The ENT Doctor Who Once Dreamed of Law
– Dr. Pintip Pichayapongs –
Before Dr. Pintip Pichayapongs, an ENT specialist at BNH Hospital, reached this point, she didn’t initially want to be a doctor. However, life’s journey led her to find meaning in her current role. From that day to this, the medical profession has become something she loves and which gives value to her life.
The Medical Student Who Once Wanted to Study Law
“My father is an honest, strong, and very brave person. Everything about him has enabled me to be myself today, including his life philosophy and all his ideas. Most of what I am, I got from my father. I’m quite close to my father; I’m close to my mother too, but mostly she had to take care of my younger sibling.”
“My father was a judge. Back then, before he was assigned to the Central Courts of Justice in Bangkok, he was stationed in various provinces first. Our whole family went with him. I saw my father working. I remember sitting in the courtroom once, watching my father preside over a case from the bench. I didn’t understand anything, but I felt the solemnity, the justice. I felt my father was my role model, which made me want to be a judge.”
Growing up with a role model in the judiciary made Pintip want to study law, following in her father’s footsteps, whilst she was in secondary school at Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School. At that time, it was still possible to take equivalency exams. She took the exam whilst in Year 11 (Mathayom 5) and was admitted to the Faculty of Law.
“But life at school was so happy, so I felt I could study for another year. After an extra year of study, I got good scores on the university entrance exam the following year. To be honest, I didn’t initially want to be a doctor. In the medical field, I preferred dentistry, but my scores were high enough, so I tried selecting medicine, and I got into Vajira Hospital. So, I studied medicine.”
Even with one foot in the Faculty of Medicine, Pintip still had a passion for law. She intended to study medicine and law simultaneously to earn two degrees.
“But once I started studying medicine seriously, I began to feel how exhausting it was. I had no time at all, so I didn’t end up studying law.”
Initially, she didn’t particularly enjoy studying medicine during the first three years. But upon entering the final three years, when she started working with real patients, medical student Pintip began to feel that she was suited for this profession
“When we can help them, make them recover from illness, it feels so good. I truly feel that way.”
The ENT Doctor Who Once Wanted to Specialise in Urology
“To be honest, after graduating as a doctor, I didn’t initially want to specialise in ENT. I wanted to study urological surgery, which at the time didn’t have many female students. But I had no problem with it; I could learn it. I liked it.”
Medical student Pintip loved urological endoscopy. She found it challenging, enjoyable, and even fun, even though few other female medical students shared her enthusiasm for the field. Her strong interest was so evident that a professor invited her to join him on outpatient rounds.
“The professor saw that I liked it and thought I might be able to help him later, so he let me sit in the examination room, writing patient histories. But once I was actually there, an issue arose: when male patients entered the room and saw a female doctor, they were reluctant to talk to me. They were embarrassed. For instance, if they had an STI, they might not dare to tell me. Sometimes they wouldn’t dare to take off their trousers for me to examine… This happened very often, so I began to wonder if I was suited for this job… but I still liked endoscopy.”
When her preference clashed with patients’ feelings, medical student Pintip started to ponder more seriously. The professor then advised her to gain more experience by doing her rural service first.
Dr. Pintip began her rural service in Roi Et and then continued it in Bangkok. The more she learned, the more it reinforced her dislike for internal medicine, but also her understanding that she wasn’t so passionate about manual procedures as to become a general surgeon. Endoscopy remained her top interest, but she discovered a path that satisfied her passion without making patients uncomfortable: work in the ENT department. Here, she could use an endoscope for diagnosis. So, she went on to specialise in this field at Chulalongkorn Hospital and further sub-specialised in sinus and allergy disorders at the same institution.
The Meaning of a Doctor's Life
Just as she began her career as an ENT doctor, Dr. Pintip encountered a case that deepened her understanding of the meaning of being a physician. Whilst doing her rural service at a hospital, she was called in at 2 AM to attend to an emergency patient: a 14-year-old boy who had been stabbed in the neck. Dr. Pintip learned that he was a troublesome child who had dropped out of school, already had a young child, and had left his grandmother to raise him. He was brought to the hospital because he had gotten into a fight with a rival and was stabbed.
