When you imagine a doctor, many might picture a calm, professional figure, far removed from the image of an adventurous woman carrying a backpack, hiking, and travelling alone while making regular jokes. But this is the backstory that shaped Dr. Wipada Bintvihok, an obstetrician and gynaecologist specialising in gynaecologic oncology at BNH Hospital, making her a cancer doctor beloved by her patients for her closeness and empathy.
Father’s Dream, Daughter’s Calling
Dr. Wipada’s full-fledged medical career began at a small community hospital in Suphanburi. Back then, everyone in the district knew her. People would greet her at the coffee shop, and the villagers would ask her to ride on their motorcycles with them.
“I felt so warm. Being a doctor, I could easily connect with others.”
But in this remote area, it wasn’t just the warmth of the people that she received. The lack of resources often meant she had to work long shifts by herself. There was one time when she had to perform CPR on a patient alone, continuously from the hospital bed to the ambulance, transporting the patient to a central hospital. In the end, the patient survived, and Dr. Wipada felt for the first time the true value of being a doctor.
Looking back on her childhood, young Wipada loved art and dreamed of becoming an architect or an interior designer. But ultimately, she chose to study medicine at Chulalongkorn University to fulfil her father’s dream, as her father was a veterinarian. She put her love for art aside as a hobby and never regretted the path her father had chosen for her.
“Many people say that life doesn’t have to follow your passion completely. Being a doctor is good. One, it gives stability; two, you get to help many people. I’ve always felt that being a doctor has so much value. It’s something I’m proud of, both for myself and my family.”
Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Witnessing Every Stage of Life
Dr. Wipada chose to specialise in this field. When she worked in a public hospital, she encountered many female cancer patients. Her desire to help these patients led her to further her studies in gynaecologic oncology to break through her limitations in treating such diseases.
Upon completing her studies and returning to her full-time medical career, she worked tirelessly, sometimes spending more time at the hospital than at home. Over time, she began to notice that members of her own family were falling ill, despite having a doctor in the family.
“I’m grateful to my father for giving me the chance to be a doctor, but I feel guilty that I was too busy and didn’t have time for my family. When something bad happens, you realise life is short. Our parents get older every day, and every minute is precious. You have to manage time well, work shouldn’t be neglected, and family should be together.”
This moment became a turning point for Dr. Wipada, prompting her to reassess herself and her priorities. She sought a place where she could balance being a dedicated doctor and a responsible child. That place was BNH Hospital.
A Listener and Supporter for Cancer Patients
Cancer is a diagnosis that often brings fear, and even though modern medical technology offers potential cures, the uncertainty of treatment timelines and success rates can lead patients to lose hope. For Dr. Wipada, the most challenging part of being an oncologist is managing her patients’ emotional states.
“No matter if the outcome is recovery or not.”
Dr. Wipada is well-known for her communication skills. When a cancer patient comes in with fear, she stays with them, listens, listens, and listens attentively and calmly. She lets the patient share their story, their worries, their beliefs, and together they slowly untangle the knots in their hearts. Only when the patient is ready to accept the treatment plan does the chance for healing increase.
Support from the doctor is part of the healing process, but the encouragement from loved ones is irreplaceable. Dr. Wipada’s communication skills extend to the patients’ family members, inviting them to join in the healing journey. She also helps assess potential risks, as gynaecologic cancers can run in families. Sometimes, the patient’s biggest concern is not just their own illness but also the well-being of their loved ones. Trying to understand the big picture – body, mind, and everything around the patient – is the holistic care that Dr. Wipada provides throughout her six years at BNH Hospital, starting with listening.
“I want to be a doctor who is more accessible to my patients in terms of trust. If something comes up, I want them to tell me so we can understand each other better. Sometimes patients are afraid of the doctor and don’t tell us if they are taking their medicine. I don’t want our relationship to have barriers. I want them to open up, feel comfortable, and understand each other.”
Life Should Be Challenging
“Friends know me as cheerful, funny, easy-going. I don’t take things too seriously, love cracking jokes, and enjoy finding fun things to do. I don’t like staying still.”
Dr. Wipada’s energetic, fun, and easy-going personality extends to her interactions with her patients. She looks at the world positively, which helps her patients relax and feel like they are talking to a friend rather than a doctor. Her adventurous spirit is an essential part of who she is, and she makes sure her patients know that she’s ready to face challenges alongside them.
“Opening up to new worlds, trying new things, that’s life’s profit that you can’t get back. If you don’t do it now, when you get older, you won’t be able to.”
