On 5 – 6 March 2025, a team of healthcare professionals from Mae Fah Luang University, including the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and MFU Medical Center Hospital, conducted an academic service project at Bokeo Provincial Hospital in Laos. The team was led by Assoc. Prof. Preecha Soontranan, MD., Dean of the School of Medicine; and Somprat Munjit, M.D.
This project was part of MFU’s academic service programme focused on the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries. It aimed to provide short-term training for 50 doctors, nurses, and healthcare personnel from hospitals in northern Lao PDR; to offer health screening services for over 150 residents in Lao PDR; and to establish a long-term health and education cooperation network between MFU and northern Lao PDR.
To enhance medical knowledge and skills, MFU professors from the School of Medicine and multidisciplinary teams conducted medical training for doctors and nurses on “Hernia surgery using local anesthesia techniques and Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with notch pusher technique,” and provided demonstrations of hernia and gallstone surgeries.
Additionally, MFU teams provided breast, liver and bile duct cancer screening using ultrasound for the general public, aiming to improve the overall health and well-being of the local population.
This cross-border project aligns with the vision of MFU’s Medical Center Hospital and the School of Medicine to be a leading medical institution serving communities in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
By fostering healthcare and academic service networks, the initiative seeks to strengthen medical education and public health in the region. This collaboration with Lao PDR will contribute to a sustainable partnership that promotes better health outcomes and strengthens regional ties between neighboring countries. It also represents a significant step toward establishing MFU as a hub for medical education and healthcare services in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
