From Namasia to Northern Thailand: KMU Faculty and Students Extend Medical Care Beyond Borders

Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) has long been committed to advancing healthcare in underserved areas and fulfilling its University Social Responsibility (USR) mission. This summer, KMU extended the service experience accumulated through its Namasia USR Program to overseas communities. A team of 15 faculty members and students from the School of Medicine, together with representatives from the International Medical Service Center of Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, traveled to Arunothai, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, bringing health promotion, medical education, and humanistic care to the local community. The initiative demonstrates KMU’s commitment to expanding from locally rooted service to international outreach.

On the day before departure, KMU President Ming-Lung Yu presented the ceremonial flag to the team. He emphasized that the humanistic spirit cultivated by KMU’s School of Medicine is not a one-time effort, but a value passed down through generations and continuously put into practice. He encouraged students to continue applying their medical expertise to respond to society’s needs.

During the visit, the medical students and faculty members conducted activities at a local Chinese-language school, with 60 children participating. Drawing upon their service experience from the Namasia USR Program, the students designed a series of activities integrating health promotion, hygiene education, picture-book reading, arts and crafts, and group games. Through engaging and interactive learning experiences, they helped enhance the children’s health literacy while fostering confidence and teamwork skills. After returning to Taiwan, the students will continue maintaining long-term friendships with the children through small-group interactions, extending their companionship and care beyond the conclusion of the program.

For KMU medical students, the journey from Taiwan to northern Thailand represents a change in service location, but not in their commitment to caring for lives and responding to social needs. Looking ahead, KMU will continue to integrate its USR programs, international medical initiatives, and alumni support to extend medical expertise and humanistic care beyond borders, bringing the vision of health equity to more communities in need.

▲KMU President Ming-Lung Yu presents the ceremonial flag to the team before departure, encouraging faculty and students to carry forward KMU's tradition of humanistic medical care.

▲KMU medical students provide oral health education for local children in northern Thailand.

▲KMU medical students conduct a health education session on the use of reusable cloth sanitary pads for local children in northern Thailand.

▲KMU faculty members and students pose for a group photo with local children in northern Thailand.