Congratulations to Mr. Kanat Chanthongdee, Mr. Nipith Charoenngam, and Ms. Suchanan Kanjanapong from Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital who received the scholarship on Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program !
On November 29, 2017, Clinical Professor Supat Vanichakarn, Secretary General of Prince Mahidol Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage along with Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Director General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Vicharn Panich, Chairman of Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program Working Committee, and Professor Sompop Limpongsanurak, Chairman of Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program Selection Committee, attended the press conference on the result of the Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program Scholarship Recipients 2017, declaring the name of five scholarship recipients at Prince Mahidol Aduldej Room, 4th floor, Siriraj Medical Library. Five selected scholarship recipients are Mr. Kanat Chanthongdee, Mr. Nipith Charoenngam, Ms. Suchanan Kanjanapong from Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Ms. Thanitsara Rittiphairoj from Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, and Mr. Peem Sarasombath from Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University.
17 November 2017: Prof. Nualnong Visitsunthorn presented the Excellent Extern Awards to Ms. Niratchaya Thanakij and Mr. Nutthaphol Phanmaneelux, the externs who had outstanding performance during their practice at Department of Pediatrics from 22 Oct – 18 Nov 2017.
On November 22, 2017, Professor Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, along with the administrative members, presented the certificates of “Best Articles Awards 2017” for the best articles that published in Siriraj Medical Journal (SMJ) from the year 2015 – 2016. The awards of excellence go to:
1. Associate Professor Somruedee Chatsiricharoenkul from Department of Pharmacology and her team on the article “Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Poly-Herbal Formula Sahatsatara for Acute Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study”, published in SMJ Vol 68, No 1 (2016).
2. Lecturer Suppachai Poolsuppasit from Department of Anesthesiology and his team on the article “Comparison Between Low Dose Ketamine VS Fentanyl Combined with Propofol in Patients Scheduled for Fractional Curettage; A Randomized Controlled Trial”, published in SMJ Vol 67, No 6 (2015).
3. Ms. Angkana Apichartvorakit from Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine and her team on the article “The Effect of the Posture of the “Hermit Doing Body Contortion” on Relief of Shoulder and Scapular Pain Caused by Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized, Parallel Group, Controlled Trial”, published in SMJ Vol 68, No 6 (2016).
These awards were reviewed from 120 articles in total for the best 3 articles. The Review Committee carefully screened all articles from the year 2015 – 2016. Each award consists of a certificate and a sum of THB ฿ 5,000.
On November 20, 2017, Professor Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital along with Siriraj executive members welcomed Professor Yasuyuki Yoshizawa, President, Professor Yujiro Tanaka, Executive Director / Executive Vice President of Hospital Administration and International Health Care Partnership, and delegates from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan to together preside over the TMDU – MU Partnership Siriraj Office – the office signifies the strong collaboration between TMDU and Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University at the highest level of education.
On November 16, 2017, Professor Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, in the capacity of Vice President of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation along with Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Director-General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the capacity of the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Public Relations of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation, and Professor Vicharn Panich, Chairman of the International Award Committee of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation, attended a joint press conference to announce the 26th Prince Mahidol Award for 2017 at the Prince Mahidol Memorial Room, 2nd Floor, Syamindra Building, Siriraj Hospital.
The Prince Mahidol Award Foundation of which H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is the President, has decided to confer Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Medicineto The Human Genome Project from the United States of America.
In the field of Public Health, the Prince Mahidol Award is conferred to Professor Porter W. Anderson, Jr., Dr. John B. Robbins, Dr. Rachel Schneerson and Professor Mathuram Santosham from the United States of America.
There were 45 nominations from 27 countries in total. The Scientific Advisory Committee carefully screened all candidates from the year 2017, 2016, 2015 and subsequently submitted a short list of the candidates to the International Award Committee who scrutinized and made a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the meeting of the Board of Trustees held on 2 November 2017 during which the final decision on the Prince Mahidol Award 2017 was made.
The Prince Mahidol Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage was established in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla, on 1 January 1992. The Foundation is under the Royal Patronage, with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as President. The Foundation annually confers two Prince Mahidol Awards upon individual(s) or institution(s), which have demonstrated outstanding and exemplary contributions to the advancement of the world’s medical and public health services. Each Award consists of a medal, a certificate and a sum of US $100,000.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the Presentation Ceremony of the Prince Mahidol Award 2017 at the Chakri Throne hall on 31 January 2018 at 17.30 hours. Prior to the Ceremony, Siriraj Hospital, as a founder of the Prince Mahidol Award, will invite the 2017 Prince Mahidol Award Laureates to give lectures based on their achievements on 30 January 2018.
