Page 7 - MidWeek - April 28, 2021

APRIL 28, 2021 MIDWEEK 7
Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Panupong Jiams- ripong’s outlook on life was shaped by the Thai culture.
DR. PANUPONG JIAMSRIPONG, cardiologist with Pali Momi Medical Center Interviewed by Don Robbins
Keeping Yourself Heart-healthy
He explains that the country focuses on having good spirit, not on materialism.
In addition, he notes that his residency in internal med- icine at University of Hawai‘i and a cardiology fellowship “gave me so much more ex- perience and a greater depth in understanding cardiac dis- ease, enabling me to provide top-notch cardiovascular care at Pali Momi Medical Center.”
aren’t taking a break. Many reasons are responsible for why people put off care, but the predominant one is a fear of catching the coronavirus at health care facilities. Since cardiovascular conditions are associated with severe corona- virus disease and a higher risk of death, it is extremely im- portant that patients continue their prescribed care and know that health care facilities have implemented many precau- tions to help keep them safe.
determine the best option for the care you need, or call 911 immediately if symptoms are life-threatening or you think you could be having a heart attack.
“Thai people are generally very courteous and friendly. Our country is called ‘The Land of Smiles,’” he shares.
In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, traveling and food.
What inspired you to pursue medicine, particularly car- diology?
“The most important thing in our daily life is to avoid as much as possible all the de- structive ways of behaving, speaking and thinking, and to cultivate as much as possible all the positive, constructive ways for our family, col- leagues and community. We believe that the uncertain is certain. So we have to live for the moment and do our best,” Jiamsripong emphasizes.
This week, Jiamsripong shares more about how peo- ple can stay heart-healthy and about his personal back- ground.
Since I was young, I was curious about how the body functioned and what was actu- ally inside our body. I always had a passion to help and save people’s lives. In medicine, especially the cardiology field, solving health problems is like finding the missing piece of the puzzle.
Dr. Panupong Jiamsripong discusses heart health with a patient.
PHOTOS COURTESY HAWAI‘I PACIFIC HEALTH
and have called Hawai‘i home since then. What I love most about Hawai‘i is the people, and the spirit of ‘ohana and family made me feel at home.
Jiamsripong says that his medical schooling at Mahidol University at Siriraj and resi- dency at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital Internal Medicine provided him with a great foundation in cardiology.
We have seen all types of heart issues worsen due to the postponement of medical care to include more serious ones, such as heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and others. Despite the pandemic, heart problems
Second, it’s important to maintain a heart-healthy life- style. Third, recognize heart symptoms and seek care ear- ly. If patients have concerns about getting care in person, telehealth options are avail- able, even for cardiology ser- vices. It’s best to consult with your primary care physician to
The heart provides some of the most important functions in the body and it is a chal- lenge for me to study. Since heart disease is so prevalent, I want to make a true impact in this area for patients. I am very happy that I can help them.
What heart issues are med- ical professionals seeing in patients as a possible result of people putting off getting medical care during the pan- demic?
What tips do you have for maintaining heart health during the pandemic?
What made you decide to move to Hawai‘i and work here?
Obviously the most import- ant thing to do is to try to avoid coronavirus infection.
I utilize information from many fields, such as anatomy, physiology, diversity of pa- tient population, differences in presentations, and clinical and basic science knowledge in solving problems. There are so many aspects of the heart that could be studied and with the development of new innova- tive treatments it made the field even more compelling to me.
My family and I have had quite an adventurous life. My family moved from Thailand to Arizona 15 years ago. At first, I planned to do some cardiology research at the Mayo Clinic for a few years and then go back to Thailand. But I ended up staying in the United States. I was fortunate to get accepted at Universi- ty of Hawai‘i for an internal medicine residency and car- diology fellowship program,
What do you love most about what you do for a ca- reer?
Caring for women and children like no one else in Hawai‘i.
As the only full-service specialty medical center of its kind in the state, we offer expert care through video visits as well as in person. You are why we’re reimagining health care.
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