Dr Rujapong Sukhabote

Gastroenterology, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

Dr Rujapong Sukhabote has it all. He’s smart, urbane, accomplished and one of Bumrungrad International Hospital’s top gastroenterologists. But Dr Rujapong has a double identity. By day, he runs a full time clinical practice at Bumrungrad, but by night he is the chef at one of Bangkok’s best French bistros, 4 Garcons.

Dr Rujapong redefines the term gastroenterologist, because his passion for medicine is complemented by his passion for food. I personally think that is important, because understanding what you eat is core to maintaing good digestive health. It’s clear that urbanization and modernization have significantly changed our diets for the worse, and that is leading to a host of digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux (GERD) and diverticulitis to name a few.

I have known and worked with Dr Rujapong for over 10 years, and have myself been under his care. He is a good listener, has a thorough knowledge of his specialty, and is an excellent communicator, which explains why his clinic is always busy. Specialists often get a bad rap because they tend to view patients through a very narrow lens, but not Dr Rujapong. This is a doctor with a big picture view who knows how to diagnose the details.

Personally, I don’t see how Dr Rujapong runs two full time careers and excels at both (his braised beef cheeks are a must!), but he does. I’ve been to his clinic and his restaurant, and in both instances it is clear that an artist is at work. This guy puts the “gastro” in gastoenterology.

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