The Orthopaedic Surgeon and Fitness Enthusiast
– Dr. Pakpoom Somrak –
At BNH Hospital’s Integrated Orthopaedic and Joint Centre, there is a doctor who is an ultimate fitness enthusiast: Dr. Pakpoom Somrak. Patients with bone and joint problems who pass through his hands always receive exercise techniques tailored to their physical condition. Yet, this profession, which the doctor is proud of and in which patients trust him, was once a path his family did not support.
The Profession His Mother Disapproved Of
“My mother wanted me to take over the family business, or become an engineer, work in technology, pursue a Master’s degree abroad, and then return to a multinational company.”
The dream picture Dr. Pakpoom’s mother painted for her son’s future seemed far removed from white coats and surgical scalpels. Developing his professional skills excellently was therefore not just for his patients, but also a way of proving to his family that the path he chose would not disappoint himself.
Dr. Pakpoom is from Chonburi, growing up in a Navy family. The medical profession, from his family’s perspective, was a long and arduous path. No one in his family supported this choice. But he, who had loved Biology since high school, had only one dream: to become a doctor and treat people. He successfully gained admission to the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, but his family still believed he only pursued it because he followed his Triam Udom Suksa classmates, most of whom chose to study medicine.
Anatomy was a subject he loved since his second year of medical school, especially musculoskeletal anatomy. Coupled with his enjoyment of performing surgery, it was not difficult for medical student Pakpoom to decide to specialise in Orthopaedics. Knowing his aspirations early, his three years of rural service at a hospital in Chonburi Province allowed him to gain direct experience in orthopaedics and joint work without needing to rotate through other departments.
“There were many accidents there; all types of bone fractures came in. I encountered everything, got to do things myself, performed surgeries myself, which built my confidence. Everything was challenging. I had to learn on my own too; sometimes if I didn’t know something, I’d secretly look it up in books or watch videos. I felt like I grew up very quickly.”
After completing his three-year rural service at the hospital in Chonburi, people from surrounding communities entrusted him with their health problems. The doctor transformed lives that had once suffered from limited physical movement due to bone and joint issues, enabling them to move normally or as close to normal as possible again. His family then gradually began to accept the path the doctor was content to pursue.
With his experience primarily stationed in the orthopaedic department during his rural service, Dr. Pakpoom had an advantage when he went on to specialise. Although he only completed his specialisation in 2021, he had more direct experience than his peers who had to rotate through many departments during their rural service. He joined BNH Hospital as a doctor whilst also assisting with teaching at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Helping Patients Get Back to Exercising
“I’ll explain precisely: ‘Based on this history, I’ll examine you in this way, you’ll need this kind of X-ray.’ I’ll consider which option is most suitable for them and explain it clearly. If it’s good, the patient will tell me directly, and I’ll know that what I’m doing is okay, and the patient will trust me. But if they’re hesitant, I’ll try to explain, telling them the pros and cons of doing it versus not doing it. I do my best. Sometimes, they might choose not to, but we’ve provided them with the information.”
Bone and joint problems may not be life-threatening like cancer or heart disease, but if chronic, they significantly impact daily life. Patients’ reasons for seeking treatment also vary. Some just want to be a grandmother who can play with her grandchildren, some want to ski again, some want to walk again, some want to exercise. Whatever the reason, ultimately, seeing patients return to doing what they want to do is the doctor’s greatest pride.
“If a patient is older, they might have other problems, such as being overweight, leading to knee degeneration. I’ll refer them to the Nutrition Department for weight loss advice. If their knee is degenerating, other things might also be deteriorating. I’ll observe their gait, check for hunched backs, see if spinal nerve compression is causing muscle atrophy, which might put more weight on the knee, worsening its degeneration. I’ll try to view the patient holistically, and if I suspect there are related problems, I’ll ensure the patient receives treatment for those too.”
A significant advantage of BNH Hospital is the close relationships among the medical team and internal staff, which is considered part of the organisational culture. Dr. Pakpoom was welcomed and cared for exceptionally well from his first day. Even though he is a junior compared to most of the senior consultants, every doctor from every department provides excellent assistance, always prioritising the patient’s benefit. This makes case referrals and holistic care simple. In complex patient cases, treatment often isn’t handled by Dr. Pakpoom alone, but involves the collaborative effort of all relevant departments.
“I like to find the most efficient working methods that take the least amount of time. I prefer to use logic, so I don’t do anything based on emotion. I listen extensively to find the root cause of problems and then communicate effectively.”
The doctor describes his strong points in patient care. Every day, Dr. Pakpoom constantly reflects on problems that arose at work, what he’s concerned about, and what’s still on his mind, to continuously develop himself and provide the most suitable care for each patient.
Not Very Talkative
Dr. Pakpoom describes himself as an introvert. Although he isn’t very talkative, the doctor tries not to let this limit his social interactions. Since medical school, he served as the faculty’s Vice President for International Relations, responsible for overseeing exchange students from abroad. And sometimes, he himself represented students in medical exchange programmes overseas, allowing him to develop self-reliance skills alongside social skills, where he lived with friends and exchanged cultures with people of different nationalities and languages. The doctor says quiet people like himself have to make an effort to speak up more.
