A Diagnostic Radiologist Who Used to Fear Blood
Dr. Busakorn Vachiranubha
Even though most patients only get to meet their doctor in a darkened room, their bright voice and caring nature are what make them remember Dr Busakorn Vachiranubha, or “Dr. Mai,” an advanced diagnostic radiologist at the Medical Diagnostic Imaging Centre at BNH Hospital.
Here is her story.
A Doctor Who Was Afraid of Blood
Dr. Mai loved reading as a child, which helped her do well in school and, ultimately, led her to study medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn Hospital.
But reading books didn’t teach her how much she was afraid of blood. Her first three years of medical school, which focused on textbooks, were the same. When she entered her fourth year and had to face real patients and real blood, medical student Mai could do nothing but brace herself, gather her courage, and continue her studies.
“Just hearing the word ‘blood’ makes my heart sink. When I see blood or a needle, I feel faint. I even fainted once when I had my blood drawn. But it helped me understand patients who have certain phobias.”
There are many medical fields that don’t require you to be around blood. Medical student Mai eliminated many options early on, but before specialising, she had to complete her rural service in the provinces. She applied to work with the Department of Disease Control and was sent to Khon Kaen.
“Most of the patients there had leprosy and AIDS. I got to see a lot of life there. More than 20 years ago, HIV infections couldn’t be controlled like they are today, so most patients would develop AIDS. I saw the suffering of the patients. In the communities I visited, there were still people with leprosy who had missing fingers and hands.”
Still, three years in Khon Kaen weren’t enough to get rid of her fear of needles and blood, even though she could live with it better. She chose to specialise in diagnostic radiology at Chulalongkorn Hospital, a field that doesn’t involve needles or blood but is just as crucial to patient care as any other.
After completing her diagnostic radiology specialisation and her subspecialisation in advanced diagnostic radiology, Dr Mai immediately went on to work at Chulalongkorn Hospital. The hospital then sent her to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States to study abdominal MRI for one year.
“While I was there, I worked as a research assistant for a professor who specialised in liver MRI. He was publishing a textbook on abdominal MRI. My job was to collect MRI images of various diseases. I gained a lot of knowledge, and he gave me the opportunity to be the first author on one chapter and a co-author on two others, which I am very proud of.”
After working at Chulalongkorn Hospital for another five years, she moved to BNH Hospital on the recommendation of her professor.
“My respected professor is here, and there are many people I know, both seniors and juniors. I trust them, and working with them is comfortable, so I decided to come. I wanted to work happily as part of a team. In the radiology department, it’s excellent. The doctors all help each other and can consult with each other. If we’re not sure about a case, we help each other look at it.”
Diagnostic radiologists have to work with almost every department. If anyone has questions about internal problems—organs, bones, muscles, blood vessels—it’s the job of this department to investigate and find the root cause of the symptoms. A good relationship between doctors in different departments helps make the work even smoother.
The Radiology Detective
To provide comprehensive Complete Care, when Dr. Mai performs a diagnostic scan on a patient for a particular disease in one organ, she pays attention to the details of other nearby organs to see if there are any underlying issues. If she sees an abnormality, it can be diagnosed in its early stages, allowing the patient to get treatment sooner and with fewer complications.
“For example, if a patient comes in with a stomach ache, and we suspect a gallbladder issue and do an abdominal ultrasound, we’ll look at everything. We’ll check if there’s fatty liver or if there are any stones in the kidneys, which the patient may not have any symptoms of at that time. If we look more broadly and pay attention to every image, we might find other problems and get them treated as well.”
One of her cases involved a patient whose symptoms seemed unrelated. The patient came in with a stomach ache and had a CT scan of the abdomen to find the abnormality, but nothing was found. However, Dr. Mai looked at the scan results and had a hunch about the patient’s spine. She hypothesised that the patient’s pain was actually in her back, but because she was so thin, she felt it in her stomach. Dr. Mai recommended an MRI of the spine, which revealed that the patient had tuberculosis of the spine. If Dr. Mai hadn’t seen the abnormality in the images, the primary doctor would have continued to focus only on the abdominal issue, and the patient might have had to undergo additional, complicated endoscopies without finding the real cause.
