Endocrine and Metabolism Specialist Who Loves Desserts
– Dr. Nuanpan Chooprasertsuk –
At the Paediatric Department of BNH Hospital, there is a doctor who loves sweets and once suffered from hyperthyroidism. She is Dr. “Pink” Nuanpan Chooprasertsuk, a paediatric endocrinologist and metabolism specialist. Her chosen field aligns perfectly with her interests and personal experience, so it’s no surprise that she understands her patients exceptionally well.
The Hospital is Her Office
Pink has two older sisters who have always been role models for her. Although no elder relatives were doctors, her eldest sister chose to study medicine, and her second sister followed suit. When it was her turn to choose, her two sisters, then medical students, warned her with concern to choose another field.
“My sisters objected, saying, ‘Don’t study medicine. It’s too demanding, too tiring.’ But I was stubborn then, thinking, ‘If my sisters can do it, so can I.’ So, I didn’t listen and chose to become a doctor.”
However, Pink’s childhood dream was actually to be an accountant.
“I liked numbers, and both my parents studied accounting. As a child, on the way to school, I’d see people going to work in offices, dressed so beautifully. So, I felt that if I studied accounting, I would get to work in a lovely office.”
After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Dr. Pink’s office became the hospital, and the beautiful clothes she longed to wear were now hidden beneath her white coat.
With her innate fondness for children, she applied for a paediatric residency at Suan Dok Hospital, Chiang Mai University, and she knew she had made the right choice to work with children.
“Children are so pure, completely harmless. Everything they suffer from, they didn’t cause themselves to be sick. They didn’t do anything bad; the symptoms just occurred to them. And when children are ill, they are so pitiful. So, I want to make them bright children again, just like before.”
Dr. Pink absolutely loved life in Chiang Mai. But ultimately, home was where her family was. So, she decided to move back to Bangkok after completing her advanced specialisation in endocrinology at Chiang Mai University and began her career at BNH Hospital as her first workplace.
“I liked BNH Hospital ever since I was at Triam Udom Suksa School and Chulalongkorn University; I already knew about this place. I used to drive past it often. It’s a hospital with a good reputation, and its image, both external and internal, is excellent. I wanted to work in an environment that was already good. When I started working here, everything was perfect. My colleagues welcomed me exceptionally well from the very beginning, inviting me to eat and have coffee. I felt it was easy to get along with both my peers and the senior consultants. Everyone was kind to me.”
The camaraderie formed amongst the medical staff also facilitates convenient patient care due to cooperation from all parties. If Dr. Pink sometimes observes abnormalities in a child patient in areas of the body beyond her specialised field, following the principles of Complete Care, other specialists are ready to help and provide consultation, ensuring the patient receives truly comprehensive care.
“When looking after a child, we already need to consider all aspects, from age-appropriate screening to detect signs of abnormality as early as possible in children with problems. And for children who are growing well for their age, we still need to monitor them continuously to ensure they are truly healthy and strong.”
Dr. Pink’s definition of Complete Care also includes educating parents, who are the first to notice abnormalities in children who cannot yet observe their own symptoms.
“We’ll also talk to the child’s caregiver and then evaluate whether this kind of advice, this kind of action, will be acceptable to them, whether they can do it, or if they have any problems.”
And because they are child patients, expecting direct cooperation from them can sometimes be challenging, even if the parents are fully cooperative. This applies to young children who don’t understand anything yet but know that visiting a hospital isn’t fun, right up to older children who comprehend their symptoms and self-care methods but still choose not to comply.
“With children, you have to praise them first. ‘You did very well today!’ Then you can add what you want to tell them. You have to make them comfortable being with you first. But if they don’t cooperate and you’re strict, experience shows that scolding them only makes it worse. You have to open up and talk gently. If you can’t talk to them yourself, I’ll refer them for an assessment to find out what issues this child has, why they’re not taking their medication or injections. Then we’ll ask them to articulate the problems, to ensure the care is comprehensive. This is also part of Complete Care.“
The Paediatrician from Chiang Mai
Back then, Chiang Mai was the doctor’s first time living away from home, and almost everything was completely different from her home in Bangkok. But it was a relaxed lifestyle that she enjoyed.
“Initially, I had to adjust. I liked the Northern Thai dialect; it sounded beautiful, but I couldn’t understand it. Living alone was a bit lonely, but the people were kind. It was a simple life with many places to visit. Cafes were inexpensive. On weekends, I’d go up the mountains. I’ve been to almost everywhere because I lived there for many years. Doi Suthep was a frequent visit; I even slept on the mountain and ate moo krata (Thai BBQ hotpot).”
