worn in an operating room, performing music in the middle of Siam Square. At a busking event aimed at university students, the senior band Old Doc was the group that created the biggest stir. The ‘Mor Wen’ Facebook page posted about them, and the ‘Rueng Lao Chao Nee’ TV show featured them, turning the little-known band of doctors into an overnight sensation. Dr. Ketchai is the drummer of this band.
Dr. Ketchai learned classical piano as a child, but when he had the chance, he formed a folk music band in Triam Udom Suksa School where he played the guitar. After passing his equivalency exam in his 11th year and getting into the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, he started a serious band with his medical school friends called Stethoscope, where he played the keyboard. He played the keyboard for 20 years until one day the drummer left and they couldn’t find a replacement, so he took over as the drummer. He has been the band’s drummer for 16 years.
Later, the Stethoscope band changed its name to Success to represent Mahidol University in the Coke Music Award for two years, reaching the highest rank of third place in Thailand. That year, the band Modern Dog from Chulalongkorn University won, and the band that later split to become Blackhead and Smile Buffalo came in second.
“But that was the only year I didn’t play because I was preparing for my neurology board exam. My juniors still joke with me to this day that it was a good thing I didn’t play, which is why we got to third place.”
After that, each band member had to go to different provinces for their rural service. They would reunite for special gigs when they were hired to play at events. After more than 10 years, all the doctors returned to Bangkok permanently. Around that time, there was an amateur music competition by M150 with no age limit. The band members reunited to compete.
“We came up with a name that suited us, so we called ourselves Old Doc. Actually, back then in 2002, we weren’t that old. If we were to perform now, we’d have to be called Oldest Doc,” he laughs.
In that competition, Old Doc came in fourth place at the Pattaya stage. Even though they didn’t win much, they became known and started getting gigs. They used to play regularly at a pub in Thonglor for seven to eight years and played at various events. The band members changed a few times, but they still play regularly at some venues and have steady event gigs.
The big change happened when they played at a busking event at Siam Square Walking Street. Their unique age and profession made Old Doc an overnight sensation. The number of followers on their Facebook Page increased from 500 to 15,000, and they started getting many offers for gigs.
“It was like being a celebrity. Everyone knew us. The trend probably lasted for a while. We took advantage of it. We went from having one or two gigs a month to 10 gigs. During December near New Year’s, we had 15 gigs. It was a fun life, but eventually, we had to start turning down gigs because we couldn’t keep up. Getting famous when you’re old is a bit tiring.”
After that, the band took on only three or four gigs a month, playing at pubs and restaurants, and they had a regular gig at Autobahn Cuisine & Studio. Since the band members are not professional musicians, they play in a friendly and casual style. Sometimes, they even let guests jam with them. Some of the audience members are their regular fans who have followed them for a long time.
Raising Children as Friends
“I raise my kids like they’re my friends. I have three sons. We’re goofy and have fun together. I let them think for themselves. I never force them to be a good student or to study anything. I want them to study what they love and are good at, so they can earn a living. My main goal is for them to be able to support themselves, be happy, and be a good, honest person. That’s enough.”
No matter how busy he is with his medical work, administrative duties, and music, Dr. Ketchai always finds time for activities with his children. If they have a sports competition or a music performance, he tries to take time off work to watch.
“I remember when I had a competition, and my dad came to watch. When I looked up and saw my dad in the stands, it gave me so much strength and happiness. I want my kids to feel the same way. When they compete in something, I will go and watch them whenever I can.”
Dr. Ketchai’s parents also supported him in thinking and making his own decisions from a young age. They told him to only consult them if he was unsure, which made him feel comfortable opening up to them. He is happy he was raised this way and wants to raise his own children the same way his parents raised him.
“On Parents’ Day, I often post on Facebook about what my parents taught me. People often say I’m good-humoured, polite, and have a high EQ. I get that from my parents. They taught me to be honest, to be grateful, to be on time, to speak politely, and to respect others, which is very important. So, I greet everyone, including gardeners and kitchen staff, and help them no matter who they are.”
Of all the things his parents taught him, they never told him he had to pass exams or get first place. They just told him that if he got a bad grade, it was okay; he could try again next time. So, when he became a father, he never scolded his children; he just encouraged them, which helped them understand for themselves what they should or shouldn’t do.
“I want to be a doctor whom patients feel comfortable seeing and feel happy when they come to me, with no tension. I want them to feel that I’m a doctor who understands them. They can decide for themselves if I’m good or not.”
The outcome of treatment can be a difficult goal to define, but Dr. Ketchai’s personality and understanding have added smiles to the healing journey, which has its ups and downs, and encourages patients to cooperate with the treatment for the best possible outcome.
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
KETCHAI SUAVANSRI, M.D.
นพ. เขษม์ชัย เสือวรรณศรี
Speciality
Neurology
Clinical Interest
Headache
Fellowship
Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Board and Sub board Certification
The Medical Council of Thailand, Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Male
Schedule
Neuro Centre
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 12:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 12:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | - |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.