The Paediatrician Who Looks Like a Dermatologist
– Dr. Thirachai Tansantiwong –
At the Paediatric Department of BNH Hospital, there is a doctor whom many parents might not initially perceive as a paediatrician: Dr. Thirachai Tansantiwong, a paediatric neurologist. Although his outward appearance might suggest otherwise, internally, the doctor is a paediatrician in both body and spirit, as he finds happiness in being with children, playing with them, and seeing their smiles. Furthermore, the doctor harbours a profound aspiration and another side to his life that few are aware of.
A Child from Humble Beginnings
“I grew up with my parents, who sold meat at the market in Phuket town. Our family wasn’t well-off, so I wanted a job that could improve my family’s quality of life. From a young age, I dreamt of being an actor or a doctor, because they offered good income and social standing. But being an actor was risky because there are so many newcomers. If I became a doctor, I could work in that profession until I was 60-70 years old, and I’d also be able to help people.”
Dr. Thirachai’s parents were the eldest children in a Chinese family. They didn’t receive much education as they had to sacrifice for their younger siblings to study instead. This educational limitation affected their family’s financial status and led Thirachai to move in with relatives at the age of 12. These family problems became his driving force to study hard, seeking a way to build financial stability for his family. Fortunately, he was a bright student and could offer tutoring for extra income, helping to ease the financial burden even whilst still studying.
“I was very dedicated to my studies; I never wavered. Back then, I didn’t have much money to buy textbooks, so I only bought a few. For the rest, I’d borrow from friends to study for exams. I’d wait for my friends to finish reading, then go to their house and read 20-30 pages at a time, for about 4-5 days until I finished the book.”
Eventually, Thirachai successfully gained admission to medical school at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University. He continued to study diligently to achieve honours, which paved the way for him to be selected to study Paediatrics immediately after graduating from his sixth year, without needing to complete rural service first.
“I love children; I enjoy playing with them. When I was on the paediatric ward, I felt happy. I was also impressed by the professors who taught; I truly wanted to be like them. So, I decided that after graduating, I would study to become a paediatrician.”
Dr. Thirachai studied Paediatrics at Songklanagarind Hospital. He was interested in neurological conditions, a difficult and complex field that requires extensive experience in diagnosis and treatment. Over 20 years ago, there weren’t many specialists in this area. So, he pursued a sub-specialisation at Chulalongkorn Hospital. During this time, he began working part-time at BNH Hospital. After completing his studies, he became a full-time doctor there and remains so to this day.
“Working at BNH feels like family. There aren’t many doctors, so we all know each other by name. If there’s anything we don’t understand, we can talk about it, especially regarding cases. The working style is like being siblings; we socialise like we’re at home. I’m happy working here; it suits my personality more than working in too large an organisation.”
A Neurologist Who Loves Playing with Children
Dr. Thirachai is a paediatric neurologist. The abnormalities he primarily treats include epilepsy, febrile seizures, muscle development issues, and muscular weakness.
One of the doctor’s most memorable cases was an epileptic patient from Bhutan. Since there were no paediatric neurologists there, they searched for a specialist in Thailand and found Dr. Thirachai.
“So, the parents made an appointment to see me; they flew all the way from Bhutan. Upon examination, we found that the child’s development was slower than normal, possibly due to frequent seizures, and they couldn’t control the seizures well enough. So, we conducted further diagnostics, including an EEG and brain MRI, and found actual abnormalities. We prescribed anticonvulsants and kept the child in the hospital for 1-2 days to control the symptoms, then allowed them to return home. We scheduled follow-up appointments every 2-3 months. They managed to control the seizures quite well, their development improved, and their academic performance showed clear improvement. This allowed the child to live their life, play with friends, and participate in both outdoor and indoor activities. The child’s quality of life improved, and they became happier because our treatment was spot-on.”
Another challenging case Dr. Thirachai encountered was a 2-year-old boy suffering from hand, foot, and mouth disease. He presented with fever and convulsive seizures.
“We first had to determine if the virus had affected the brainstem and administer medication quickly. Otherwise, it would become harder to treat, and the child could die. If the infection spread to the heart, blood pressure would drop. After we gave him medication, the child seemed better, but we still had to move him to the ICU for 2-3 days for close monitoring. If there were any abnormal vital signs or increased seizures, additional treatment, such as intubation, would be necessary. But this child was lucky that we administered the medication promptly. Ultimately, he improved.”
Besides caring for children with particularly complex neurological conditions, Dr. Thirachai also develops close relationships with many of his patients’ parents. Some even become friends by default after frequent encounters when bringing their children for treatment.
