Dr. Kinley Tshering is a highly accomplished and passionate consultant paediatrician currently working at Lungtenphu Hospital in Thimphu, Bhutan. With years of experience working as a general doctor in remote areas of southern Bhutan, as well as a paediatrician at the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, Dr. Tshering has seen first-hand the devastating impact of preventable diseases like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea on children.
These experiences inspired Dr. Tshering to become a dedicated paediatrician, committed to providing the best possible care for sick children in Bhutan. However, he realised that simply treating children who came to the hospital was not enough - he needed to understand the underlying factors contributing to childhood diseases to truly make a difference.
That opportunity came in the form of a Thomas Mark scholarship to study MSc Tropical Paediatrics at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) where he learned about disease epidemiology, statistics and research, Tropical diseases, disease control and prevention. These courses enabled him to understand and conduct research that could ultimately inform better treatment and prevention of childhood diseases.
Dr. Tshering jumped at the chance to further his knowledge and expertise, and the experience proved invaluable. Dr. Tshering chose to study at LSTM after learning about it at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) annual conference held in Glasgow in 2012. He chanced upon a stall of LSTM and learned about the possibility of getting a scholarship in Tropical Paediatrics through open competition.
With the knowledge and skills gained from LSTM, Dr. Tshering returned to Bhutan and began working closely with the Ministry of Health to adapt and implement WHO guidelines to the specific context of Bhutan. Besides his compassionate work as paediatrician, he is involved in teaching different categories of health care workers in infant feeding, malnutrition, paediatric resuscitation and vaccine preventable diseases. He also played a key role in drafting Standard Operating Procedures for the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to ensure that healthcare workers had the tools they needed to provide safe and effective care.
Dr. Tshering is also involved in teaching basic research methodology at the KhesarGyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB). He draws inspiration from his family - his parents, his wife Karma Choden, and their three daughters - as well as from his hobbies, including reading and playing archery.
Reflecting on his time at LSTM, Dr. Tshering is grateful for the Thomas Mark scholarship that made it possible for him to pursue his dream of studying Tropical Paediatrics. He recalls the many international students he met and learned from, as well as the supportive staff and excellent IT resources at LSTM. His confidence and skills have grown immeasurably because of his education, enabling him to make a real difference in the lives of children in Bhutan.
For prospective students considering LSTM, Dr. Tshering advises taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from renowned teachers and researchers in the field. He encourages peer review as a way to deepen understanding and improve academic writing skills and stresses the importance of understanding plagiarism and academic integrity. Above all, he urges students to work hard and make the most of this unique opportunity to gain knowledge and expertise in their chosen field.