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CU-MEDi is an international Doctor of Medicine (MD) program offered by the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University. The program requires at least four years of study for bachelor’s degree holders. The first application period is scheduled for January 2021, and the first class will start in August 2021.
Graduates of the CU-MEDi program will become qualified physicians with global medical knowledge, innovative ideas, and leadership skills comparable to the six-year MDCU program. In addition to becoming physicians, CU-MEDi graduates will be able to pursue alternative careers in medicine including, but not limited to, physician-scientists, medical researchers, healthcare leaders, or physician-engineers.
Chulalongkorn University
International Medical Program
“ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ”
The challenges of the 21st century present us with more complex health problems. With the ASEAN set up and countries more connected, there is a demand for internationalization of medical education. The Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University has the determination to become the national leader in medical education, to produce highly-qualified global doctors who take up leadership roles in the medical profession, and
give Thailand the international recognition in providing world class healthcare. The ambition of the CU-MEDi medical program is to give opportunity for bachelor’s graduates to expand their potential from whichever field their undergraduate degree may be; whether science, social science, or arts, if they are interested in medicine. We want to see the students bring their own individual talents to the medical field. We aim to create , not only future clinicians, but also leaders in other medical-related careers such as bioengineering, medical research or healthcare management. In this 21st century where technology is growing faster than ever before and where the world has become globalized, we want to prepare them to be at the forefront of medical innovation and train them to become global doctors so they can be competent at the international level in their future careers. Chulalongkorn University has very strong connections with many leading universities worldwide, and students will have the opportunities to go on an elective abroad with our partnered institutions. We are very confident that we have the necessary resources to make this a successful program We also welcome international students from other countries to our program.
This CU-MEDi international program offers the best of chula’s academics, global knowledge, learning experiences, and partnerships. Our graduates will benefit from these and become leaders in the medical profession for this 21st century.
CU-MEDi is different from the other medical programs in Thailand in that it is the first postgraduate medical program that requires at least four years of study (instead of the traditional six-year program). This is an international program so courses will be taught in English, but it is also international in the sense that we place a lot of emphasis on preparing students to become global doctors: by teaching them about the latest global health issues, developing their leadership skills, and providing them with opportunities to get involved in medical research and innovation. The postgraduate medical program that requires 4 years of study is not a new idea, and it has proven to be successful in the USA and the UK. For students, the shortened timeline will require enthusiasm, maturity, and intellectual curiosity, and we will look for these qualities of life-long learners during the selection process. Each year, a relatively small group of forty students will be admitted, and they will be well-supported throughout the duration of the program. Apart from the course structure, the following outline the key aspects that make this program unique:
CU-MEDi has strong partnerships with international institutes in the USA and the UK that provide students with excellent opportunities to enroll in elective courses abroad during their externship years in which they be studying and practicing their clinical skills abroad and participating in collaborative international research. This experience will help in the students’ development as global doctors as they will gain knowledge from international speakers, and they will acquire first-hand experience in how different healthcare systems work. We encourage and support students to attend and present their work at international forums and to take international exams such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). They will be well-prepared for an international career abroad should they choose that career path.
CU-MEDi has strong partnerships with international institutes in the USA and the UK that provide students with excellent opportunities to enroll in elective courses abroad during their externship years in which they be studying and practicing their clinical skills abroad and participating in collaborative international research. This experience will help in the students’ development as global doctors as they will gain knowledge from international speakers, and they will acquire first-hand experience in how different healthcare systems work. We encourage and support students to attend and present their work at international forums and to take international exams such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). They will be well-prepared for an international career abroad should they choose that career path.
Hi, I’m Doctor David Elkin, a consultation liaison psychiatrist and educator at San Francisco General Hospital and UCSF. It’s been my pleasure to serve as a member of the International Board of Advisors for CU MEDi, and to visit the medical school after two years of teaching classes over Zoom. CU MEDi is a unique program that has multiple strengths: a skilled and dedicated faculty, bold direction, and an incredible group of talented medical students. The faculty are ideally suited to the success of the program. The students are impressive in their intelligence, insightfulness and desire for growth. After seeing them in classes and rounds with patients, I can see that they are developing their abilities to utilize empathy with patient encounters, and their capacity for critical thinking during clinical rotations. As they develop clinical and ethical reasoning skills, they are clearly on their way to becoming highly caring and competent physicians.
In the 21st century, when technology is developing faster than ever before, we want to position students at the forefront of medical innovation. To develop innovation skills, students are required to participate in special research projects according to their own interests, and they will receive support from their mentors who have access to the latest projects in their field through collaborations with local and international institutes. CU-MEDi employs the latest technologies in medical education, through means such as online learning, telemedicine, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and simulation training. The program provides an adult-learning environment, inspiring creative students who will become doctors that bring innovative ideas to whichever field they choose to enter upon graduation.