Despite not being very talkative, medical student Pakpoom, as Vice President for International Relations, bravely took action to campaign for condom use. Over 10 years ago, this was still a new topic not widely discussed in Thai society.
Another unexpected aspect of the doctor is his dream of becoming a ‘DJ’, which might be surprising for someone who prefers quietude but would then be expected to entertain listeners.
“I don’t have to talk; let the music speak for itself.”
Currently, the doctor may not have time to enroll in a serious DJ course, but he regularly attends music events where DJs perform. The doctor enjoys electronic music with a moderate tempo; just listening comfortably with friends without much talking is already a great time. For instance, he attends Wonderfruit every year with his group of friends.
It seems there are many unexpected facets to the doctor’s introverted personality.
“I’m quite a quiet person, but when I’m with friends, I’m not so quiet as to be sad. Those close to me know I actually talk a lot. And I’m a rational person in life and decision-making. So, whenever there’s an issue, my friends often ask me to handle it or clear things up.”
Exercise Well, Eat Well, Live a Happy Life
“I’m a massive fitness fanatic. If I don’t exercise, I get irritable. And I’m very strict about eating on time.”
With a toned and well-proportioned physique, one can tell immediately upon meeting Dr. Pakpoom that he exercises regularly and takes excellent care of his health. This is indeed true. The doctor began exercising seriously after discovering his passion for orthopaedics in his fifth year of medical school. Even today, with a demanding medical career, the doctor still exercises for two hours, six days a week, focusing on strength training at home or occasionally at the gym.
“Being an orthopaedic surgeon helps me a lot because I understand anatomy. I know where things are, what’s susceptible to injury. If pain doesn’t go away, I can be cautious. Exercise is also good for my work because nowadays, I encounter so many cases of exercise-related injuries. With my background, knowing which movements put extra strain on certain areas, I can advise patients to be careful. I understand patients who exercise. If I tell them to stop, they won’t. But if I know which movements they can do and which they can’t, and tell them, it’s more suitable for their lifestyle.”
It could even be called Dr. Pakpoom’s strong point. Besides seeing the doctor for bone and joint treatment, it’s almost like consulting a fitness trainer at the same time. The doctor advises all exercise enthusiasts that there are no shortcuts; patience and gradual progress are key. Exercise has both pros and cons; one must understand their own limitations and choose appropriate exercises.
“When you exercise, you have to gradually increase the weight until your muscles become stronger, then you can switch to other movements. That will be safer. And importantly, don’t do everything others tell you, because everyone is different.”
Among the doctor’s patients, there was one who suffered a back injury from bending whilst lifting weights, causing a slipped disc that compressed nerves and led to paralysis. Fortunately, they reached the doctor quickly and underwent surgery, recovering to 90%. Dr. Pakpoom therefore strongly emphasises exercise.
Dr. Pakpoom is fortunate not to have a preference for sweets or fried foods, making it easy to control his nutrition. Being a doctor, he knows the daily required amounts of various nutrients. But even with controlled eating, the doctor still chooses options that are simple and easy to eat whilst providing complete nutrition.
“I do simple things like buying eggs or chicken breast to get the required protein. And I always keep fresh vegetables and fruits at home. If there are some meals where I can’t choose, I’ll compensate for the missing nutrients with boiled eggs or the vegetables and fruits at home. Suppose I eat fried rice with pork; I’ll choose a shop where I can order it stir-fried with water instead of oil. If my protein intake isn’t enough, I’ll have boiled eggs and vegetables with it. We can eat what we like to a certain extent, but what’s missing needs to be supplemented.”
Or even daily routines that might affect certain nutrients in the body, such as heavy workload days with little rest, or busy hospital shifts with almost no exposure to sunlight. Supplements like Vitamin D are the answer to replenishing daily deficiencies, though the doctor doesn’t consider supplements a daily necessity.
“Having good health is not difficult, but it’s not easy either. Nowadays, knowledge is easily accessible with the internet. But if you have problems, or anything you’re unsure about that might be extreme, I’m always ready to provide consultation.”
To this day, not only has Dr. Pakpoom’s family accepted his dream profession, but patients also recognise the ability and dedication the doctor provides. Treatment with the doctor isn’t just about bone care, but also about returning to good exercise and good eating for a future free from illness and filled with daily happiness.
“What I want to do most is to make everyone around me happy – those I care about and those who care about me, including my patients. The encouragement from patients makes me feel useful. I want to live to keep doing what I’m doing every day.”
Customer’s Story
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PAKPOOM SOMRAK, M.D.
นพ. ภาคภูมิ สมรักษ์
Speciality
Orthopedic Surgery
Clinical Interest
Orthopedic Surgery
Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Fellowship
Adult Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgery, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
The Medical Council of Thailand, Orthopedic Surgery
Certificate
BDMS Doctor and Dentist orientation, BDMS, Thailand
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Male
Schedule
Comprehensive Orthopaedics Centre
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | - |
| Tuesday | - |
| Wednesday | - |
| Thursday | - |
| Friday | - |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | - |
Schedule's not available
Ultimate Bone and Joint Care Centre
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | - |
| Wednesday | - |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | - |
| 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.