My parents were both teachers so they encouraged my brother and I to focus on our studies. I was able to get into Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Medicine when I was only 15.

Skipping grades so quickly was tough in my second year. It was really hard to understand all the technical terms in the books. I took one hour per page! But my friends and I helped tutor each other until we all passed.

My inspiration to become a doctor came when I was in the sixth grade. I got hepatitis A and fell into a coma but the doctors cured me. I felt it would be great if I could help others like this.

I chose gynecological oncology because I wanted to use my surgical ability to deliver babies or remove cancerous tumors. I wanted to be a surgeon, but couldn’t perform long operations because I had thyroid problems.

There might be awkwardness between a male doctor and female patients. But patients are ill and need help, and we will
give them the best professional treatment we can.

We always get difficult cases here because patients are sent from smaller hospitals. But doctors are not angels. We can’t solve all the problems.

It’s hard when you have to tell patients how severe their problem is.

We have to show patients that we never give up so they won’t give up either. I say, “We will try. There are ways to cure. If your body responds, you will be fine.”

The cases that always make me emotional are where the mom or the baby dies. In some cases, both die because of complications that could have been solved with proper treatment.

I see doctors as problem solvers. My brother once told me that problems need to be solved, not endured. I take that as my motto.

I used to want a professorship but now I just want to be an instructor, as I’ve been for the past 18 years. I feel so fulfilled.

My biggest achievement would be creating as many great doctors as possible. My own skills will expire in 30 years. What’s the point of being a great doctor if I don’t teach others?

I grew up with a moderate interest in politics. If someone had told me ten years ago that I would be a leader in political movements, I would have laughed at them.

I voted for Thaksin in 2001. My colleagues warned me that he was corrupt. So I promised that if he turned out to be corrupt, I would be the one to fire him, because I voted for him.

I joined the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) after seeing wide corruption in Thaksin’s government. But I left the PAD in 2010 when I felt that we had different political standpoints.

I created the Multicolor Shirts movement because no one stepped up to express what we think.

If Red Shirts ask me why I hate Thaksin so much, I ask, “Do you have time to listen to me for a while? I bet that you will hate him then.” But they don’t listen. They are afraid to accept that they are wrong.

People who accept they are wrong are smarter than those who think they’re always right. You can’t always be right.

My family was threatened with arson. But they aren’t afraid. They don’t fully support me but they can’t stop me either.

I don’t want my son to be a doctor. I want him to save the world by being an environmentalist. He didn’t agree until the tsunami early this year. He now sees the urgency.

I don’t want our children to be slaves to a few politicians’ families.

I teach my son that even though we don’t have much money, we’ve never cheated anyone. We should be proud of whatever we have.

I am not afraid of going to jail, if found guilty for the airport’s occupation. I can sacrifice myself because I know I did it for my country.