Prince Mahidol Award Laureate 2017
in the Field of Medicine
The Human Genome Project
National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health
the United States of America
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was a large research project that significantly advanced knowledge in genetics and the human genome. The project, launched in 1990, was led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. It was a collaborative task involving many researchers from 20 institutes in 6 countries (USA, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan and China). The project announced its success in 2000. The collected human genetic codes became a mega biological database publicly available for scientists worldwide.
The main mission of the HGP was to decipher human genetic codes. These codes are the core elements that determine biological life. The HGP thus contributed to the better understanding of cellular and organ functions, mutation processes and the mechanisms of diseases. Knowledge of the human genome, including technology used to analyze and interpret genetic codes, facilitated the evolution of medicine in many aspects, from understanding rare hereditary diseases to common illnesses (e.g. cancers, infectious diseases). Screenings for at risk patients and early detection are critical in the control and prevention of the aggravation of diseases. In addition, knowing personal genetic information helps improve drug development that can be tailored to individual patients, so called precision medicine, for highly efficient treatment.
The information provided by the HGP has helped make significant progress in medical science, a branch of science essential to the comprehension of how diseases occur. It has changed the medical paradigm, shifting focus on diagnosis and treatment to the investigation of the causes and identification of the related genetic risks of diseases.
The Prince Mahidol Award (in the Field of Medicine 2017) recognizes the Human Genome Project for its collaborative success that has contributed to the remarkable advancement of medicine to the enormous benefit of mankind.
Prince Mahidol Award Laureate 2017
in the Field of Public Health
Professor Porter W. Anderson, Jr.,
Dr. John B. Robbins,
Dr. Rachel Schneerson and
Professor Mathuram Santosham
the United States of America
Since 1970, Professor Porter W. Anderson, Jr. and Dr. David H. Smith of the Harvard University (USA), and Dr. John B. Robbins and Dr. Rachel Schneerson of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), focused on research to understand the mechanisms of disease and vaccine development for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) as a part of the National Institutes of Health (USA). Hib is one of the core causes of meningitis, particularly in children under the age of five. The disease has a high mortality rate and if not fatal, could result in permanent disabilities. The research teams were the first to introduce the polysaccharide vaccine which is based on a sugar molecule derived from a part of the Hib’s capsule. It was, however, shown that this vaccine was not effective among children younger than 18 months old, the group at most risk of contracting the disease. This is in part was due to the fact that polysaccharides are a weak inducer to boost immunity. They then developed conjugate vaccines, a technique that linked a protein with the polysaccharide to strengthen its immune inducing capacity. The Hib conjugate vaccine was much more effective in younger children and was licensed in 1989 for use on children at the age of 2 months old.
Professor Mathuram Santosham of the Johns Hopkins University studied the epidemiology of Hib. He demonstrated clinically that Hib disease was preventable by immunization and conducted several vaccine trials, which included Hib conjugate vaccines. The results of his studies had a great impact on encouraging the use of Hib conjugate vaccines for all children. Later, he became the leader of the “Hib Initiative” funded by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). This project has supported the Hib conjugate vaccine as a part of national immunization programs in up to 190 countries.
After the Hib conjugate vaccine was made available worldwide, the incidence of Hib disease and its mortality among young children has dropped as much as 95 – 99%. Millions of children have been saved from Hib disease. Few would have anticipated that by the year 2020, over 7 million lives would been saved due to the use of Hib vaccine.
Prince Mahidol Award (in the Field of Public Health 2017) recognizes the successful efforts of Professor Anderson, Dr. Robbins and Dr. Schneerson in developing the Hib vaccine, from research in polysaccharides to conjugate vaccines which is now being used as a standard for vaccination (Dr. Smith passed away in 1999). The Award also recognizes Professor Santosham as a leader of the Hib Initiative who elevated his scientific discovery into a widely used vaccine among children, especially in many developing countries.
Professor Porter W. Anderson, Jr. received his PhD in Bacteriology from Harvard University. His current position is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester Medical Center. He was previously Associate Professor at Boston Children’s Hospital Harvard Medical School.
Dr. John B. Robbins received his MD from New York University Medical School. He had Clinical Training at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University in 1961 – 1964, and Graduate Training in Infectious Disease and Immunology at University of Florida. He was Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine for 3 years before beginning his career at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, in 1970. He retires in 2012.
