A Family Man, Athlete, Adventurer and Fine Wine Connoisseur
– Dr. Supachok Pituwong –
At nearly 50 years of age, Dr. Bell (Dr. Supachok Pituwong) still looks like he is in his late 30s. As a dermatologist in the Aesthetics and Beauty Centre at BNH Hospital, he understands the principles of self-care exceptionally well. His balanced lifestyle, which includes family, sports, adventure, and fine wine, is another key factor that brings him happiness and contributes to his youthful appearance.
A Doctor in America
“I’m from Bangkok. As a child, I often had the chance to visit my father’s hometown in the countryside. Seeing the local community’s way of life, I noticed they lacked doctors and medical equipment. I saw their difficult lives and thought it would be great to become a doctor one day to help the villagers.”
Becoming a doctor was one of his future career options from that point on, although like any child, he was sometimes swayed by other ambitions. When he entered Triam Udom Suksa High School and was surrounded by friends who wanted to be doctors or engineers, his goals narrowed to just those two. He eventually secured a place at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital.
Upon graduation, Dr. Supachok was assigned to his mandatory rural service in Ang Thong province. This was the first time in his life he had to live far from home on his own.
“I was a homebody then and didn’t want to be away. For the first three months, I drove back and forth between Bangkok and Ang Thong every day just so I could be home and play badminton with my friends.”
When on-call duties made daily commutes impossible, Dr. Supachok had to find new sports friends near the hospital, so he switched from badminton to football. The two years of rotating through different departments during his rural service helped him decide that he was interested in dermatology.
“This field always has new things to update. Not just academic knowledge, but also new technology like lasers, skin tightening devices, and different injection techniques. When I was a medical student, Botox was just starting, and then fillers followed. It was a perfect fit for me because I love to learn.”
He then flew to Boston, USA, to specialise in dermatology.
“I arrived in mid-January, which was the peak of winter. The temperature was minus 20-30 degrees Celsius. Initially, I didn’t have a car and had to take three buses to get to class. On the first day, I had a late class and had to walk home through a blizzard. At that moment, I thought, ‘Why did I do this to myself?’ But since I was there, I had to finish. I lived like that for three months until I passed my driving test and bought a car. I thought life would be easier, but it wasn’t. Some mornings after a snowfall, I had to dig my car out of the snow to get to class. It was a great life challenge.”
Whilst the hardships in the US were not too difficult to overcome, his family was sometimes worried. At one point, his mother flew to stay with him for six months. As a doctor who studied and worked so hard that he sometimes forgot to eat, he would return home to find fresh, home-cooked food waiting in the fridge.
Once he adapted, the challenges abroad became a source of enjoyment. He became a badminton player for the university. On weekdays, he attended classes, and on weekends, he travelled to university sports competitions across the country. This gave him the opportunity to travel. After three years, Dr. Supachok finished his studies and it was time to return home. Being a lover of travel and adventure, he took the opportunity to explore the American continent for another six months before finally heading back.
“My parents placed a great emphasis on education. They sent me to study, and on the day I returned, they were happy I had graduated and were waiting for me at the airport. They wanted to see my graduation certificate. But when they saw me, they were surprised. I had only brought back badminton trophies. The university was sending the certificate later. I just told my dad to look at the trophies for now.”
After returning, Dr. Supachok was determined to work in the Silom area. He had passed through it many times before he went to study abroad and appreciated how pedestrian-friendly it was. He could walk to restaurants and stroll around without having to drive like in most parts of Bangkok. The BTS Skytrain also made commuting easy. So, he applied for a job at BNH Hospital.
“And I feel so lucky to have come to work here. From the very first day I stepped in, it felt warm and familiar. I told myself, ‘This is the place.’ I am also very impressed with my colleagues. We are like a family; we can talk to each other like siblings—doctors, nurses, and all the staff. Having worked here for 19 years, my bond with the place has grown even stronger.”
A Sportsman Doctor
Dr. Supachok grew up with a father who encouraged both academic and athletic pursuits. Forty years ago, when computers were still a novel concept, his father, a visionary businessman, believed that those with computer skills would have more opportunities in the future. As a result, Dr. Supachok learned computing back when computer monitors were as thick as a refrigerator.
In primary school, his father also encouraged him to take up badminton. When he became good at it and enjoyed it, badminton became a lifelong skill that provided him with many opportunities. From a school athlete in high school to a university player, he was selected to represent Boston University in badminton competitions throughout the USA, which also served as a chance to travel. Out of 50 states, Dr. Supachok has now visited over 40.
