Professor Pornpan Koomanachai from Mahidol University’s Siriraj Hospital Visits Oita University
On October 13, Professor Pornpan Koomanachai, Assistant Dean of International Relations at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, visited Oita University. During her visit, Professor Koomanachai met with Professor Yoshio Yamaoka, Director of the Research Center for Global and Local Infectious Diseases (RCGLID), Professor Hitomi Mimuro of RCGLID, and Professor Kosaku Komiya of the Department of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine. She introduced the new international medical education program, Siriraj Global Medical Academy (SiGMA). The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss future student exchanges and research collaboration, particularly in the field of infectious diseases. The discussions were productive, and both sides look forward to the development of SiGMA and further collaborative research.
The previous evening, on October 12, Professor Koomanachai joined Oita University medical students interested in studying in Thailand for an informal dinner. Drawing on her experience in international relations, she offered valuable advice on studying and training in Thailand. Participants included fifth-year medical students Eito Tanabe and Hayato Inoue, who hope to undertake clinical clerkships in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Siriraj Hospital; third-year medical student Maho Kakimoto, who hopes to join a research laboratory in the Department of Immunology at Siriraj Hospital; and third-year medical student Haruto Kikuchi, who hopes to undertake research training at the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University. Tip and Phat, graduate students from Thailand studying in our department, also joined the dinner. The relaxed atmosphere helped the students feel at ease and engage openly with Professor Koomanachai and one another. The gathering offered a valuable opportunity to learn more about studying in Thailand and to strengthen connections among students with an interest in international exchange. Oita University looks forward to further strengthening its academic partnership with Mahidol University and expanding opportunities for student exchange, international medical education, and collaborative research. |
