– Dr. Pakit Vichyanond –
Emeritus Professor Dr. Pakit Vichyanond, a specialist in Allergy and Immunology and Director of the BNH Asthma and Allergy Centre (BAAC) at BNH Hospital, embarked on his career as an allergist in 1985. With nearly 40 years in the field and having treated over ten thousand patients, there is no type of allergy case he hasn’t encountered. But to reach this point, the professor has experienced medical careers in two countries, encountering both disappointment and significant success.
USA: Opportunity and a Decisive Move
“I wanted to be a doctor from the very beginning; I had no other thoughts because I grew up in my mother’s doctor’s clinic. My mother was my idol.”
Professor Pakit’s mother worked as a chest physician at ‘Yotse Lung Disease Examination Centre’, which has since been upgraded to the Tuberculosis Division under the Ministry of Public Health and relocated. In his childhood, the house where the professor lived in the Yotse area was also a clinic, allowing young Pakit to be immersed in medical work from an early age until he enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.
Upon graduating from medical school, Dr. Pakit completed his rural service at Chulalongkorn Hospital, nurturing another dream: to work in the United States. At that time, the US, under President Jimmy Carter, changed its policy on granting green cards to medical personnel, limiting it to the very last cohort after years of openly welcoming foreign doctors. This presented a golden opportunity for the doctor to fulfil his dream.
“I applied in August. By October, they called for an interview, which I passed. I had to leave in January, or else I would lose my status.”
Having to decide to leave for the US immediately meant a large sum of money to repay the government for not completing his three-year rural service obligation, leaving the doctor hesitant.
“But my mother told me to go.”
And so began an adventure that became a major turning point in Dr. Pakit’s life, at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, a warm southern city. At a prestigious university hospital, the doctor pursued his specialisation in paediatrics whilst working. Although his starting salary wasn’t high, by living frugally and benefiting from a one-dollar meal welfare programme, he navigated his initial period without much hardship.
However, life as a doctor in the US was far from easy. In those days, mobile phones didn’t exist. Dr. Pakit had to carry a pager, which constantly beeped as he was paged day and night. The busiest period was around New Year’s Eve in 1978. The doctor started his shift on 29 December and didn’t get off until 2 January of the following year. Life continued this way until he moved to Kansas City to specialise further in paediatric infectious diseases.
His initial fascination with paediatrics stemmed from his student days at Chulalongkorn Hospital, where Dr. Pakit had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Professor Somsak Lohlekha, a renowned paediatrician. Professor Somsak’s ability to make complex topics sound simple inspired Dr. Pakit to become as skilled a paediatrician as his mentor. However, five years of actual paediatric practice in a clinic in Kansas City made him realise that this path was not for him.
“Hearing children cry all day until I felt burnt out. The clinic had a back door to go outside. I had to run out regularly for fresh air, then return to work.”
“At that time, there were many asthma patients, and I knew nothing about it. I didn’t know how to treat it, so I wanted to learn.”
For the land of opportunity like the US, where age is no barrier to new beginnings, Dr. Pakit decided not to continue his paediatrician path, which he had been on for nearly ten years, and instead started fresh in the field of allergy at the Allergy and Immunology Center, National Jewish Centre, University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. This was one of the largest and most reputable allergy institutions in the world.
Starting anew amongst peers many years his junior gave Professor Pakit an advantage in maturity. And his ten years in the US allowed the doctor to develop his language skills to native-speaker proficiency. Over two years at the allergy medical school, he produced numerous research works. On the day he graduated, several hospitals offered him jobs with salaries exceeding 100,000 US dollars per year.
“If you stay here, you’ll just be one doctor among many. But if you return to Thailand, you might get to design curricula, train people in allergy, do something better for the country, and also take care of your mother.”
Following his medical professor’s advice, Dr. Pakit, at 38 years old, decided to return to Thailand for a greater purpose.
Professor, Research, and Allergy Centres
The US curriculum for allergy training does not separate allergies in children and adults because it is a continuous condition. If a physician understands both symptoms and allergens that change throughout a person’s lifespan, they will better understand the disease. Thus, Dr. Pakit drafted an allergy curriculum without distinguishing between children and adults as early as 2000 and pushed for its implementation in teaching medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, where he worked as a medical professor after returning from the US until his retirement. However, to this day, medical education in Thailand still categorises allergies into paediatric and adult sections.
“In very young children, they will have food allergies and skin allergies. As they grow older, it will become allergic rhinitis, and then change to lung allergies, which will last for a long time. The same patient may change continuously.”
Even though the professor’s curriculum draft was not adopted, over 30 years as a medical professor, Professor Pakit made significant contributions to the field of allergy through extensive research. He was appointed professor just eight years after starting his civil service and eventually received the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant.
Whilst working at Siriraj Hospital, a recurring condition at that time was Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), a chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva often found in allergy or asthma patients aged around 5-20 years. Upon flipping the eyelid, one would find numerous small swollen bumps, and patients suffered immensely. Dr. Pakit took a special interest in this condition, conducted research, and developed the world’s first topical eye medication to treat it, leading to the gradual disappearance of this ailment in patients.
