Vichai Tienthavorn

Vichai Tienthavorn

Chancellor of Praboromarajchanok Institute & Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

Professor Emeritus Vichai Tienthavorn, M.D., Ph.D. is the President of the Praboromarajchanok Institute (PBRI), a higher education institute for health sciences in Thailand. 

His notable accomplishments include responding to the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in promoting nutrition and health of mothers and children in remote areas (1994); initiating the project to control and prevent thalassemia (2012); initiating the surveillance system, control, and prevention of diabetes and high blood pressure using the tool "Ping Pong Traffic Life 7 Colors" in Singburi Province (2021); initiating an outreach campaign to find opportunities to reduce educational inequalities; starting a project to create community well-being with the "PBRI Model" to prevent and control diabetes, high blood pressure, and NCDs, and establishing the 26th Faculty of Medicine of PBRI.

Professor Tienthavorn was awarded the Sasakawa Health Prize WHO in 2023 and the National Outstanding Health Educator Award in 2020. He has served key positions in the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, including being appointed as the Chairman of the Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Public Health and Vice Minister to the Ministry of Public Health. He also served as a Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Phayao University. He was Professor Tienthavorn earned his M.D. and completed a Cert. Otolaryngology from Mahidol University. He also received MPA from Chulalongkorn University; Ph.D. in Political Communication from Krirk University; and a Higher Certificate in Politics and Governance from the King Prajadhipok's Institute.