Alumnus Models Healthcare for Vogue

Magazine photos provided by Dr. Watcharananan

Siriorn P. Watcharananan, MD (ID ’04, MB ’05), has a new position to add to her professional CV: cover model for Vogue Thailand. And like other Vogue models, she is wearing the latest fashion – in this case, a mask and gown.

“I couldn’t imagine myself being on the cover dressed as a model,” she says. “The gown and N95 mask I wore is the dress that fits me the most.”

Dr. Watcharananan is an infectious disease specialist at the Praram 9 hospital in Bangkok and an associate professor in the section of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. She was invited to be on the cover for a story on the COVID-19 pandemic that includes healthcare providers and others working behind the scenes and on the front lines.

“As an ID doc, I cared for the COVID-19 cases and helped out with the infection control plan during the outbreak,” she says. “My colleagues and I worked on a few collaborative projects with national agencies, including a study of saliva as a way of diagnosing COVID-19 and a dry-heat and UV-sterilization study to reuse masks. Both projects had a strong impact as they later became national guidance.”

She says her picture is representative of all doctors during this global crisis. “Healthcare workers are everyone’s heroes, and if you see my picture, I would like to greet you with my best wishes for everyone to stay strong, with a good spirit, and to be safe during this pandemic.”

Dr. Watcharananan says that all Cleveland Clinic alumni “would like to continue to contribute our best care to society worldwide.” She adds, “It has been 15 years since I graduated, and I miss Cleveland Clinic.”