คุณเคยเจอคุณหมอยิงมุกใส่มั้ย?
– ทญ. มรกต กฤตย์กุลเจริญ –
Family is the key reason Dr. Luksana Chokrungvaranont, a gastroenterologist at the BNH Hospital GI Centre, chose her career path. Life experiences have shaped her into a candid and sincere professional, while a unique interest in understanding people through their zodiac ascendants has given her a special insight into handling patients, winning the trust of entire families.
A Daughter’s Duty
In traditional Chinese families, sons are often expected to continue the family business, while daughters are expected to marry. For Dr. Luksana’s family, there was an additional expectation: the daughters had to become doctors.
“My father endured great hardship and wanted his children to have a good education. He told us he wanted one of his children to become a doctor, so I focused on that goal without ever considering another profession. It was ingrained in me,” she explains.
Dr. Luksana’s father fled the war on Hainan Island, finding refuge in Thailand at the age of nine. He developed a deep love for the country that gave him a new life. Like many overseas Chinese of his generation, he worked tirelessly, building a successful life from scratch. Dr. Luksana’s mother, also of Chinese descent but born in Thailand, shared these strong cultural values. As the family’s fortunes grew, they invested in the hotel industry. Their hopes were twofold: for their son to take over the business, and for their daughter, the doctor, to care for the family’s health.
“My father is my greatest hero. When I hear the story of how he escaped the war and built the life he has today, I feel I haven’t achieved even half of what he had at my age. He is my inspiration in business, in life, and in his way of thinking.”
Fulfilling her father’s wish, she became a medical student at the Prince of Songkla University. It was a challenging new chapter for a city girl living far from home for the first time. The experience not only built her medical skills but also cultivated a deep sense of empathy as she witnessed the lives of people in remote areas.
“It was a time when I truly saw life, saw the struggles of sick people, and understood how those in the provinces live. When I treat patients now, I always ask where they live and if the journey is convenient. Treatment is not just about the disease; it’s about ensuring the patient doesn’t face undue hardship in receiving care.”
“While working in Surat Thani, a patient travelled from Khiri Rat Nikhom district, waking at 3 a.m. to see me at 11 a.m. I was just a junior doctor, and I felt such compassion for him. It made me determined to learn as much as I could, as quickly as I could, to make their long journeys worthwhile.”
From Thailand to London
After completing just one year of her government service, Dr. Luksana sought experience abroad. She was accepted at Imperial College London to conduct breast cancer research, which resulted in a publication in a medical journal. However, the most valuable lessons came from overcoming the daily struggles she would not have faced in Thailand.
“Thirty years ago, writing a paper meant spending every day in the library searching for information. There were no mobile phones. In Thailand, I would have just photocopied articles to read at home, but abroad, everything was an expense, so I had to take notes by hand. The internet was just beginning, and I had to go and check my emails daily. It was a difficult time.”
Living alone in London taught her independence and self-reliance. “I must admit, my time in London was fun, stressful, and lonely all at once. But I lived the life abroad that I wanted and improved my language skills. Thirty years ago, very few people spoke English, and this skill later helped me secure my position at BNH Hospital.”
Ultimately, she chose to specialise in a field unrelated to her breast cancer research. She selected gastroenterology, believing it would be most beneficial for caring for her own family. The specialty was a perfect fit, combining hands-on procedural work like endoscopy with patient consultation.
After gaining experience as a specialist, Dr. Luksana joined BNH Hospital, which has been her second home for many years and fulfilled her primary motivation for becoming a doctor: to care for her loved ones.
“What impressed me most about BNH Hospital was its response during the COVID-19 pandemic. If a staff member’s parents or family fell ill, the hospital would rush to help. I was one of them. My parents contracted COVID-19 at a time when no other hospital would likely have admitted them. If you’re going to work somewhere, you want it to be a place you can trust to care for your family. I’ve been here for 18 years. It feels like home; I wouldn’t have stayed this long if it wasn’t a good place.”
The Doctor Entrusted with Families
“I have a patient from Hua Hin with a chronic condition who has been seeing me since I first joined BNH. He comes every year, and we’ve come to know each other and our families well. Every visit is like a conversation between friends, built on trust and comfort.”
For 18 years, this patient has travelled from another province to see Dr. Luksana, never seeking care elsewhere. What fosters such profound trust?