Regardless of the years that pass, many people, both children and adults, continue to suffer from severe food allergies. If they ingest allergens, they experience swollen eyes and difficulty breathing. Professor Pakit began studying and seeking treatment through immunotherapy, gradually having patients consume the foods they are allergic to in increasing amounts. This significantly reduced the severity of allergic reactions, and in some cases, led to a complete cure.
One manifestation of allergies is allergic skin rashes. Professor Pakit’s unique treatment method involved having patients soak themselves in saline water, then apply medication and wrap their bodies. After three days, patients showed a significant improvement. This was a distinctive treatment method designed by the professor himself to alleviate patients’ suffering whilst awaiting tests to determine the cause of the allergy for root-cause treatment.
After retiring from civil service, Dr. Pakit, as one of the country’s leading allergy specialists, spearheaded the development of allergy treatment departments for several hospitals within the BDMS network. This included BNH Hospital, where he developed the BNH Asthma and Allergy Centre (BAAC) into a comprehensive allergy and asthma treatment centre for all ages. Professor Pakit expanded the team of skilled specialists and introduced modern medical equipment and treatment innovations to provide patients with a better quality of life.
“You’ve gone so far”
a close friend of Professor Pakit, a doctor from the National University of Singapore, remarked upon visiting the allergy department at BNH Hospital, impressed by the comprehensive resources and facilities Dr. Pakit had nurtured to handle all types of patient allergies. And to this day, the BNH Asthma and Allergy Centre (BAAC) operates at full capacity as BNH Hospital’s newest medical centre, with allergy patients from all over the world entrusting their care to its team. Many travel from distant lands, confident in the care provided by the medical team personally selected by Dr. Pakit.
“BNH Hospital’s standard is that doctors can spend ample time with patients to gradually understand their problems and design the most suitable care plan for them. Fortunately, the doctors here are close-knit, so if a patient has a problem requiring consultation with another specialist, it’s easy to consult and refer cases.”
Music, Guitars, and Elvis Presley
“…We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
We hope you will enjoy the show
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sit back and let the evening go
Sgt. Peppеr’s Lonely, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonеly
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band…”
A verse from The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” has resonated in Dr. Pakit’s heart from the day he first learned to play guitar until now. It remains a favourite song he often plays with his regular band or sometimes solos alone.
As a child, his mother sent Dr. Pakit to learn violin near Wat Thepsirin. Although it wasn’t an interest that originated from himself, the doctor loved the violin immensely, so much so that he never thought of trying other instruments.
“But then one day, my brother received a guitar, and at that time, I loved Elvis Presley, so I decided to try playing it.”
From classical music to rock and roll, Professor Pakit became the lead guitarist in a band he formed with friends during high school at Triam Udom Suksa School. When he became a medical student at Chulalongkorn University, he joined a new band from the university. The professor plays both acoustic and electric guitar, and sometimes sings himself.
“Two close friends were in architecture, in the same band. At that time, I was in the Faculty of Science. Medical students used to study in the Faculty of Science for two years. One day, we’d practise in front of the science building stairs, another day in front of the architecture faculty. When we had a gig at night, we had to practise late because my architecture friends were very serious; we had to be 100% perfect before they’d approve.”
“I was an active student. Even when I went to examine child patients in rural areas, I would still play music to entertain them.”
His passion for music was another reason why the US was a dream country where the doctor could follow in the footsteps of his beloved Elvis Presley and speak English like his favourite band’s singers.
Not only did he play music, but Dr. Pakit also won a gold medal in tennis during his university days. His active nature allowed him to meet a wide range of people across the university, and his old friendships endure to this day.
“Even now, I still play in pubs. Last week, I played music with ten old friends from my science faculty band; we had a saxophone, a trumpet. We played another favourite song.”
“…Yesterday
All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they’re here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday…”
“At this age, I should let go and be still, but I still have benefits to offer others. I want to build an allergy centre where patients, after receiving treatment, can go home and enjoy the simple things in everyday life: eating things they couldn’t before, breathing fully, or not constantly worrying about rashes on their bodies.”
Professor Pakit’s entire life has been a journey of growth, becoming a better and more skilled doctor every day. What he has built extends beyond treating patients; he has also developed medical personnel, pioneered research, established treatment guidelines, and created treatment centres where patients can feel at ease entrusting their dreams for a better quality of life. Even years past retirement, the professor remains committed to using all his abilities and experience to continue improving people’s lives.
Articles and Published Content by This Doctor
Prof. Emeritus PAKIT VICHYANOND, M.D.
ศ.เกียรติคุณ นพ. ปกิต วิชยานนท์
Speciality
Pediatrics
Family Medicine
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Pediatric Pulmonology
Board and Sub board Certification
United States, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, American Board of Allergy and Immunology
United States, Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Male
Schedule
BAAC BNH ASTHMA AND ALLERGY CENTER
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | - |
| Wednesday | 13:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | - |
| Friday | 13:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | 13:00 - 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.