“I also learned about time management. Specialisation training there is very intense. Monday to Friday, I attended classes; Saturday and Sunday were for studying. Every Monday morning, there was an exam. But on Saturdays and Sundays, I had to travel for competitions. So, I didn’t have time to practise like other athletes. During a competition, I would take out my books and study during breaks. If I was lucky and was eliminated early, I would get to travel and have some time to read. But if I played well and reached the semi-finals or finals, I would have to stay at the tournament all day Saturday and Sunday, fly back Sunday evening, and then if there was an exam on Monday morning, I would have to stay up all night studying. That was my schedule in America, but I was very happy with it.”
“There was a period where I was so dedicated, I practised badminton with a friend from 9 pm until 6 am. My athlete friends even started calling me ‘X-men’.”
With his love for games that require strategic planning and problem-solving, he was hooked immediately when a friend from middle school introduced him to chess. He became a member of the chess club from middle school through high school and even competed at the national level.
“In the past, there was no computer chess. If you wanted to practise, you had to play against someone better than you. I would go play with motorbike taxi drivers who sat playing under a footbridge. I would pretend to walk by and watch them play. After a while, when they realised I could play, they would invite me to join in. My parents were surprised that I knew them. During the two-month summer holiday, I would spend almost all my time there.”
To this day, if he has a problem he cannot solve, Dr. Supachok plays chess, and almost every time, he finds a solution after engaging his brain with the game.
A Wine-Tasting Doctor
One wall in Dr. Supachok’s living room is dedicated to magnets from all the different countries he has visited.
“Every time I have a chance to travel, I always buy a souvenir magnet. My refrigerator was full, so I had to make a board to stick them on the wall.”
Before becoming a doctor, he dreamed of becoming a traveller. However, he had to return to reality, dedicating his time to work and studies. It was not until he went to study in the USA and combined badminton competitions with travel that he realised how interesting the world was. Learning to manage his time, he discovered that a balance between his profession and his passions was possible. Since then, he has never stopped seeking opportunities to travel.
He is an adventurous traveller, trekking through jungles, climbing mountains, and facing any challenge. Another goal of his travels is to taste different wines from all over the world. He studies information, history, and fine wine regions to enhance his tasting experience.
“I find it fun, like I’m travelling back in time to learn history. Every production region has an interesting historical story. As I studied and tried more, I started collecting. Each wine has a different flavour; it’s like art. I once toured different vineyards while studying in America, and I even stayed in a château in France.”
Dr. Supachok even has a list of wines from around the world that he must try at least once in his life. However, he has never considered becoming a sommelier; he is simply someone who enjoys tasting, studying, and collecting.
From the perspective of a dermatologist and anti-ageing medicine practitioner, red wine contains polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. When consumed in moderation, it has properties that can combat the body’s degeneration. This may be another secret to why Dr. Supachok, at nearly 50, looks like he is in his mid-30s.
“But you have to do other things, too. Everything I tell my patients, I do myself. You have to wear sunscreen every day and avoid direct sun if it’s too strong. I have been health-conscious for a long time. The older I get, the more I have to take care of my health. I exercise regularly, avoid stress, and try to be happy. That’s how I stay healthy. My secrets to self-care are about that simple.”
A Family Man Doctor
On many of his trips, Dr. Supachok enjoyed the freedom of adventuring alone, doing what he wanted without waiting for anyone or making anyone wait. He loved this freedom immensely…until he met a certain woman.
“I never thought about getting married and had a list of 10 rules. I believed if I couldn’t find a woman who passed all of them, I would never have a family. Then I met my wife. She was like a puzzle piece that completed the missing part of my life.”
From travelling alone, Dr. Supachok made a vow that, apart from work and exercise time, he would not be separated from this woman. Whilst her travel style was not as fast-paced and adventurous as his—she preferred a more leisurely pace, slowly savouring the atmosphere and people—it allowed both of them to see the world from a new perspective.
“On our first honeymoon, we went to over 10 countries and changed hotels more than 20 times in one month. She was willing to adopt my travel style. She agreed to climb mountains for me. On a trip to Norway, we hiked for five hours; some parts were so steep they were almost a 90-degree climb. But she went with me even though she is afraid of heights. She said it looked dangerous, so it was even more important that she go with me. Her words really impressed me.”