“Everyone who comes to see us has a problem, so you must listen until they have finished speaking. You observe their expressions and body language to understand their distress. If I’m unsure, I’ll ask them directly, ‘How can I help you?’ Some have seen many doctors, tried various medications, and undergone every test without improvement. I need to know what they expect from me so I can address their specific concerns. Once they feel heard and trust me, we can work together.”
“If there is something I cannot do, I tell the patient honestly and find a doctor who can. Patients today understand that my expertise is in gastroenterology, but if a more specialised procedure is needed, such as an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), we must work as a team.”
Her straightforward, no-nonsense personality, combined with genuine sincerity, not only brings patients back but also encourages them to entrust their family members to her care. She often treats mothers and their teenage daughters, a dynamic she understands particularly well as a mother of teenagers herself.
“Because I have children, it’s easier to talk to mother-daughter patients. Girls and their mothers often prefer a female doctor. Teenagers commonly suffer from stomach pain, diarrhoea, acid reflux, or gastritis due to irregular meals, staying up late playing games, and eating right before bed. Sometimes, a mother will ask me to talk to her child, almost as if I were a second parent.”
Precious Time During Traffic Jams
During her university years, Dr. Luksana and her friends drove all over southern Thailand, exploring major cities, small towns, and remote islands long before they became popular tourist destinations.
“We studied hard and played hard. It was a time of learning about life, being with friends, and experiencing true independence. I felt so confident in my ability to take care of myself. That period helped me understand that a teenager’s rebellious phase is driven by hormones. Now that I have a family, I understand my children’s desire for the same freedom I once had.”
Today, she is married with two children and lives in the suburbs for more space and cleaner air. However, her work remains in the city. Her children attend a school near BNH Hospital, meaning the entire family makes the long daily journey from Muang Thong Thani into central Bangkok.
“The downside is spending a lot of time in the car. But looking back, it’s our time to talk. I get to hear about their day during that one or two hours in traffic. It has made me more like a friend to them. I know who their friends are and what they’re learning. Nowadays, the moment everyone gets home, they grab their phones and scatter. I don’t see the traffic as a hardship; it has its benefits. I could hire a driver, but for me, that’s not the point. My life is on the expressway.”
“I like to discuss the news with them. I’ll ask them what they would do in certain situations, especially my daughter. We talk about everything from online scams to personal safety. I let them think first, so I can understand their perspective and guide them if needed. In this age of social media, if you don’t make this effort, you won’t know your children at all.”
Handling People with Ascendant Signs
“One subject I’ve always loved and studied is astrology, specifically ascendant signs and the Enneagram. I’m not interested in fortune-telling, but in understanding different personality types. I’ve analysed the charts of my children, my husband, and my brother, and I feel there’s a genuine science to it.”
This interest began during her maternity leave after her first child was born. She took a formal class in Thai astrology and continued to study on her own.
“When I meet different types of patients, I have an idea of how to approach them based on their personality. If they seem anxious, I know how to respond. It’s like I can read people, combining it with a bit of psychology. If a patient thinks a certain way, I adjust my approach accordingly. I use it as a tool to help them better understand their condition and treatment.”
Astrology and medical science may seem like polar opposites, but in a world where many consider horoscopes for everything from birth times to surgery dates, a doctor who uses this insight to tailor her approach to a patient’s unique temperament is providing a clear benefit.
Dr. Luksana’s mindset turns challenges into opportunities. Life on the expressway becomes quality family time, and the opposing fields of astrology and medicine are integrated to enhance patient care. By finding joy in these small, daily moments, she has achieved what many seek: a truly balanced life.
“Today, I live a simple life. I find happiness every day in caring for my patients, my mother, my husband, and my children. I work from Monday to Saturday and visit my mother on Sunday. I just try to maintain a balance with the people around me and do my best every single day.”
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
Luksana Chokrungvaranont, M.D.
Digestive Care Centre
Specialty
Gastroenterology
Language
Thai, English
– Master Degree of Surgical Science, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK (1999)
– Diplomate Thai Board of Internal Medicine, BMA Medical College and Vajira- Hospital, BKK (2004)
– Diplomate Thai Board of Family Medicine (2004)
– Diplomate Thai Board of Gastroenterology, Pramongkutklao Hospital (2006)
– MD., Prince of Songkla University
Doctor’s Schedule
| Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 – 15:00 | Digestive Care Centre |
| Tuesday | 08:00 – 15:00 | Digestive Care Centre |
| Wednesday | 08:00 – 15:00 | Digestive Care Centre |
| Thursday | 08:00 – 15:00 | Digestive Care Centre |
| Saturday | 08:00 – 16:00 | Digestive Care Centre |