THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE: A PROTOTYPE FOR ESTABLISHING A NEW FACULTY AND DEVELOPING HEALTH SCIENCE CURRICULA AT KASETSART UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This academic article's main objective is to analyze the process of establishing the Faculty of Medicine and developing the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) curriculum at Kasetsart University. Its goal is to synthesize knowledge and experience gained from operations to serve as a valuable prototype for establishing new faculties. The study's findings highlight the systemic necessity of increasing the number and enhancing the quality of medical personnel to accommodate public health challenges in the 21st century. These challenges include an aging society, the continuous emergence of new diseases, persistent disparities in access to healthcare services in remote rural areas, and the impacts of environmental change affecting public health. Kasetsart University has formulated a strategic approach to establishing its Faculty of Medicine by seamlessly integrating the university's distinctive strengths-be it agriculture, food, environment, and bio-innovation-with medical science. This is under the unique concept of "Agro-Medicine and Bio-Innovation," which emphasizes healthcare in specific contexts, the management of diseases related to agricultural occupations, and the utilization of local biological resources to create sustainable health innovations. The Doctor of Medicine curriculum has been meticulously designed to align with the standard framework set by the Higher Education Standards Committee and the Medical Council of Thailand. It emphasizes the integration of interdisciplinary knowledge, the cultivation of strong medical professional ethics,
and the development of effective teamwork skills with interprofessional teams. Furthermore, the process of establishing the faculty and developing the curriculum can be synthesized into a useful prototype across four key dimensions: policy vision, organizational structure, curriculum system, and multi-sectoral collaboration. These components can be effectively applied to the establishment of other health science faculties in other educational institutions