The place that particularly impressed Dr. Pink was Doi Pha Hom Pok in Fang District.
“We went camping very spontaneously that time, unprepared for anything. I didn’t even check the weather forecast. It was February, and the temperature was single-digit. I slept in the tent without a warm jacket; it was excruciatingly cold. And I had to wake up at 3 AM to hike up the mountain to see the sunrise. It was a dark walk further up, but it was incredibly beautiful. It’s a mountain I’ll never forget because it was stunning, and it was worth it.”
Being a doctor in Chiang Mai allowed Dr. Pink to encounter the hill tribe communities, which taught her immense empathy for her fellow human beings. They were, in fact, the primary patient group there. However, her initial encounters with them in the city hospital led her to question why they had to travel so far, rather than immediately sympathising with them.
“Until I drove toเที่ยว Ban Rak Thai in Mae Hong Son, and I had to navigate many winding roads. Then I passed through a district from which I had frequently seen patients. It was then I realised, ‘Wow, they come all this way?’ Sometimes, three people—parents and child—would ride on one motorcycle. After that, I understood why my professors wanted to help them and scheduled their appointments all at once.”
At that time, the doctor faced another challenge with the hill tribe patients: their understanding of diseases might have been insufficient. Especially with children, if parents lacked knowledge or didn’t see the necessity of treatment, the children couldn’t access medical care at all. Language was also a significant barrier, as many hill tribe people were not fluent in Thai, and it wasn’t always possible to have an interpreter present. Dr. Pink therefore had to try every method, including drawing diagrams, using anatomical models, and demonstrating medication use with gestures, to ensure the patients understood as much as possible.
“What I gained in return was empathy. Everyone who came to see us was seriously ill and had travelled a long way. So, we had to do our best to provide them with the best possible treatment. That’s why I apply this principle to everyone, no matter where they come from.”
In Chiang Mai, there was one person whom the doctor called ‘Mae’ (Mother): the Head of the Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, a consulting physician who was the initial inspiration for the doctor to pursue endocrinology and a driving force for her dedication to patients.
“When I went to study in Chiang Mai, I didn’t know anyone. They asked us to choose an academic advisor from the beginning. I was on the ward where this professor did her rounds, and I thought she was so beautiful and skilled. So, I chose her. But as we spent more time together, I learned that she was incredibly kind-hearted, willing to do anything to help child patients. In Chiang Mai, there are many hill tribe people, and they face hardships with both money and travel from the mountains. Initially, I didn’t understand why my professor went to such lengths to help them. But then I saw her efforts, like organising fundraising concerts and trying to open avenues for donations to help cover the expenses of all struggling patients. I wanted to be able to help patients like that too.”
This professor also remains a behind-the-scenes figure for Dr. Pink, always ready to listen and offer valuable advice whenever needed. This allowed Dr. Pink to see another perspective of being a doctor: one who must also diligently care for those around them. One could say that her professor is a role model in this profession whom she strives to emulate in every aspect.
Whilst in Chiang Mai, there was a memorable case that solidified Dr. Pink’s chosen path: a 6-year-old child patient whom she had the opportunity to care for. The child presented with vomiting, inability to eat, fatigue, and weakness to the point of being bedridden. The doctor diagnosed Type 1 diabetes, an incurable condition that requires lifelong management to prevent symptoms from worsening.
“The child was in an emergency state and needed urgent treatment. I had been looking after him since the initial diagnosis. After caring for him through the critical period, we had to start from scratch, explaining what this disease was, teaching the mother everything about it. The child had been lacking insulin since birth and would need insulin injections for life. The parents had never known such a disease existed, and they would have to care for this child continuously. The child himself would also need to learn to self-manage. He was admitted for about a week, so I became quite bonded with this family. When it was time for him to go home, the child walked up to me and said, ‘Thank you, doctor. You are my doctor.’ That day, I was on call and exhausted from lack of sleep, but those words alone gave me strength and motivation to continue caring for children. To this day, I’m still in contact with this patient.”
Hyperthyroidism
Having her professor as a role model was one reason Dr. Pink became a paediatric endocrinologist, but another reason was her own physical condition.