There is a growing number of multi-talented students who are skilled in more than one field of study. The mission of CU-MEDi is to help students realize their full potential. We want to see students bring their own individual talents to the medical field, and we aim to create not only future clinicians but also leaders in other medical-related careers such as bioengineering, medical research, or healthcare management. Mentors will help identify and support students’ individual talents from the beginning and see how they may apply them to the medical field.
There is a growing number of multi-talented students who are skilled in more than one field of study. The mission of CU-MEDi is to help students realize their full potential. We want to see students bring their own individual talents to the medical field, and we aim to create not only future clinicians but also leaders in other medical-related careers such as bioengineering, medical research, or healthcare management. Mentors will help identify and support students’ individual talents from the beginning and see how they may apply them to the medical field.
CU-MEDi emphasizes the development of students’ leadership skills. Students will receive leadership training at the beginning of the program, and they will have the opportunity to put those skills to use throughout their courses in various group projects and learning methods such as team-based learning and group discussions.
If you have completed an undergraduate degree in another subject and want to become a doctor, this course provides a perfect opportunity for you. Compared to the traditional six-year program, our program and its shortened 4-year timeline will require enthusiasm, maturity, and intellectual curiosity, and we will look for these qualities of life-long learners during the selection process.
If you have talents in many subjects, this is a perfect course for you as we are looking for multi-talented students who can combine their knowledge from other subjects with medicine. For example, if you already have an engineering degree, you may wish to combine that knowledge with medicine and go into bioengineering, or if you previously completed a business degree, you may wish to pursue a career in healthcare management.
After graduation, students will receive a Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), but they can customize their career paths according to their own interests. If they would like to pursue further clinical education, they may apply for residency through either the Thai or international program. Other possible career choices include physician-scientists, medical researchers, healthcare leaders, or physician-engineers.
The international emphasis of this program provides a platform for students to complete additional training abroad after graduation. We encourage and support students to take international exams such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Students have the opportunity to gain clinical experience abroad through the externship phase of the program and through student-selected components (SSCs) with our partner institutions in the USA and the UK.
| If you want to be a… | …then you will need to complete… |
| General practitioner | 3-4 years bachelor’s degree + 4 years of CU-MEDi + internship |
| Specialist | 3-4 years bachelor’s degree + 4 years of CU-MEDi + 1-3 years of internship + 3-5 years of residency (length may vary depending on the specialty) |
| MSc or PhD | 3-4 years bachelor’s degree + 4 years of CU-MEDi + MSc or PhD (length will vary depending on the program or field of study) |
| Specialist + MSc/ PhD | 3-4 years bachelor’s degree + 4 years of CU-MEDi + 1-3 years of internship + 3-5 years of residency + MSc or PhD (length will vary depending on the program or field of study) |
Society evolves daily. We embrace new technologies once thought only as fiction that change our daily lives forever. Thinking about future advances in medical technology is not only fun and creative, but can also work as a guidance that paves our way into the long journey of discovery.
Society evolves daily. We embrace new technologies once thought only as fiction that change our daily lives forever. Thinking about future advances in medical technology is not only fun and creative, but can also work as a guidance that paves our way into the long journey of discovery.
Have you ever imagined being your own personal doctor and managing your own health sitting in front of a TV at home? Testing that once seemed risky out of the hands of medical professionals is now more than ever a touchable reality. The advancement of handheld technology has brought an explosion of personal health gadgets such as smart watches that can monitor heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and calories burned. High-speed internet advances have allowed for the efficient use of mobile phone applications, online consultant services, telemedicine, and even AI therapists. Some laboratory tests can even be ordered from home at the click of the button, with tool kits delivered and results available quickly online.
Future prospects of healthcare are moving from being doctor-centered to the patient viewpoint. Disease treatments will also expand to lifestyle remedies and coaching and extend out from visits to the hospital to a 24/7 online service. We might see more data doctors, where personal information of patients is streamed through an online platform and managed by professionals behind screens in ‘Care Hubs.’ After analysis of the person’s health data, they can provide individualized consult to each person, and recommend fitness programs that utilize entertainment and games to increase compliance. Personal devices will have bio-sensors to detect critical vital signs like irregular heartbeats and will be able to immediately send alerts to their doctors for any signs of life threatening conditions. Healthcare will be accessible where ever as internet connectivity becomes more and more ubiquitous.
Personalized Medicine – Just For You.
Each and every person is a unique individual. Many of the differences are inherited from our parents from little strands of chemicals called DNA which contain genetic material. We have our unique likes and dislikes, and unique reactions when facing similar experiences. This uniqueness also applies to illness. Compelling evidence mounts that genetic differences will determine risks of developing various diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s, and even irritable bowel syndrome. Currently, there are genetic tests for prenatal conditions, bodily traits, and disease risks. Extensive studies are being done pairing genetic data with compatibility with treatment modalities, medication choices, and risks of developing adverse conditions and complications. Soon, the prediction accuracy of genetic data will increase, costs will plummet, thereby allowing wide-spread usage in everyday clinics.
