Thailand
Set against the beautiful backdrop of mountainous Khao Luang National Park in Southern Thailand, the meeting point between South and East Asia, the campus is spread over 3,600 acres of farm, parks, and forest. With its extensive and up-to-date educational facilities, sports center, services, and accommodation for staff and students, the university provides an ideal learning environment. Situated in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, the center of southern tradition and culture, Walailak university is well-served by near Nakhon Si Thammarat airport’s 12 return flights to Bangkok each day (780 km), along with regular bus services between Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Had Yai, Koh Samui and Malaysia.
About the Leadership
The School of Medicine began to welcome medical students from Japan in 2012, followed by a group of students from Cardiff University-Wales, Ohio State University, and the University of Angers in France. Then in 2019, the Global Health Program was established with Dean Prachyapan Petchuay, MD as coordinator. The Dean reports to Vice President and Associate Professor Charun Bunyakarn who is responsible for all academic affairs. He in turn reports to the university’s President, Sombat Thamrongtanawongs, MD. Meanwhile, the Board of Administration council chaired by Professor Dr. Vichit Srisa-arn determines the university’s policies and guides the university’s administration team.
About the Institution
Walailak University School of Medicine was formally established in 2007. The medical curriculum at the School of Medicine has been approved by the World Federation of Medical Education with an Educational Performance Excellence Standard. The six-year program consists of pre-medicine, pre-clinical, and clinical years. In the first three years, students take courses at Walailak University which is then followed by a further three years of clinical practice at two local affiliated community hospitals, Trang and Phuket Hospitals, in addition to its own 750-bed multidisciplinary and tertiary university hospital which was just recently built and opened. Enrollment is open to all suitably qualified and motivated students, with a specific emphasis on those who reside in the local provinces of Nakhon Si thammarat, Trand, Krabi, Phang-Na, and Phuket.
About the Clinical Experience
Health centers as well as university-affiliated community and regional hospitals provide systematic healthcare from primary to tertiary levels to six million residents and ten million tourists in the area. Tropical and infectious diseases are the focus for participants interested in visiting Thailand. Those seeking to learn about alternative medicine can explore traditional Thai medicine: the art of healing using the ancient knowledge of massage together with herbs and natural products to combat and ease ailments.
Majid Sadigh during a site visit to Walailak university, Thailand.