Dr. Rachel Schneerson received her MD from Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, in 1958. She did her pediatrics residency in Israel and later came to the United States to work for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development until her retirement in 2012.
Professor Mathuram Santosham received his MD from Madras University, India, in 1970.
He subsequently moved to the US and obtained an MPH degree from the Johns Hopkins University in 1975. He also completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is currently the Director Emeritus of Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health (CIAH). He holds Professorships in the Departments of International Health and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.
On November 9th, 2017, Professor Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Hans Erik Henriksen, CEO, Healthcare Denmark, Mr. Henrik L. Ibsen, CEO, Opentelehealth ApS, and Ms. Asnee Wipatawate, VP Enterprise Product and International Service, Advanced Info Service public company limited (AIS) Thailand to exchange and transfer knowledge in the fields of research and use of modern digital health & care solutions telemedicine, remote patient monitoring for non-communicable diseases between Thailand and Denmark. In addition, the parties agreed to work together towards the initial pilot program called “the new innovative solutions for outpatient treatment in the area of geriatric patients”.
The signing ceremony took place at the faculty meeting room, 2nd floor administration building and witnessed by Professor Suwannee Suraseranevongse, Deputy Dean and Director of Siriraj Medical School, Associate Professor Adune Ratanawichitrasin, Deputy Dean of IT, Mr. Claus F. Nielsen, Regional Director SE Asia, Opentelehealth ApS, and Ms. Paparorn Promlerd, Country Manager Thailand, Opentelehealth ApS.
We are delighted to announce that we have signed the MOU with University of Glasgow, Scotland !!
On November 10, 2017, Professor Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital signed the MOU with Professor George Ballie, Dean of University of Glasgow to mutually work together to facilitate and establish the “Jointly Award Degree Programs” for research students in Siriraj and Glasgow. The event took place at the faculty meeting room, 3rd floor, Administration Building and witnessed by executives from Siriraj and Glasgow, namely, Professor Suwannee Suraseranivongse, Deputy Dean and Director of Siriraj Medical School, Associate Professor Tawornchai Limjindaporn, Deputy Dean of Postgraduate Education, Associate Professor Sith Sathornsumetee, Assistant Dean for International Relations, Professor Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus, Head of Molecular Medicine Division, and Assistant Professor Dr. Peti Thuwajit, Assistant Dean of Postgraduate Education.
On November 3, 2017, Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital hosted the International ESRA Cadaver Workshop for Peripheral Nerve Block Workshop from November 2-3, 2017 at Siriraj Training and Education Center for Clinical Skills (SiTEC) 4th floor & Operating Room, Syamindra Building, 3rd floor. The workshop provided a comprehensive review to anesthesiologists about the current practices of peripheral nerve blocks under the supervision of Assistant Professor Suwimon Tangwiwat, Faculty Workshop Director, and team.
All are invited to visit the Royal Crematorium Exhibition at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, Thailand.
The exhibition consisted of three main zones: first, the royal projects of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej such as “Monkey Cheek” project as well as Chaipattana water mills; second, the grand architecture of the crematorium; third, the Songtham Pavilion, where three murals depict the late monarch during his 70-year-reign.
#Entrance
There are two entrances to access the exhibition, first gate located near the Earth Goddess statue and the second gate is next to Thammasat University.
Transportation: #Tram
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will provide 60 free buses a day on six routes from 4.00 AM to 11.00 PM. The routes to Saman Luang will depart from Victory Monument, Hua Lampong Station, Mo Chit, Ekkamai, Southern Bus Station and Rattanakosin Island in Dusit district. #Ferries
Free ferries will be provided daily from 6.00 AM to 10.30 PM from Rachanavik Sapha Pier at Thonburi’s Royal Navy Auditorium to Nivej Woradit Pier in Dusit near the Grand Palace.
On October 26, 2017, Professor Suwannee Suraseranivongse, Deputy Dean and Director of Siriraj Medical School, gathered with faculty executives, medical personnel, staff, and over 36,000 public mourners to lay the funeral wood flowers at the crematorium replica venue at the 72nd Anniversary garden, next to the Sayamindrasirirajanusarani Pavilion, in order to pay a final tribute and farewell to His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Meanwhile, the funeral wood flower offering ceremony has been performed at Royal Crematorium Pyre at Sanam Luang, Bangkok altogether with 85 crematorium replicas nationwide.
May His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