“I was called to the emergency room. When I arrived, the patient was still breathing. We took him to the operating theatre, where I, along with a general surgeon, opened his neck to control the bleeding and performed a tracheostomy. Everything was completed, and he could breathe but had no voice. I went to see him the morning he woke up. When he saw me for the first time, he looked at me with eyes that conveyed pure gratitude.”
As the boy grew stronger, he promised Dr. Pintip that he would return to school, take care of his child, and become a better person. When he was discharged from the hospital, he genuinely went back to school. The doctor continued to see him regularly for follow-ups, and he truly seemed to have changed for the better.
“On the day I was able to remove the breathing tube from his neck, meaning I wouldn’t need to schedule any more appointments because he was okay, he cried with me. He said, ‘Thank you so much, Doctor, for giving me a new life.’ That’s what made me feel, ‘This is what being a doctor is all about.'”
Upon completing her rural service, Dr. Pintip, who was already familiar with BNH Hospital from working there part-time after completing her sub-specialisation at Chulalongkorn Hospital, returned to work at BNH Hospital full-time in 2018. She was impressed by the friendliness she received from other doctors and staff, which allowed her to work comfortably and easily consult and refer cases.
“Everyone is nice and lovely, and they help each other. It feels very warm here.”
Life Balance for Her Son
During work hours, Dr. Pintip provides holistic patient care, focusing on both physical and mental well-being to ensure patients have the best possible quality of life. If she observes any symptoms beyond her scope of care, she coordinates with relevant specialists to ensure the patient receives comprehensive care, following BNH Hospital’s Complete Care approach. This excellent relationship between different medical departments greatly benefits integrated patient care.
Outside of work, Dr. Pintip is the mother of an 8-year-old son. Since her husband is a child psychiatrist, the family raises their child with an understanding of child development, using reason in their parenting. As a result, their son feels comfortable opening up to both parents about anything.
“I raise my son in a relaxed way, focusing more on being friends. When I have free time, I like to take him travelling to new places to broaden his horizons. I used to play many sports and even won medals in university. Now, I mostly just play sports with my son. Both my husband and I love nature, but my son is a city kid; he prefers bright lights. We try to let him experience nature, taking him to listen to crickets, which he’s not used to, or hiking and trekking, like at Phu Kradueng. He seems to handle it well; it’s not too hard for him.”
Previously, whilst doing her rural service at a hospital in Bangkok, and with her home on the other side of the city, she not only spent over an hour commuting back home but also dedicated herself so intensely to her work on her duty days that she lost her life balance, lacking enough time to care for herself.
“One day, I remember driving home from the hospital and briefly dozing off, but I managed to keep the car under control. This happened often, until one day I saw a news report and started to wonder if my dozing off was actually falling asleep. I was lucky to have survived, which made me realise I was living too much and needed to take better care of myself.”
“Now, I live mindfully and do everything to the best of my ability. I believe that if you are mindful, it leads to everything – wisdom, the ability to make decisions, whether it’s about patient care, caring for those around you, or living your own life.”
A Lover of Rocks
“I’m not into superstitions.”
But if you look at her wrist, you’ll see various stone bracelets. Dr. Pintip doesn’t believe in superstitions or collect lucky stones; what she loves is geology.
“I like to see what different types of rocks are like. When I go hiking, I look for rocks, but I don’t keep them. I usually put them back where I found them. I like amethyst, garnet – not the diamond kind of gems. I don’t really like jewellery either, but I just like rocks. Sometimes I buy stones and string them myself, making bohemian-style jewellery to wear myself or give to others.”
“What I am most proud of is being true to myself today and being a doctor, being useful to myself, my family, and society. Living mindfully. I diligently examine every patient. Just for them to tell me they feel better, or they’re cured – that alone makes me so happy.”
Life may present many factors that prevent one from becoming what they once hoped, but Dr. Pintip has found happiness where she stands, doing her best in her current role, finding her own balance, and feeling pride in the medical profession today.
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PINTIP PICHAYAPONGS, M.D.
พญ. ภิญทิพ พิชญาพงศ์
Speciality
Otolaryngology
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
Thai Medical Council, Otolaryngology, Chulalongkorn University
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Female
Schedule
Ear Nose Throat Department
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | - |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 20:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 16:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 15:00 |
| Saturday | 08:30 - 15:00 |
| 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.