“I developed hyperthyroidism in my second year of university. At that time, I didn’t know what this disease was. I remember eating a lot, but my weight kept dropping. Whatever I ate, I’d have diarrhoea. I’d feel dizzy climbing stairs, and my pulse would race to 120. So, I went to see a professor and learned I had this disease.”
It was the first time in her life she had been seriously ill, and it was during a period when she was also adjusting to medical school. The compounded suffering at that time forced her to re-evaluate her future. But with encouragement from her family and the consulting doctor who took it upon herself to oversee everything, she decided to persevere with both her medical career path and her treatment journey. By her sixth year, there was no sign of her condition going into complete remission, so her professor recommended she undergo radioactive iodine therapy to destroy her thyroid gland. Although this would cure her hyperthyroidism, she would need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication for the rest of her life.
“That’s part of why I chose to specialise in endocrinology, because I deeply understand what this group of patients goes through. And I can convince them to take their medication, because I also have to take it every day.”
A Carbohydrate Lover
“I’m a big fan of carbs. Anything—plain, sweet—I can eat it all. I don’t know why.”
Although Dr. Pink works in a field related to diabetes, she herself loves eating carbohydrates. Her particular favourite is scones, a pastry often eaten with cream or jam. But what Dr. Pink loves most is the dough itself. Even eaten plain, the taste is still delicious to her.
And precisely because she is a diabetes specialist, she knows well how to prevent her preferences from becoming a health problem and can happily maintain a balance between the food she loves and good health.
“I use the good aspects to advise patients. For example, limiting foods that might not be healthy. If I eat a lot of one thing, I have to cut something else. For instance, I love bread. If I eat a lot on one day, I won’t drink sweet beverages. For coffee, I’ll drink it unsweetened to balance the bread I’ve eaten. I also don’t eat a lot of rice.”
When she was in Chiang Mai, the doctor had a favourite bread shop in Bangkok. She would ask family members to queue up and buy it for her, then send it long-distance to Chiang Mai.
“One time, it had already gone mouldy by the time it arrived.”
If anyone visited her in Chiang Mai back then, the one thing the doctor would ask them to bring was famous baked goods from Bangkok.
Badminton Player
Dr. Pink has played badminton since childhood, inspired by her father, who both pushed and encouraged his children. Initially, it was just to learn and build physical strength.
“At first, my father said it was just for exercise to stay strong. But eventually, he enrolled me in lessons, and then he had me compete.”
She stayed with badminton until primary school. After that, she had to dedicate more time to her studies, leaving no time for practice. However, the benefits of her childhood athletic training remained. In university, she rekindled her childhood sport and played again, becoming a faculty representative to compete in the “13 Khem” (13 Needles) Games, a sports competition for medical faculties from different institutions. At that time, her doubles team won a bronze medal. Additionally, she represented her faculty in several internal university sports competitions. Badminton also allowed her to meet new people.
“When I moved to Chiang Mai, I met friends who liked playing badminton. They invited me to join their group, so I started playing 2-3 times a week.”
After moving back to Bangkok, due to conflicting schedules with friends and the inconvenience of travel, Dr. Pink couldn’t play badminton as often. However, she discovered a new sport she loves: Pilates.
“I just started Pilates because I had back pain. I read a lot, sat working for 8-9 hours a day, and I felt I needed to stretch. After work, I try to go twice a week.”
“Being a doctor truly fulfils what I want to do. Children arrive sick in one state, and when they leave the hospital recovered, they are completely different. This is something I clearly see, and it makes me feel good every time I treat a child. I’m proud to pass on the good things I’ve received to others. And I want to be a doctor whom patients feel comfortable talking to; I don’t want any barriers between us.”
No lesson is greater than one’s own real-life experience. As an endocrinologist who has been and still is an endocrine patient, Dr. Pink is a doctor who understands her patients from the bottom of her heart. As a paediatrician who loves children, understanding patients arises from a foundation of empathy. The doctor herself has gone through various experiences where she learned to empathise with patients from the depths of her heart.
Articles & Published Content
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
NUANPAN CHOOPRASERTSUK, M.D.
พญ. นวลพรรณ ชูประเสริฐสุข
Speciality
Pediatrics
Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Board and Sub board Certification
The Medical Council of Thailand, Pediatrics, Chiang Mai University
Certificate
Orientation BNH, BNH Hospital, Thailand
BDMS Doctor and Dentist orientation, BDMS, Thailand
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Female
Schedule
Pediatrics Department
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | - |
| Wednesday | 07:00 - 16:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 07:00 - 16:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| 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.