The 10-Minute Interview with...Dr. Punnee Sathienchoak

She then returned to Thailand, and after establishing the cardiac catheterization laboratory, CCU and cardiology training program at Vajira hospital, she became a pioneer in coronary angiography and interventional cardiology with very low complication rates. She served as a senior member of the Thai Heart Association, as well as a member of several committees. She is currently the president of the Thai Cardiovascular Invasive Society (TCIS) and the Coronary Intervention Club of Thailand. What do you like best about working in invasive cardiology? When I came back to Thailand in 1974 and started my career at Vajira hospital, I was part of the first group to set up a cardiac catheterization laboratory which became one of the busiest units for coronary intervention in Bangkok. The fast recovery of myocardial ischemia patients after we relieve the obstructed artery is always cheerful to me. Have you seen any particularly strange cases during your career? I can remember a man who had only mild chest discomfort, but had total left main trunk occlusion with a well-developed collateral from RCA to both the LAD and circumflex arteries. Where do you see yourself professionally when it is time to retire? I think I should be professionally retired only when I cannot walk! For the Thai Cardiovascular Invasive Society (TCIS) society, I would prefer to have a younger colleague be the TCIS president, since I have been in the position for many years. Why did you get involved with the TCIS? How did it happen? It was in 1996, while riding in the shuttle bus at the European Congress. I was with fellow colleague Dr. Gum Veerakul. He asked me for help and to be the president of the TCIS society. Prior to TCIS, there was no specific organization for providing education to cath lab team members. With the advance of modern technologies, continuing education is the only key to success for our colleagues. Can you describe your role as TCIS president? As the most senior interventional cardiologist in the society, I see my role as offering advice and helping to direct the actions of TCIS. I suggested and shared ideas with the TCIS committee and our close friends from the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP), beginning with members Mr. Charles Barbiere and Mr. Christopher Nelson. The success of the SICP always inspired us at TCIS and gave us a lot of ideas. First, along with the SICP, we established the objectives of the TCIS. Then we began to build a body of basic and advanced-teaching programs, while also promoting relationships between members of both societies. What motivates you to work for TCIS as a volunteer? Actually, it was the TCIS group that always motivated me. They are such a very nice group of people who work very hard and always behind the scenes. Since they respect each other as team members who share the same goals, it was always joyful to work with them. What is the biggest challenge you see regarding your role with the TCIS? The biggest one is to make the TCIS members stronger, and gain acceptance for the invasive cardiovascular professional as a unique profession. Dr. Veerakul and I would love to see the TCIS as a non-profit organization that provides continuing education, conducts high-quality research and known by everyone interested in the invasive cardiology field. If you could send a message back to yourself at the beginning of your cath lab career, what advice would you give? To get started at a younger age in the cath lab, in order to get even more experience and knowledge. Are there any websites or text you would recommend to other labs? TCIS will have its own website soon. The currently available websites from the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions, Cardiovascular Credentialing International, SICP, American College of Cardiology and others are always very useful. CLD’s website is also a very practical one. What do you think is the future of invasive cardiology? I think the changes in the field of invasive cardiology will never end as long as the clinical problems keep continuously challenging us. The cost of new technologies will also be of great concern, namely, whether promising technologies will be available for everyone.

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