Her most memorable adventure was a journey to Nepal. Dr. Wipada and her friends hiked up and down mountains for an entire day, surrounded by harsh terrain. There was no electricity or food available along the way. When they finally reached the top, she collapsed on the ground from exhaustion. It was the longest hike of her life, but when the sun set and the stars filled the sky, her feelings changed.
“I realised that happiness comes easily.”
Her adventures aren’t limited to activities with like-minded friends. Years ago, whilst studying abroad in South Korea, Dr. Wipada stayed in a dormitory with many other guests, and in her free time, she travelled alone by bus and train. Sometimes she got lost, other times she found her way. But ultimately, travelling alone gave her the chance to understand her own emotions and herself better.
“Usually, I like to follow what others want. I don’t pay much attention to my own needs. But when I travelled alone, I understood my emotions more and felt like it was so much fun.”
Her international work experience also shaped her medical skills. She noticed how quickly and enthusiastically doctors in Korea worked, how Japanese doctors worked hard but played hard, and how American doctors maintained a good work-life balance, treating all medical staff equally, and being close to their patients. The lessons from these doctors abroad became a model for Dr. Wipada’s approach to medicine.
A New Challenge: Marathon Running
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning, Dr. Wipada took on a new challenge: marathon running. She joined a group of fellow doctors who ran marathons. Although she had never been interested in exercise before, she decided to make her first marathon a success at the Bangsaen Marathon. Despite concerns from others about whether she could manage, Dr. Wipada completed her first marathon, a 42-kilometre race, less than a year after she started training. Today, she still runs regularly and aims to compete in the Tokyo Marathon in two years.
“Running 30 kilometres, 35 kilometres, my mind started to weaken, but I got through it. It reinforced my belief that if your mind believes it, your body can do it. So when something seems hard, I tell myself that it’s possible, and it truly is. The mind leads the body. With that, I’ve overcome another challenge in life.”
Improving Communication with International Patients
BNH Hospital has become popular among Chinese patients since the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, and their numbers have continued to grow. Many times, Chinese patients have come to Dr. Wipada for treatment, but the language barrier was an obstacle in reaching them. So, she decided to take on a new challenge and learn Chinese. With the help of a Chinese TV series character, Dr. Wipada can now communicate in basic Chinese. Although she still needs an interpreter to assist her, her efforts to bridge the language gap have made Chinese patients more comfortable and willing to communicate with her.
“We are adventure types. We love challenges and learning new things all the time. Not stopping learning is a principle I live by. It helps me grow, and it benefits my medical practice.”
The Art of Healing and Life
Treating patients is like art. Every person has their own perspective and expertise. BNH Hospital offers the freedom to treat patients within standards, allowing Dr. Wipada to design her treatments freely, with a consulting team ready to assist when needed.
The art she enjoyed in her youth still influences her care for patients today, from communication to treatment. Even though she no longer paints, Dr. Wipada still enjoys visiting galleries and art museums, appreciating art to relax. In her free time, she plays the piano, strums the guitar, uses music to relax, goes hiking for nature therapy, or enjoys the design atmosphere in cafés.
Another aspect of her art of living is managing time efficiently within limited hours, leaving space for self-care whilst still balancing work. As a doctor, whose work doesn’t have a set schedule, she uses life planning to balance what must be done and what she wants to do, all while keeping her life fun and full of energy.
“But if today doesn’t feel balanced, tomorrow will be fine. No need to stress too much.”
Dr. Wipada concludes with her laid-back nature, affirming that balance isn’t always rigid.
Her ability to connect with her patients, the trust she builds, and her genuine desire to alleviate others’ suffering are what Dr. Wipada hopes people will remember her for, both as a doctor and as a human being.
“My name, Wipada, means ‘light.’ I feel that I want to be a light for others. If I can turn someone’s tears into a smile, that’s a good thing.”
Make an appointment with a doctor online | Appointment
– Gynecologic Oncology
– Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic oncology
– M.D. Chulalongkorn University 2006
– Diploma of Thai board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University 2012
– Gynecologic Oncology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital 2017
ตารางออกตรวจแพทย์
| วัน | เวลา | แผนก |
|---|---|---|
| จันทร์ | 10:00 – 20:00 | ศูนย์สุขภาพสตรี |
| อังคาร | 09:00 – 17:00 | ศูนย์สุขภาพสตรี |
| ศุกร์ | 10:00 – 20:00 | ศูนย์สุขภาพสตรี |
| เสาร์ | 07:00 – 19:00 | ศูนย์สุขภาพสตรี |