From someone who never wanted children, when he met a woman who loved children and wanted to be a mother, Dr. Supachok felt it was his duty to help her fulfil that dream. But it was not that easy. They had to try for four years before successfully having their first child.
“I think fate must have decided we had to go on 17 honeymoons first, because if we had had children earlier, we wouldn’t have been able to travel as we wanted.”
On an adventure trip to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, they talked without any expectations that if they conceived a child on the trip, they would name them ‘Saeng Neua’ (Northern Light in Thai), and the child, indeed, came true. Two years later, ‘Sai Nam’ followed from a trip to Paris, a city with the River Seine.
“I never thought being a father could bring such happiness. I have to say, it’s more than anything else. My worries and anxieties are plentiful, but I’m truly happy.”
In today’s society, full of external dangers, the doctor’s family believes that the best way to protect their children is to spend as much time with them as possible. His wife quit her job to be a full-time mother. For Dr. Supachok, who still works hard, as soon as he gets home, he puts his mobile phone away to spend valuable time with his family, helping with homework, and playing and talking with his children. In the morning, he drives them to school himself.
“I try to give them as much time as possible. I want them to feel comfortable talking to me about anything. I might scold them sometimes, but I never hit them. I use reason to talk to them, speak frankly, and explain things calmly.”
Looking around his consultation room, you can see pictures of a boy and a girl displayed all over. On days when he feels tired or stressed from work, he just looks up at the photos of his children, and his worries immediately diminish.
“Besides working and playing badminton twice a week, I dedicate myself fully to my family. I hardly let anything else take my time. Children grow up so fast. I don’t want to regret later that I should have spent more time with them.”
For a Family Man like Dr. Supachok, his life goals are not complicated but are profoundly warm. He simply wants to make his wife as happy as possible and hold her hand as they watch their children grow into valuable members of society who find happiness every day.
A Dermatologist
The work of a dermatologist has two parts: caring for skin diseases or abnormalities, such as skin cancer and various skin conditions; and the other part, which is well-known to the public: aesthetics and beauty, including Botox, fillers, lasers, and skin tightening devices. Since the work at BNH Hospital is founded on standards and safety, patients can be confident that all aesthetic procedures are performed only by specialists.
On a day when a dermatologist’s work leans heavily towards aesthetics due to market demand, Dr. Supachok’s most memorable case was a young patient with skin cancer.
“A child patient came to see me for a rash on their arms and legs. I was examining the rash, but my eyes were drawn to a mole on the child’s leg. From my experience with many patients, I knew it wasn’t normal. The risk is even higher if there is a family history. Although the incidence of this type of skin cancer, especially in children in Thailand, is very low, I was still concerned. If it was malignant melanoma, it spreads quickly and is life-threatening. So, I persuaded the parents to agree to a biopsy. The results were as I suspected. Fortunately, it was in its early stages, and a surgical removal was enough to cure it.”
Certain symptoms on the skin can also be related to other systemic diseases, such as some gastrointestinal diseases, autoimmune diseases, or certain genetic disorders. Dr. Supachok therefore places great importance on taking a thorough patient history and conducting a physical examination to provide comprehensive, integrated care, or Complete Care, in line with BNH Hospital’s policy.
“Even a common rash can have many causes. Some things, when seen, immediately tell you that the patient might have an internal cancer or a severe infectious disease like HIV or syphilis. Some cases from other departments are referred to me for help with diagnosis, because some diseases require a dermatologist’s knowledge to diagnose.”
As a person with a pleasant personality, many patients, both those requiring continuous treatment and those who do not, feel comfortable talking to the doctor and return to him with any skin problems or recommend him to their loved ones. His active nature as an athlete and adventurer, along with his varied interests, also gives Dr. Supachok a great starting point for conversations with patients.
“When we treat patients, we just try to do our best and be honest. Besides curing patients, we also want them to be happy in the future, so we focus on prevention as well.”
Dr. Supachok always emphasises to his patients to regularly check their skin for abnormalities, use sunscreen every day, and eat foods that are good for their health and skin. He provides holistic patient care, and if there is any problem, he is always ready to help willingly.
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
SUPACHOK PITUWONG, M.D.
นพ. ศุภโชค ปิตุวงศ์
Clinical Interest
Dematology (Skin)
Education
Master's Degree, Master of Science Dermatology, Boston University, United States of America
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
Dermatology, Boston University
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Male
Schedule
Dermatology & Beauty Centre
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 - 20:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 15:00 Available on week 2, 4, 5 of the month |
| Sunday | 11:00 - 15:00 |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.