Baking, adventuring, and learning new things every day are the life balance formula of Dr. Suchittra Pongpattanapan, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who finds happiness in sharing joy with those around her.
Beginning the Obstetrics Path
Her story began with a childhood dream of becoming a designer. However, due to her family’s expectations, Dr. Suchittra pursued a medical career, not just as any doctor, but as a physician with a special ability to diagnose diseases through medical history and an excellent memory—an essential skill in internal medicine.
But life offers many paths, and sometimes the ones we least expect lead us to true happiness. For Dr. Suchittra, that happiness came from becoming an obstetrician, where she was able to help bring new lives into the world and witness the joy on her patients’ and their families’ faces when they welcome a new family member with tears of joy.
Early Career and Challenges
After finishing medical school, Dr. Suchittra went to serve at a hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, a province in the north-eastern region of Thailand. Forty years ago, the roads were dirt paths, and villagers used pit latrines. The local health centre provided basic medical care, and if patients needed treatment at a district or provincial hospital, they had to travel up to two hours by car to get medications.
Serving as a doctor in a rural area allowed her to see the healthcare problems and the challenges in accessing timely treatment. It also gave her experiences she could not have had in Bangkok, such as mobile medical units distributing medicine, showing educational films to teach villagers about hygiene, and learning how to manage medical supplies and hospital equipment—things not taught in medical school.
“When patients had complicated problems, I would consult senior doctors or read medical books for procedures, because sending patients to a provincial hospital wouldn’t be fast enough. For example, if a nurse reported a breech delivery, or if a baby’s shoulder got stuck after delivery, I’d have to run to help with the medical book in hand,” she shared.
Living in a rural doctor’s residence, she often had to contend with reptiles like snakes and geckos. This led Dr. Suchittra to change her path once again and move to Bangkok to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. She later returned to Ubon Ratchathani to gain more experience in handling complicated surgeries, such as cancer, complications, and more complex diseases.
Moving Closer to Bangkok and Joining BNH
As time passed, Dr. Suchittra accumulated more medical experience. Her children grew older, and she decided to move closer to Bangkok to make it easier for them to prepare for university entrance exams. This was when she began working at BNH Hospital, where she has now spent nearly 20 years. She has always been impressed by the hospital’s culture and the close-knit relationship amongst the doctors at this medium-sized hospital, which fosters easy communication and collaboration, including the exchange of patient cases for consultation.
Fulfilling the Dream of Motherhood
When Dr. Suchittra was specialising, obstetricians did not have sub-specialisations. Thus, she had to care for all gynaecological patients, from normal deliveries to complicated conditions like reproductive cancers. One case that deeply impressed her and left her in awe of motherhood was a pregnant patient diagnosed with cancer.
Many years ago, a foreign mother transferred her prenatal care to Dr. Suchittra’s hospital because she had been experiencing back pain during her pregnancy, which did not subside even after receiving medication. Upon reviewing her history, it was discovered that she had just recovered from breast cancer three years earlier but still wished to have a child.
“Let me consult with an orthopaedic specialist first, because we can’t use an X-ray to diagnose the cause of her back pain. Could the cancer have spread to her bones? What would be the best treatment?” Dr. Suchittra explained, stressing that she wasn’t an expert in both breast cancer and orthopaedics but would coordinate with all relevant departments.
After her conversation, the patient, deeply grateful, immediately held Dr. Suchittra’s hand in thanks.
In this case, Dr. Suchittra urgently contacted the breast cancer specialist to discuss the possibility that the cancer had spread to the bones and arranged for an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. Since the patient was 26 weeks pregnant, safely delivering the baby to the incubator would have been difficult at that stage, and a caesarean section was not yet authorised. The patient had to wait another 2-3 weeks for lung maturation injections for the baby. However, the medical team suggested terminating the pregnancy immediately to start chemotherapy and radiation therapy due to the severe pain the patient was experiencing.
Despite the advice, the patient refused to have her baby delivered prematurely.
Every day, when Dr. Suchittra visited the patient, she saw the pain in the patient’s face. Finally, when the pregnancy reached 29 weeks, Dr. Suchittra performed a caesarean section, delivering a baby weighing only 800 grams. The baby spent the initial period in the neonatal ICU but was later transferred to the newborn unit and discharged two months later, along with the mother.
“While the mother was in the ICU, I recorded a video showing the baby’s strength to encourage her to keep fighting so she could go home and raise her child,” said Dr. Suchittra.
After returning to her country and continuing recovery, the mother sent Dr. Suchittra pictures of her baby and husband. Dr. Suchittra saw the joy in their eyes, and the mother lived for three more years.
