A Colorectal Surgeon Who Finds Inspiration in His Patients
– Dr. Yongsun Wongwiwatseree –
Dr. Yongsun Wongwiwatseree, a tall, slender figure with a kind demeanour, is a surgeon at BNH Hospital’s Colorectal Surgery Clinic. Highly experienced in endoscopic surgery for bowel diseases and haemorrhoids, he finds joy in seeing patients recover under his care and discovers challenge in overcoming himself.
Happiness Through Public Service
Yongsun was an excellent student from Nakhon Ratchasima who attended Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok. He successfully passed the entrance examination to the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, with the intention of completing his rural service at a provincial hospital after graduation to learn about rural life and contribute to society.
“During my first, second, and third years, I had the opportunity to work in Chula’s rural development volunteer camps, providing assistance to villagers regarding their livelihoods and health. But what I gained in return was self-development, because before helping others, you have to prepare and develop yourself, organising your thoughts well beforehand.”
This sentiment remained with the doctor when he graduated and began his rural service at a small, ten-bed hospital in Noen Maprang District, Phitsanulok Province.
“It was a time when I could truly be myself, apply what I knew, and travel. In my third and final year of rural service, I had the opportunity to work as the hospital director. This allowed me to do whatever I wanted and intended to do. I took care of all the staff, ensuring their well-being and happiness in their work. I was close to the staff; they all loved me.”
“As hospital director, building on my desire to help society, I had the opportunity to go out and meet villagers. I applied the methods I used during my student volunteer camps to help them, beyond just medical matters. They grew a lot of mangoes there, so my team and I, who were close to the villagers, organised a village meeting. We invited the village headman to call the villagers together to discuss the pros and cons, and how we could find markets to sell their mangoes at a good, appropriate price.”
Although it was a very short period, making it difficult to see immediate results from the development work the doctor undertook with the villagers, at least Dr. Yongsun put into action what he intended and did not stand by idly concerning the problems of the local people he felt connected to at that time.
After completing his rural service, Dr. Yongsun returned to study surgery at Chulalongkorn Hospital, driven by his desire to heal patients with his own hands. He chose to specialise in colorectal surgery because this field offered quick career progression. The more he studied, the more he liked it, believing it was the right specialisation for him.
“I never felt that I had to become a famous doctor. But after fully embarking on a surgical career and taking full responsibility for patients, I began to feel that the more I did, the more I liked it. I felt I was on the right path. The more I healed patients, the happier I became.”
Initially, the doctor worked in a government hospital whilst also working part-time at BNH Hospital starting in 1998. Eight years later, he moved to BNH Hospital full-time. To this day, Dr. Yongsun has felt comfortable working at this second home for nearly 20 years, with no intention of moving anywhere else. “BNH Hospital treats patients like family. Our patients often return for treatment here and don’t go elsewhere. Plus, the doctors remember their patients very well.”
Patients First
“My goal is simply to take good care of patients, to help them recover. I work with dedication, without taking advantage or being selfish, because the most important thing for me is the patient. Seeing patients who walked in unwell, recover through our treatment, that is the greatest happiness. But when something happens to a patient, I become very distressed.”
On one occasion, a foreign patient underwent colon cancer surgery and developed severe complications, requiring two months of ICU care. Dr. Yongsun visited him every day without fail, personally changed his dressings, and performed two corrective surgeries. In total, this patient stayed in the hospital for four months but ultimately recovered and was able to return home normally. This was thanks to the doctor’s dedication and efforts as the lead, working with a multidisciplinary team. Dr. Yongsun recounts this case, stating that if the patient had not received adequate or timely care, they could have died at any moment.
“Sometimes, when there are many patients, I hardly ever leave my patients. I can barely move. It’s not that I’m a workaholic; I’m just more worried about my patients. I don’t feel comfortable letting someone else take over, so I can’t entrust them to anyone else. I have to oversee them myself.”
