History of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University The Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University was established to study various diseases in the tropics, making it the only faculty of its kind in Thailand and a leading institution with numerous research publications in international journals. Additionally, the faculty boasts the Hospital for Tropical Medicine, providing specialized medical care for tropical diseases, general medicine, and various subspecialties.
The Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University was founded through the initiatives of Professor Dr. Chamlong Disakul and Professor Dr. Khunying Tranakchit Harinasuta. The idea stemmed from the observation that, 50 years ago, the medical curriculum in Thailand lacked specialized training in tropical diseases. Interested doctors had to study abroad, such as in the UK, where renowned institutions for tropical medicine were located. Given Thailand's proximity to the equator, there was always a need to diagnose and treat patients with tropical diseases. The initiative to establish an institution for tropical medicine within Thailand received support from several key figures at the time, including Professor Dr. Swasdi Dangsuwang, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Professor B.G. Maegraith, the Dean of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK; Dr. Kamhaeng Pholangkur, the Secretary-General of the National Education Council; and especially General Sarit Thanarat, the Prime Minister at that time.
Consequently, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (original name) was established under the Faculty of Medicine (now Mahidol University) on April 6, 1960, with the objective to "educate and train doctors and medical personnel to have expertise in treating, curing, and preventing tropical diseases, conduct research to solve tropical disease problems which are public health issues in the country, provide patient care, and offer consultation and advice to doctors and medical institutions on tropical diseases."
Initially, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine had its temporary office at the Medical Technical School, Faculty of Medicine. After the completion of the Tropical Medicine building on Ratchawithi Road the following year, the office was moved to its current location, offering patient care alongside teaching and research activities. Initially, there were only five departments and an administrative division, including the Department of Tropical Medicine, Protozoology, Helminthology, Medical Entomology, Tropical Hygiene, and Administration.
In 1962, the Hospital for Tropical Medicine was opened to provide patient services, starting with a 20-bed hospital that expanded to 100 beds and eventually to 250 beds today.
In the first seven years of teaching, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine opened enrollment for Thai doctors in the Graduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (D.T.M.&H.) program. In 1965, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) was established, recognizing the importance of postgraduate education in tropical medicine. Therefore, in 1967, the Thai government designated the Faculty of Tropical Medicine as The National Center for Tropical Medicine and Public Health, to serve as a development center for teaching and training in tropical diseases for SEAMEO member countries. Simultaneously, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine became the coordination center for the SEAMEO-TROPMED Network, making its teaching international, especially the Graduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (D.T.M.&H.) program, which was revised and improved by experts and professors from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, making it internationally recognized as a school of tropical medicine in the Southeast Asia region.
The Faculty of Tropical Medicine was renamed in 1975 and later in 1993, it was elevated to a SEAMEO Regional Center for Tropical Medicine, responsible for postgraduate teaching to doctors and public health personnel from SEAMEO member countries, totaling 10 countries.
Furthermore, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine has been designated by international organizations as a collaborative academic center, including:
The Faculty of Tropical Medicine is a premier academic institution within the university, offering education in tropical medicine to medical personnel to meet the public health needs of Thailand and other countries in the Southeast Asia region. The faculty aims to discover new knowledge in basic medical sciences and applied medical sciences, gather, disseminate, and impart knowledge for academic advancement in this field. In community service, the faculty conducts diagnostic, treatment, prevention of tropical diseases, and promotes health. It aims to instill in medical personnel the expertise in tropical medicine to address community public health problems, especially in rural societies, fostering a culture of knowledge, initiative, continuous learning, responsibility, ethics, and sacrifice for the common good.
Currently, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, is led by Assistant Professor Weerapong Phumratanaprapin, the Dean of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine. The Faculty has gained increasing recognition from hosting the Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting (JITMM), which sees significant participation from Thai and international doctors and medical personnel. The meetings cover interesting topics and are held in early December each year. The 20th International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria (ICTMM 2020) in 2020 honored the Faculty of Tropical Medicine as the host of this international academic conference.
Courses International Programs: Graduate Diploma Programs Graduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (D.T.M.&H.) Graduate Diploma in Biomedical and Health Informatics (D.B.H.I.) Master's Degree Programs Master of Science in Tropical Medicine (M.Sc.(Trop.Med.)) Master of Clinical Tropical Medicine (M.C.T.M.) Master of Clinical Tropical Medicine in Tropical Pediatrics (M.C.T.M.(Trop.Ped.)) Master of Science in Biomedical and Health Informatics (M.Sc.(B.H.I.)) Master of Science (School Health) Doctoral Degree Programs Doctor of Philosophy in Tropical Medicine (Ph.D.(Trop.Med.)) Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Tropical Medicine (Ph.D.(Clin.Trop.Med.)) National Programs: TropMed Residency Training in Preventive Medicine (Travel Medicine), the first program of its kind in Thailand, is currently being revised to accept international residents to specialize in this field, enhancing the international capability in health services and education. The Medical Doctor Program, a joint initiative to increase doctors for rural areas, entrusts the Faculty of Tropical Medicine to teach second and third-year medical students in collaboration with several medical education centers and hospitals. The Nursing Assistant Certificate Program, accredited by the Nursing Council, with a one-year study duration.
