The programme aimed to prepare students for the commencement of their clinical training, instil professional ethics and virtues, foster personal development, and enhance skills in communication, emotional regulation, and teamwork. The activities were conducted under the guidance of medical instructors, senior students, and a multidisciplinary professional team. A key part of the event was the traditional ward-welcoming ceremony, which symbolises the significant transition from classroom-based learning to direct patient care in a hospital environment. The event took place at the Mordin Daeng and Mittraphap conference rooms in the Learning Complex Building, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.
On this occasion, Associate Professor Pattarapong Makarawate, M.D., MSc, FHRS, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, delivered an insightful address to the students before they embarked on their clinical years. He emphasised that this transition is a pivotal moment in a medical student’s life, moving from theoretical knowledge in textbooks to the practical application of caring for real patients. It is a period for learning not only knowledge and skills but also the true heart of a physician. He introduced a memorable framework using the acronym MD KKU to guide their learning and professional practice:
M – Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the foundation of a good physician. This includes being aware of one’s duties, treating patients with respect, dignity, and courtesy, and demonstrating humility towards senior colleagues, instructors, and the multidisciplinary team, which is essential for building trust and effective collaboration.
D – Discipline: The study of medicine requires a high degree of discipline in academics, personal life, and time management. He stressed the importance of balancing studies with self-care, maintaining both physical and mental well-being, as a good doctor must first be able to take care of themselves.
K – Knowledge Integration: In the clinical years, knowledge acquired during the preclinical phase must be applied to real patient cases. Students will develop clinical reasoning and master essential clinical competencies in various specialities, enabling them to translate knowledge into a genuine understanding of their patients.
U – Understanding: Success in clinical studies requires an understanding of everyone’s role within the hospital system—from medical instructors, externs, interns, residents, and fellows to the entire multidisciplinary team. The highest quality of patient care is achieved through effective teamwork.
In his concluding remarks, the Dean summarised the core message: “MD KKU represents being a good physician who is mindful, disciplined, applies knowledge effectively, and understands people.” He extended his best wishes to the MD KKU 51 students, encouraging them to “enter the clinical years with determination, learn with joy, and grow into physicians who are not only skilled and virtuous but also possess a deeply human heart.”