“Sometimes, when there are many patients, I hardly ever leave my patients. I can barely move. It’s not that I’m a workaholic; I’m just more worried about my patients. I don’t feel comfortable letting someone else take over, so I can’t entrust them to anyone else. I have to oversee them myself.”
In caring for his patients, Dr. Yongsun views them as if they were family members. Beyond the primary focus on bowel tumours or rectal diseases, the doctor also considers other issues that might relate to the patient’s condition, such as nutritional status, exercise, and mental health. All these factors are intertwined with prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, helping patients quickly regain happiness and a good quality of life. And the doctor, in turn, finds great happiness in this as well.
In caring for his patients, Dr. Yongsun views them as if they were family members. Beyond the primary focus on bowel tumours or rectal diseases, the doctor also considers other issues that might relate to the patient’s condition, such as nutritional status, exercise, and mental health. All these factors are intertwined with prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, helping patients quickly regain happiness and a good quality of life. And the doctor, in turn, finds great happiness in this as well.
Playing Sports Until He Conquers Himself
Dr. Yongsun’s tall, slender physique makes it easy to guess that his hobby involves sports. Basketball was his favourite sport as a child. The doctor grew up with basketball because it was a popular sport among children in his hometown in Korat. He represented his school in district-level sports competitions from primary school through university, where he led the medical faculty team to fourth place in Chulalongkorn University’s freshman sports competition and first place in the “9 Needles” sports competition among the nine medical schools at that time.
As time passed, basketball, which requires both running and jumping, began to become less suitable for his physical condition.
“Before COVID, I played basketball with my nephew and felt I couldn’t jump anymore.”
When he needed to find a new, challenging, and suitable sport, golf became an interesting option.
“I only started playing golf about ten years ago. To be honest, it wasn’t a sport I liked at first. I considered quitting many times, but I always told myself and my friends that golf is a strange sport; you have to compete against yourself. It’s like conquering yourself. I’ve succeeded at everything since I was a child, but when I started playing golf, I just couldn’t do it. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get good. So, I felt challenged and wanted to conquer it.”
To this day, the doctor still hasn’t conquered golf. Of course, he can swing the club and hit the ball, but it’s still not good enough, which drives him to continue practising and playing.
“When I play golf, I’m not competing against anyone else; I’m competing against myself.”
Dharma Before Bedtime
“If you ask if my life has been successful, it’s been to a certain extent. I like working for the public good, for those around me. There’s almost no self-interest, because everything is settled. I don’t need anything anymore. Now, I live to do good deeds.”
Dr. Yongsun developed an interest in Dharma from childhood. However, in his earlier life, still caught in the pursuit of success, Dharma may not have significantly influenced his thoughts. Only when his life began to settle did Dharma re-enter his consciousness.
“I practice what I believe, such as the Three Characteristics of Existence: Anicca (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering), Anatta (non-self). What is the ultimate point of life’s existence?”
Every day, when he has time before bed, Dr. Yongsun practises meditation and Dharma at home to find answers to life’s ultimate purpose, whilst striving to think good, do good, and speak good every day.
“I never think about being remembered by anyone. We just do good, do our responsibilities well, and perform our duties to the best of our ability. We don’t do bad things. I always tell my staff to work happily and to make patients happy. That’s all.”
Dr. Yongsun’s life is one of simplicity. Regardless of the good or bad days, by simply continuing to do good and performing his work to the best of his ability, the doctor feels his own worth every day. And the happiness in his work comes from healing patients with his own hands… that is all.
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YONGSUN WONGWIWATSEREE, M.D.
นพ. ยงสรร วงศ์วิวัฒน์เสรี
Speciality
Surgery
Family Medicine
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Board and Sub board Certification
Thai Medical Council, Family Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Thai Medical Council, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Chulalongkorn University
Thai Medical Council, Surgery, Chulalongkorn University
Language
English
Thai
Gender
Male
Schedule
Surgery Department
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 16:30 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 09:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | 09:30 - 12:00 |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.