Thai Public health minister steps down as Mahidol university rector

[webfact]

Public health minister steps down as Mahidol university rector

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin announced his resignation as rector of Mahidol University on Wednesday.

He announced his resignation during the meeting of deans and also sent a letter to the Mahidol Community, informing staff, lecturers, and students of his resignation.

Earlier, Sukree Charoensuk, dean of Mahidol University’s College of Music, led a protest against Rajata's holding two posts, saying his responsibilities as the public health minister would give him no time to administer the university.

In his letter, Rajata said he initially intended to work in both positions like several of his minister colleagues, who are holding the Cabinet seats and their permanent post in some government agencies, to see whether he could handle the two responsibilities efficiently at the same time.

However, he said, Mahidol lecturers, who disagreed with him holding two positions, attacked him on social media and provided one-sided information that damaged the university's reputation. He thus decided to resign as rector for the sake of unity of the Mahidol community.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Public-health-minister-steps-down-as-Mahidol-unive-30245009.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-08

[Mango Bob]

If anyone damaged the university's reputation it was him.

[mrtoad]

If anyone damaged the university's reputation it was him.

How so?

You sound like you know him, or is it the fact that he isn't a Red Shirt supporter?

[fab4]

So reluctantly he steps down all the while blaming others for his predicament - a real act of contrition . Still I'm sure his NLA salary and "expenses" (official) of 113,560 baht a month will help salve his conscience, not to mention any other goodies that may come his way. Think how much the patent on that Ebola "cure" will be worth................

[Thailand]

But I thought the new job was only until the end of next year so hardly a wise move?

But then perhaps he knows something?

[Gunna]

If anyone damaged the university's reputation it was him.

In your dreams.

At least Thailand now has someone in charge who knows more about medicine than ear medicine,

eg PTP past health minister - no health experince

Chalerm Yubamrung

Chalerm graduated from the Royal Thai Police Academy. He reached the rank of police captain, before he resigned his commission to go into private business. He later received a doctorate degree in Law from the open admission Ramkhamhaeng University.

And he has a great family

All three of Chalerm's sons have reputations for roughneck mafia-like behavior. In 2001, his youngest son, Duangchaleum, was arraigned for the murder of a police officer. Right after the incident, Duangchaleum received shelter from a Thai general. The son then deserted the Army and fled to Cambodia, then to Malaysia. After a few months of staying in touch with his father, the son was assured it was safe to return to Thailand, and not face dire consequences. Chalerm senior met his son in Singapore and escorted him safely to Thailand. He was released from jail on bail terms in 2003, and finally acquitted as the court considered the evidence insufficient - even though there were many eye-witnesses to the crime

I think this guy is a better Minister

Rajata Rajatanavin

Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin, MD was appointed President of Mahidol University in December 2011. Previous to this position, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. He continues to teach at the Hospital as a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Mahidol University, and obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Faculty of Medicine in Ramathibodi Hospital in 1975. He holds a Certificate of Fellowship Training in Endocrinology and Metabolism from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a Diplomate from the Thai Board of Internal Medicine. Along with serving as a member of several medical societies and associations in both Thailand and the United States, Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin has also been awarded scholarship grants including Best Alumni in 1997 from his alma mater. He has written over 160 publications in English and in Thai

[Stradavarius37]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If anyone damaged the university's reputation it was him.

In your dreams.

At least Thailand now has someone in charge who knows more about medicine than ear medicine,

eg PTP past health minister - no health experince

Chalerm Yubamrung
Chalerm graduated from the Royal Thai Police Academy. He reached the rank of police captain, before he resigned his commission to go into private business. He later received a doctorate degree in Law from the open admission Ramkhamhaeng University.

And he has a great family

All three of Chalerm's sons have reputations for roughneck mafia-like behavior. In 2001, his youngest son, Duangchaleum, was arraigned for the murder of a police officer. Right after the incident, Duangchaleum received shelter from a Thai general. The son then deserted the Army and fled to Cambodia, then to Malaysia. After a few months of staying in touch with his father, the son was assured it was safe to return to Thailand, and not face dire consequences. Chalerm senior met his son in Singapore and escorted him safely to Thailand. He was released from jail on bail terms in 2003, and finally acquitted as the court considered the evidence insufficient - even though there were many eye-witnesses to the crime

I think this guy is a better Minister

Rajata Rajatanavin

Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin, MD was appointed President of Mahidol University in December 2011. Previous to this position, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. He continues to teach at the Hospital as a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Mahidol University, and obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Faculty of Medicine in Ramathibodi Hospital in 1975. He holds a Certificate of Fellowship Training in Endocrinology and Metabolism from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a Diplomate from the Thai Board of Internal Medicine. Along with serving as a member of several medical societies and associations in both Thailand and the United States, Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin has also been awarded scholarship grants including Best Alumni in 1997 from his alma mater. He has written over 160 publications in English and in Thai

