Dedication To Subharee  Suwanjutha

We were both young when we first met nearly 25 years ago. Subharee (as my family have always called her) was an Assistant Professor and had met and worked with Dr. David Beyda during his time in Thailand and David was soon to be a fellow in Pediatric Intensive Care at Johns Hopkins with me.  David worked with Subharee to invite me and my wife Elizabeth  as a visiting Professor during the 1979/80 academic year.

Neither of us knew what we were getting into. We had never been to the far east and had only the vaguest ideas of Thailand in the post Vietnam War era.  Subharee had agreed to entertain a stranger and his wife for two weeks and had no idea of how easy or how difficult we would be as guests.

The two weeks together were among the most memorable event of our lives.  It took but a few minutes to see that Subharee and her husband Tasana were mirror images of Elizabeth and myself.  Both couples were physicians with small children trying to establish meaningful work for the children of the country.  We developed a life long friendship and have seen one another dozens of times all over the world.

Subharee's career development, a pediatrician destined to be a Professor and Chair, were clear to us even if she was not in a position to see it.  One story will explain this.

During our initial visit of 13 days, Subharee had me lecture 10 days, each day of lecture from 9 to 12 and 1 to 5.  Each night was a faculty dinner. This was an enormous burden and, if Subharee had not been so nice, so supportive, and so grateful it was likely that I never would have returned.  Her personal charm was the answer and that is why I knew she would be Professor and Chair of Pediatrics.

When I reflect on Subharee's career, the impact that she has had in Thailand and throughout the world, it is awesome. It is with great pride and pleasure that I reflect on the enormous contributions to health of children throughout the world by my great and good friend, Dr.Subharee Suwanjutha.

Best wishes

Mark C Rogers
Emeritus Professor,
former chairman of department of critical care medicine
and anesthesiology, The Johns Hopkins University Hospital, USA.

30th July, 2002

Dr.Subharee  Suwanjutha
Chief, Pediatric Pulmonology and Critical Care
Director of Pediatric Intensive Care
Ramathibodi Hospital
Rama VI Road
Bangkok 10400
Thailand

Dear Subharee,

It gives me great pleasure in writing to you upon your retirement this year.  Our association goes back many years and it has been a relationship that has given me great pleasure as we have collaborated on many initiatives together. 

You should be very proud of your achievements and numerous successes.  Providing leadership to you Hospital and community together with high quality clinical service over many years including your teaching and mentoring of young physicians creates a legacy that you can remember with great pride. 

Your contribution to the international movement of Pediatric Critical Care has been invaluable.  It has been a pleasure working with you since the inception of The World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies in 1997.  You were one of the Founding Directors of the Board of Directors and you provided invaluable input to the growth and maturity of this specialty.

You represented your colleagues of your region with dignity and dedication and on behalf of the Board I would like to thank you for all your contribution and invaluable advice.

I hope that in the many years ahead that you and Tasana will have the opportunity to enjoy new experiences as you move into a different phase of your life free of clinical and academic related demands.

Congratulations upon your retirement and thank you from all your friends and colleagues in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

With kindest regards

Geoffrey A. Barker

Professor
Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesia and Pediatrics
University of Toronto

President
World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies