~Speakers~

Dr. Poonpong Boonbrahm, Ph.D.

Dean of School of Informatics, Walailak University

Speaker's Biography

Poonpong Boonbrahm is an Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Informatics of Walailak University. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from Chulalongkorn University, he spent more than one year as a junior lecturer in the Physics Department, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), before getting the World Bank scholarship for his M.Sc. in the United States. After one and a half years in South Dakota Tech., he obtained his M.Sc. in Physics (Electronics). With the scholarship from Kent State University in Ohio, he also got M.A. and Ph.D.in Physics within another four and a half years.

After returning to Thailand, he returned to work at PSU again as a lecturer in the Physics Department and the Deputy Director of the University Computer Center. During that time, he was promoted to Assistant Professor and later as an Associate Professor in Physics from the research work on developing superconductors. He also holds the position as head of the Physics Dept. from 1994-1998. In the year 1999, he joined Walailak University as the head of the Computer Center. Later on, he was promoted to be Vice-President and Dean of the School of Informatics. His research in the last ten years emphasis on Augmented reality.

Topic

Healthcare Technology for Patient Safety in Thailand

Abstract

Today, the medical image such as Ultrasound, MRI, CT scan is always used in the diagnostic process and in determining the effectiveness of the treatment of the diseases. Even though technology has evolved radically during the past ten years, but methods of displaying images haven't changed in decades. With Augmented Reality (AR) Technology, advanced visualization can be done, which will help doctors diagnose and treat patients accurately and assist in patient safety. Augmented Reality (AR) technology is a technology that overlays virtual information generated by digital computers with the real world. The virtual information can be in the form of Multimedia, 3D-Modelling, etc. Using AR technology, the medical doctor can overlay specific patient's medical images acquired from MRI or CT scans on top of their patient body and visualized them using an AR headset. The process will help doctors visualizing the bones and internal organs of patients without having to open a body. With AR, they can perform accurate, low-risk surgeries much safer than before.

Today, many medical schools are using AR to provide students with valuable hands-on learning experiences. With AR in education, a medical student can study the human body and its connected systems in a realistic learning environment. Besides helping them understand how the human body works, they can also practice performing a surgical operation on simulated patients. This training will help reduce mistakes in a real-life procedure. In this presentation, AR in patient safety will be present, and the research on applying AR in medicine in Thailand.