“Now, this patient and I feel more like friends. We can talk about anything all the time. And I’ve been treating their child since birth; now the child is 10 years old. I’ve almost become friends with the child too. These bonds stem from treating them like family. That’s what’s impressive; it feels like everything clicks when we talk.”
For each child patient, Dr. Thirachai provides comprehensive, holistic care, or Complete Care. His approach involves actively managing patients in three main areas. Firstly, vaccinations, ensuring both standard and supplementary vaccines are complete. Secondly, growth monitoring, where the doctor monitors both physical and mental development. And finally, developmental milestones, checking if they are growing appropriately for their age. If any aspect is abnormal, the doctor can promptly coordinate with relevant specialists. And if a patient is diagnosed with an abnormality in any area, the doctor will discuss it frankly, providing the clearest possible details, including all available treatment options.
“Patients need to know what they have to do next, and we provide them with choices of treatment methods. Patients must have as much information as possible and participate in decision-making with the doctor. For me, our tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures must convey sincerity, letting them know we have their best interests at heart. I also enjoy playing with children, which makes them feel relaxed and cooperative. Using psychology varies for children of different ages, and we understand that, which is why patients like us.”
Dr. Thirachai is also naturally cheerful and positive, so patients often sense his positive energy, which gives them more encouragement during treatment.
Towards the Dharma
“Life in Bangkok actually suits my personality more because I enjoy civilisation. I have a larger social circle here than when I was in the provinces. I work, earn money, and can support my family. I’m happy here, but it can also lead to more extravagance because there are so many tempting things. My dressing style started to become competitive. When I first graduated, I didn’t think much about the future; I’d buy whatever I wanted. But lately, I feel I have enough.”
One of the reasons why the fashion-conscious doctor began to embrace moderation is his serious study of Abhidhamma, which Dr. Thirachai has been attending every weekend at Wat Sam Phraya and Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit for over six years.
“No one knows I study Dharma, perhaps because it somewhat contradicts my modern appearance. But I go to the temple with mindfulness, which leads to wisdom. I study Abhidhamma to understand what the Buddha taught and what I can apply to my daily life.”
Dr. Thirachai is an animal lover. He once adopted a Yorkshire Terrier, but tragically, the dog passed away prematurely.
“It made me very sad. I felt like I had done something wrong that caused him to leave. I was suffering, and I thought about how I could make merit to help him go to a good realm. So, I turned to studying Dharma. Then a senior friend recommended I try meditation, which made me more interested in Buddhism.”
This serious pursuit of the Dharma not only helped the doctor let go of extravagance but also gave him a new aspiration.
“I have a dream that one day I want to ordain as a monk and visit the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya in India. I’ve actually been to India many times before, but as a layperson. This time, I want to go as a monk.”
The Paediatrician with a Youthful Face
Besides meticulously choosing clothes that suit him, Dr. Thirachai also has good skin and a well-proportioned physique, leading many parents to mistake him for a dermatologist. Many parents of his young patients also prefer not to have their children call him ‘Uncle Doctor’, even though he is older.
“I focus a lot on exercise and skincare. I want to present myself as clean, appealing, and approachable. I believe you must take care of yourself, both physically and mentally, before you can care for others. Because before others will trust you, they need to see what good qualities you possess.”
Dr. Thirachai emphasises eating fruit, particularly loving avocado. Although he doesn’t enjoy eating vegetables much, he tries to force himself to eat them on days he consumes a lot of fat, to help trap excess fats.
“And I love playing badminton because it helps me concentrate, and it moves every part of my body. I also like going to the gym 2-3 times a week. It keeps me in good shape, makes clothes look good, and makes me appear trustworthy.”
“I want to become a legend, that if patients or parents think of a skilled and kind paediatrician, Dr. Thirachai must be among them. I want to help children and parents in every aspect. I want to free them from suffering and also make them happy with their lives.”
In the worldly sense, Dr. Thirachai is a dedicated physician who treats patients. In the spiritual sense, Dr. Thirachai learns Buddhist principles to understand the world. What the doctor practises, both worldly and spiritually, results in him being a doctor who understands patients, empathises with fellow human beings, and his greatest happiness is seeing the children he cares for live happily.
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
THIRACHAI TANSANTIWONG, M.D.
นพ. ถิรชัย ตันสันติวงศ์
Speciality
Pediatrics
Family Medicine
Pediatric Neurology
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
Thai Medical Council, Pediatric Neurology
Thai Medical Council, Family Medicine
Thai Medical Council, Pediatrics
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Male
Schedule
Pediatrics Department
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 13:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 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.