Complete Care and Compassionate Treatment
Dr. Suchittra adheres to a principle of treating patients as family. She thoroughly explains the pros and cons of every treatment option and allows patients to make decisions for themselves. She also ensures comprehensive care, attending to not only the patient’s physical needs but also their emotional well-being, and remains vigilant for signs of other health issues outside her specialisation, following the Complete Care philosophy emphasised at BNH Hospital.
With over 40 years of experience in patient care, Dr. Suchittra’s expertise is a testament to her dedication and love for what she does. Even with her extensive experience, she continues to learn and finds joy in encountering new medical challenges.
Simple Joys Close to Home
After years of overworking, losing balance in both her health and family life, sleepless nights, fatigue from surgeries, and even falling asleep whilst driving, Dr. Suchittra began to rethink her approach to life. She decided to slow down, work less, but give more attention to each patient. She now lives her life without comparing herself to others, and through personal struggles and the stories of her patients, she has learned that life is uncertain and impermanent. She chooses to let go and be kind to others, whether they are patients, doctors, or hospital staff, and sees happiness in everything around her. She has discovered that happiness truly lies in appreciating what you have, giving, and embracing new challenges.
“I try to find new inspiration and challenges from YouTube, such as learning how to grow vegetables, bake, cook international dishes, travel locally and abroad, repair household items, and keep up with new technology, like understanding how AI will change patient care and knowledge,” Dr. Suchittra shares.
One of her greatest joys is baking, with hospital staff as her taste testers. “I haven’t baked in a while, but would you like to try this?” she often asks. Her baked goods change depending on the new recipes she tries or requests from those around her. Her signature creations, however, include banana muffins, brownies, orange cakes, and chocolate bread.
“I try to find new and slightly challenging recipes to make. If I succeed, it might become my signature. People tell me it’s the best they’ve tasted, but I’m not sure if they just want me to keep baking for them,” she laughs.
The Adventurer
Every August, Dr. Suchittra invites her husband and children to chase the mist. Wherever there is beautiful fog, they go for coffee and enjoy the view. She loves nature and adventure.
Having hiked most of the mountains in Thailand, including frequent trips to Doi Inthanon, Dr. Suchittra and her family also trek abroad. Every year, they travel by public transport or drive themselves, occasionally getting lost, receiving traffic fines, or even being followed by local police—experiences that make her feel like she’s in a movie.
Her favourite trekking destination is New Zealand, where she first hiked at Mount Cook. “Some might not like it because it seems uneventful, but for me, just walking along the trail and seeing the snow-covered glaciers by the side made me happy. Or when I went to Huangshan Mountain in China, the most beautiful mountain in China, we hiked up, stayed two nights at the summit, and then walked back down. I plan to return in a different season,” Dr. Suchittra shares.
Dr. Suchittra prefers solo travel, planning her own trips without guides or tour buses. She enjoys visiting the places she desires, eating what she loves, and whilst it’s not always comfortable, every trip is a success. She has discovered more of her own abilities and enjoys the challenge of exploring new places.
“I enjoy planning my trips months in advance, researching new destinations, cafés, and places to photograph,” she says.
Teaching Her Children with Cards
Growing up in a family where both parents were doctors with busy schedules, Dr. Suchittra’s children were determined not to follow in their footsteps. They even refused to let her open a clinic for them to take over later. Dr. Suchittra never expected them to follow her path.
During the limited time she had with her young children, she often used card games to teach them maths instead of sending them to extra classes. She played games like Nine and Twenty-one cards, encouraging her children to practise mental arithmetic. She enjoyed card games during her student days not for gambling, but for planning and calculating the probabilities of the remaining cards.
“Back when I was in medical school, I joined the bridge card club. It wasn’t about winning money, but about observing people’s expressions and planning how to win. When I received my cards, I’d analyse my opponent’s face and calculate the odds of winning. It’s like playing Go, planning to beat your opponent with each move,” Dr. Suchittra explains.
Embracing a Life of Balance and Joy
Today, Dr. Suchittra enjoys the simple pleasures of life—eating, resting, and maintaining good health. She finds joy in giving, learning new things, and valuing herself. She exercises regularly, keeps her mind sharp with crossword puzzles, and embraces new challenges in life.
“Finally, I hope everyone stays healthy in both body and mind,” Dr. Suchittra concludes.
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SUCHITTRA PONGPATTANAPAN, M.D.
พญ. สุจิตรา พงษ์พัฒนพันธุ์
Speciality
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
Thai Medical Council, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mahidol University
Certificate
BDMS Bylaws, BDMS, Thailand
Code of behavior (TH), BDMS, Thailand
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Female
Schedule
Women's Health Centre
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 07:00 - 15:00 |
| Tuesday | - |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 15:00 |
| Thursday | - |
| Friday | 07:00 - 15:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.