Generally, diagnostic radiologists meet patients in person during ultrasounds. Even though the room is dark, Dr. Mai always observes the patient’s face and eyes.
“Some patients look very worried; their faces show it. Some people are getting their first mammogram and are afraid they have breast cancer. I’ll gently start a conversation or ask them if they’re worried about anything or if they want me to focus on a particular area. I have to observe them before the examination and ask if anything hurts so I don’t press too hard. If the doctor looks too serious during the exam, patients worry that we’ve seen something wrong. I try to smile. During the 20-minute exam, if I see the patient fidgeting, I have to notice what’s wrong. Are they tired, do they have a backache, or are they dizzy from lying down for too long? Sometimes, patients just want to cough but are too shy. During the exam, I have to observe them and keep asking questions.”
Dr. Mai is normally a cheerful and optimistic person who doesn’t judge others, which helps reduce patients’ anxiety during a radiological diagnosis.
“When we can find the cause, and the patient gets the right treatment, it’s a great motivation for my work. And I am happy when patients remember me because the examination room is dark. My voice and way of speaking must be unique.”
However, communicating the diagnostic results to the patient is the responsibility of the primary doctor. What Dr. Mai can do to encourage patients during the examination is to draw on her experience working with the medical team at BNH Hospital. This allows her to confidently tell patients that no matter what the results are, there are specialists ready to take care of them.
Finding Happiness in Silence
“Just sitting still, letting my mind go blank, not thinking about anything, and being with myself quietly, that’s when I feel relaxed.”
As a diagnostic radiologist, even though she doesn’t talk to patients much, she has her hands full looking at and analysing the radiological images of patients from all over the hospital. Her work doesn’t follow a set schedule; the urgent cases must be done first, and most of them are urgent. After work, Dr. Mai becomes a mother. The time she gets for herself is minimal.
“When I am with other people, everything gets chaotic. Sometimes I’m alone, but I still have to do things, like watching TV. My brain doesn’t get to rest. But when I just sit still, and my body, mind, and brain aren’t tired, I can find happiness.”
Perhaps it’s her connection to diagnostic radiology, where she has to search for abnormalities in images on a screen. On days when she wants to rest her body but not her mind, Dr. Mai listens to true crime podcasts and watches detective series.
“It’s like a cautionary tale for life. It makes me more cautious.”
A Mother
Outside of work, Dr. Mai is the mother of a son who is nearing his teenage years. She says he is now too old to play with his mom, with Lego being the only thing he still agrees to play with her.
“Kids these days grow up so fast, but I let him be himself. I let him express his opinions freely. I am kind, and I don’t forbid my child from doing much.”
Most doctors’ partners are also doctors, but Dr. Mai’s husband is not in the medical field. He understands the life of a doctor, who sometimes has to work late or on weekends, and he supports her well in her motherly duties when she is not available. Whenever they have time together, the family spends it travelling and eating delicious food.
“I am focused and serious about my work. I try to make as few mistakes as possible. If I can help anyone, I am always ready to give advice.”
Patients may not have the opportunity to know Dr. Mai well because she works behind the scenes, but she is a vital force in ensuring patients receive the right treatment. Even if she doesn’t talk much or interact with patients a lot, all her efforts are for them. If a patient remembers her outside of the examination room, that’s a small thing that makes her day memorable.
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
Busakorn Vachiranubhap, MD.
Diagnostic Imaging Centre
Specialty
Diagnostic Radiology, Advanced Diagnostic Body Imaging
Language
Thai, English
– Radiology
– 1999 Doctor of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
– 2002 Residency in Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
– 2005 Fellowship in Advanced Diagnostic Body Imaging, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
– 2005 Thai Board of Diagnostic Radiology
– 2007 Thai Subboard of Advanced Diagnostic Body Imaging
2008-2009 Magnetic Resonance Imaging clinical research fellowship, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Doctor’s Schedule
| Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 07:30 – 13:00 | Diagnostic Imaging Centre |
| Tuesday | 07:30 – 19:00 | Diagnostic Imaging Centre |
| Thursday | 07:00 – 16:00 | Diagnostic Imaging Centre |
| Friday | 07:30 – 16:00 | Diagnostic Imaging Centre |
| Sunday | 08:00 – 18:00 | Diagnostic Imaging Centre () |