Professor Sirintara (Pongpech) Singhara Na Ayudhaya, M.D.; specializes in Interventional Neuroradiology and is currently serving as a Full Professor at the Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya has been appointed by the World Federation of Neuroradiological Society (WFNRS) to be the Honorary President in recognition of her substantial contribution to Neuroradiology at an international level. The recognition will be celebrated from May 13 to 16, 2022, in New York during the event “Symposium Neuroradiologicum XXII th”.
“I am honored to be nominated – as the first Thai – to receive this prestigious position. I’m determined to continue coordinating – as the bridge – in the realm of Interventional Neuroradiology academic transfer between the international associations and South-East Asia societies including Thailand at my fullest potential.”
In 1983, Dr. (Pongpech) Singhara Na Ayudhaya graduated with honors from Mahidol University’s medical school. In 1984, she began a medical internship at the Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital. She was awarded the Certified National Board in Radiology by the Thai Medical Council in 1987 and was assigned to be a full-time medical lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, in 1993.
During her three years at Residency Training Program in Radiology at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, she developed a keen interest in Neurointerventional Radiology.
“I went to France for Training in Interventional Neuroradiology at Bicêtre Hospital, Paris – Sud University; with encouragement and support from Prof. Em. Atthasit Vejjajiva, M.D. – the Dean of Ramathibodi at the moment. I got a great opportunity to be under the guidance of Prof. Pierre Louis Lasjaunias, M.D., Ph.D., the grandmaster of Interventional Neuroradiology, reinforcing my belief that Diagnostic Neuroimaging is a leading point for more accurate Interventional Neuroradiology treatment as the two sciences is absolutely inseparable.” Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya said confidently. During this period she completed her Certificate in Interventional Neuroradiology from her training at Bicêtre Hospital, Paris – Sud University, France, in 1995.
She was a pioneer in the field of Neurointerventional Radiology in Thailand at the time, with her exceptional performance at the Department of Radiology. In 1995, she was appointed to be the first Chief of the Neurointervention Unit – later renamed to the Division of Neurointerventional Radiology – where she tirelessly dedicated her expertise and teachings as a Neurointerventional Radiologist until present day. She also achieved Certified National Board in Fellowship in Neuroradiology as well as in Interventional Neuroradiology in 2006.
During her career as a medical professional, she held several prominent executive positions such as; Chief of Diagnostic Radiology (1996 – 2001), Vice Chairman of the Department (2002 – 2007), Chairman of the Department (2007 – 2011) and Deputy Director of Ramathibodi Hospital (2011 – 2012). Along with her outstanding research and articles, she is internationally acclaimed as a key leader in Interventional Neuroradiology of Thailand. She was also invited to be a member of several professional and scientific organizations including the Scientific committee of TSVIR since 2002, where she was the scientific chairman during 2009 – 2013 and Honorable Consultant during 2013 – 2018; National examination Boards of Resident in Radiology, Fellowship in Neuroimaging (2008 – 2017).
She organized the national INR society, ATIN (The Association of Thai Interventional Neuroradiology), in 2008 with a group of certified INR training doctors, and served as President for three terms, while also serving on the committee of the Thai Medical Council’s National Board of Fellowship in Interventional Neuroradiology.
Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya has been appointed as Ramathibodi’s Deputy Dean for International Relations and Research Collaborations since 2012, where she played a significant role in facilitating cooperation with overseas institutions. She has consistently supported and collaborated with the best Neuroradiology working group in the country and she has been a member and National Delegate in AOSNHNR since 2012.
Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya was chosen to be a Co-Director of the Joint Master Degree in Neurovascular diseases: Mahidol-Paris Sud University during 1999 – 2008. The program was later known as the Diploma course in Neurovascular disease then later renamed PLANET in honor of the original course’s chairman, Professor Pierre Lasjaunias, M.D., who past away in mid-2008. The program is a result of a collaboration between Tufts University (USA), University of Toronto (Canada), and Ramathibodi hospital (Thailand), amassing together more than 600 students who have graduated from both programs in over 50 countries from all around the world. From 2008 to the present, she has served as co-director of the PLANET course. Additionally, she has been the senior member of Asian-Australasian Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (AAFITN) since 2000 before her promotion to be its President between 2010 to 2012.
Throughout her years of dedication to the medical profession, with her renowned reputation both at the national and international level, Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya has received numerous awards in recognition of her contribution. The numerous awards she has received attest to her expertise, which is recognized both nationally and internationally. In 2005, she was granted the Chevalier dans L’Ordre des Palmes Academique which is a national order bestowed by the French Republic on distinguished academics and teachers and for valuable service to universities, education and science. She was also nominated as the candidacy for the L’Oreal – UNESCO for Women in Science International Awards (Life Science) from Mahidol University in 2016.
Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya has been a part of the Senior Membership of the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (WFITN) since 1998, and she has been appointed to the top position of the confederation–as President of WFITN during 2015-2017. Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya continued to serve the Federation as Past President from 2017 to 2019 and as a life-time Honorary Member when her presidential term ended. Finally, in 2021, the WFNRS bestowed the highest honor upon her by naming her Honorary President in recognition of her significant contribution to Neuroradiology on a global scale.
Congratulations Professor Singhara Na Ayudhaya!
For more information: https://www.wfnrs.org/celebrating-three-snr-honorary-presidents/
