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HRH Prince Mahidol
of Songkla
The Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of
Thailand
By the River -The Turning Point
Towards the end of his Royal Navy service, Prince Chainart-narenthorn,
Chief of Royal Medical College (Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital),
invited Prince Mahidol on a canal tour, where he made a stopover at
the medical school and asked the Prince to have a look around.
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| Prince
Mahidol noted the serious need for improving standard of medical
practitioners and public health in Thailand. He believed that good
public health is an essential factor in national development. |
The medical school was situated near a river. On its right is a girls'
school, today known as Wattana College. On its left is a village. The
wooden jetty in front of the school is a place where medical students
can be seen sitting and waiting to hail sick people, to be used in their
studies, from the boat.
When the Prince entered the compound, he saw people sitting and lying
on the ground under tamarind trees, which grew in large numbers in the
area. He questioned their identity and the reason for their being there.
The School Chief explained that they were patients who had no rooms.
The Prince walked further down towards where the patients' rooms were
situated.
He stepped in, commenting that the rooms looked like stables and that
there was not enough space to make patients comfortable. The Prince
took the tour with a heavy heart, seeing the dirty paediatric units
with wooden floors, where pieces of wood were put together with wide
spaces between them for the patients to sleep on.
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| Prince
Mahidol bought Wang Lang School from a missionary group and converted
it into a hostel for nurses. |
Seeing the Prince's compassion for the less-privileged, the School
Chief asked whether the former wanted to help, to which the Prince answered
that he was unsure because of a lack of medical knowledge on his part.
The School Chief said that he did not have any medical knowledge either,
but that he was there to assist as much as he could. Prince Mahidol
was quiet, then left the premises. Two to three days passed, he contacted
the School Chief to say that he would like to help the sick people,
after obtaining a proper medical education.
This was a major turning point in Prince Mahidol's life and was a signal
of his lasting contributions to the advancement of higher education,
such as basic sciences, public health, medicine, nursing and medical
research. Prince Mahidol noted the serious need for improving in the
standard of medical practitioners and public health in Thailand. He
believed that good public health is an essential factor in national
development.
Medical and Life Studies at Harvard
For his medical studies, Prince Mahidol, at first, chose Edinburgh
University in Scotland. But due to the weather which was not suitable
for his health, among other factors, the Prince relocated to America
and studied at Harvard University and took some courses from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT). In a letter to his uncle, Prince Devavongse
Varopakarn, Prince Mahidol wrote:
"I have arrived well in America. I must ask you to explain about
my studies to mother, because I know that you can do so better than
I can in detail. I am sure mother wants to know.
"…Phraya Kalaya suggested Harvard University because advanced
public health is taught here… as well as how to govern.
"… I have been well since my arrival - not only physically
but mentally... People love Royals and are very happy to have them here.
The press have asked for interviews and the faculties have been very
helpful for they know the purpose of my studies.
"…Things are very expensive…three times more so than
Bangkok. However, I feel that it is acceptable in exchange for the increasing
medical knowledge that I receive every day.
Here, things are strict and systematic - I am learning life in the
best of ways…"
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| Students
under the scholarship of Prince Mahidol. Among them was the Princess
Mother (second row, far right). |
At the time of his studies, the Prince stayed at number 329 Longwood
Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. He went under the name of Mr. Mahidol
Songkla.
He took his duties regularly with others, as a student who is "diligent,
interested, neat in his work and writing and one who does not let details
pass by".
The latter report was taken from J.J. Bron Fenbrenner, Professor in
Bacteria Studies. Alongside his studies, the Prince drew up plans for
Siriraj Hospital and a medical school in Thailand. His wish to support
doctors and nurses to study abroad brought him to meet his future bride.
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