In the age of personalized medicine, each person’s health will be developed with consideration of their genetic profile. Treatments will be more precise, using the best medication or modality based on this genetic profile. Screening tests for diseases like gastrointestinal cancer will be more cost-effective, targeting more accurately people at greater risk. With assisted computing power of the future, an episodic treatment will change into a life-long health program, where we can predict disease risk from birth, taking preventive measures along the way while utilizing the most efficacious treatments.
Thailand is now experiencing large demographic changes as birthrates decrease and the proportion of the elderly population increases. Age too often brings physical deterioration and illness. New technological advances are beginning to change this outcome. There are currently robots and innovations that assist the elderly, such as giving medication reminders, finding glasses, providing conversations, and quick communications in the case of an emergency. In the future, these machines may be able to function more autonomously without requiring a remote control. They will be more comparable to a caretaker, a maid, or a pet according to its designs.
Virtual reality innovations will allow people with poor health conditions to enjoy life experiences, rehabilitation exercises and activities without the need for exertion beyond their capabilities. Wearable sensors will allow vital signs and crucial health data to be recorded, analyzed, and transferred to relatives and physician for early detection of illness and prevention of life-threatening conditions. The promise of what these sensors can detect in the future is enormous, ranging from an abnormal heart flutter to the presence of cancer cell and infection. With improved health comes an improved quality of life for the elderly.
It is undeniable that cancer is one of the most feared and unpredictable diseases. The disease can be hidden anywhere in the body and is often very hard to detect. Mainstream treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, are not always successful. Worse yet, these treatments often come with their own arrays of complications as they also harm healthy cells. Recently, researchers are looking into ways to utilize our own immune system to fight back cancer. By training our immune system to detect hidden cancer cells and differentiating them from normal cells, we have gained promising results with many types of untreatable cancer. In the future, the detection of cancer through bio-markers and other advanced methods will be more readily available. Immunotherapy will become cheaper and more accessible to the public. Other conventional treatments will be more precise, such as AI guided surgery and radiotherapy. As life expectancy of people with cancer has improved in recent years, it is hopeful that one day dying from cancer may just be a thing of the past.
Technology has always been a force that drives society. In medicine, innovation helps facilitate various procedures, such as using AI to help interpret EKGs, detecting abnormality in x-rays, integrating 3D model guides for surgery, and employing robots to assist in difficult surgery procedures. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, robots have worked to lessen human contact in tasks like communicating with patients and monitoring them. In the future, these technologies will evolve further to the points where AI and machine learning can grasp details that are beyond human perception from patient’s voice, brain scans, and other data, which can ease the diagnosis process. Surgeons might be wearing glasses or contact lens that projects vital information to their eyes, including blood vessel locations or dissection guides. We might have robots screening for medical conditions at school or at home that are able to gather disease information through voice control. Health care can be made more accessible by relaying the process to hospitals or online health centers. Robots and machinery could care for people during their illness and recovery periods, such as giving them medical advice, assisting them with daily routines, managing medication, performing physical therapy, and ensuring communication with the doctor in emergencies.
In current medical education, 3D models are gradually replacing cadavers in studying anatomy. Mannequin simulations now facilitate various medical procedure learning such as CPR. Virtual reality will soon play a role in training, due to its ability to capture real life flesh, recreate it, and allow users to interact with it. VR can simulate real patients and let young doctors practice operation procedures and other medical interventions.
For medical research, patient data collection and analysis can be performed much quicker and easier due to current computing power. Mega trials consisting of millions of samples and trillions of parameters are already being completed in the frame time of months thanks to digital platforms. Collaboration of study centers across the globe is much easier due to internet connectivity. In the future, clinical trials currently performed on animals and humans can be replaced by specialized chips called “organ-on-a-chip” that mimic functions of real organs and physiological reactions.
To meet the high demand for organ transplants, tissue engineering offers a possible solution in the near future. Biomaterial such as liquid cells and nutrients created through 3D bioprinting can recreate multicellular tissue layer by forming 3D structures layer by layer that mimic human organs. Although whole functioning organ printing, such as a kidney with working blood vessels, is currently a challenge, printing patches of heart tissue and human cornea has already achieved success in its primary stages. Advances in 3D bioprinting will pave the way for treatment of damaged tissues and organs, allowing supplies to be more readily available for the public.
Science fiction movies depict how humans can control external devices or machinery with their thoughts. As technology advances, we can already see real brain control devices ranging from wheelchairs controlled by EEG, brain training devices for stroke patients, and cognitive training games controlled by eye focus. It is only a matter of time before brain wave readings become sufficiently precise to allow the integration of brain control functions into user interfaces of everyday appliances.