As a lecturer at Mahidol - I can assure you that almost all of the university personnel are happy to see this man leave. He has done nothing during his 3 year tenure except take credit for the projects initiated by his predecessor, while slowing to a crawl virtually all forward momentum the university had built. He was already going to be removed next year when his first term expired, and he knew that already. He then tried to hang on to both positions - a clear and blatant conflict of interest. Being in charge of all public hospitals in Thailand and also president of the largest medical school and directly in change of 5 university hospitals at the same time. The term conflict of interest was invented to define that situation.

His "balancing of both jobs" as he tried? He showed up for work at Mahidol a grand total of 3 half days during the past month. Obviously an untenable situation. Instead of bowing out gracefully - he fought tooth and nail to to try to keep both - and won the enmity of most faculty and staff at the university. Good riddance to him - we are looking forward to a new era here.

The University Council of Mahidol has 30 members - 15 internal and 15 external. At the vote last month to resolve the situation - all 15 of the internal members, representing all faculty, staff and admin, voted that he had to choose 1 or the other. The other external members? Well, only 7 even showed up to the meeting (the way to avoid uncomfortable situations in Thailand), and only 4 voted for him. Hardly a vote of confidence. Mahidol is an autonomous university - the university council is the final authority over the school - they spoke loud and clear - take your waffling ethics and hit the road.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Stradavarius37

[Stradavarius37]

Amazing - all this because one man had the courage to stand up for his convictions, and protest what he perceived to be wrongheaded values. Thailand needs far more leaders like Sugree Charoensook!

"Good society is not for sale, if in need, we ought to help to build it" - Sugree Charoensook

If you want to see what Dr. Sugree built during his professional life - watch this short video

Edited October 8, 2014 by Stradavarius37

[fobuff]

How about all the generals that hold a post in the NLA and the forces.... Oh sorry... It is a military junta under martial law with the great leader P

[zydeco]

But I thought the new job was only until the end of next year so hardly a wise move?

But then perhaps he knows something?

He was NOT going to be given a second term as MU president. And he knew it.

[zydeco]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If anyone damaged the university's reputation it was him.

In your dreams.

At least Thailand now has someone in charge who knows more about medicine than ear medicine,

eg PTP past health minister - no health experince

Chalerm Yubamrung

Chalerm graduated from the Royal Thai Police Academy. He reached the rank of police captain, before he resigned his commission to go into private business. He later received a doctorate degree in Law from the open admission Ramkhamhaeng University.

And he has a great family

All three of Chalerm's sons have reputations for roughneck mafia-like behavior. In 2001, his youngest son, Duangchaleum, was arraigned for the murder of a police officer. Right after the incident, Duangchaleum received shelter from a Thai general. The son then deserted the Army and fled to Cambodia, then to Malaysia. After a few months of staying in touch with his father, the son was assured it was safe to return to Thailand, and not face dire consequences. Chalerm senior met his son in Singapore and escorted him safely to Thailand. He was released from jail on bail terms in 2003, and finally acquitted as the court considered the evidence insufficient - even though there were many eye-witnesses to the crime

I think this guy is a better Minister

Rajata Rajatanavin

Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin, MD was appointed President of Mahidol University in December 2011. Previous to this position, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. He continues to teach at the Hospital as a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Mahidol University, and obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Faculty of Medicine in Ramathibodi Hospital in 1975. He holds a Certificate of Fellowship Training in Endocrinology and Metabolism from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a Diplomate from the Thai Board of Internal Medicine. Along with serving as a member of several medical societies and associations in both Thailand and the United States, Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin has also been awarded scholarship grants including Best Alumni in 1997 from his alma mater. He has written over 160 publications in English and in Thai

As a lecturer at Mahidol - I can assure you that almost all of the university personnel are happy to see this man leave. He has done nothing during his 3 year tenure except take credit for the projects initiated by his predecessor, while slowing to a crawl virtually all forward momentum the university had built. He was already going to be removed next year when his first term expired, and he knew that already. He then tried to hang on to both positions - a clear and blatant conflict of interest. Being in charge of all public hospitals in Thailand and also president of the largest medical school and directly in change of 5 university hospitals at the same time. The term conflict of interest was invented to define that situation.

His "balancing of both jobs" as he tried? He showed up for work at Mahidol a grand total of 3 half days during the past month. Obviously an untenable situation. Instead of bowing out gracefully - he fought tooth and nail to to try to keep both - and won the enmity of most faculty and staff at the university. Good riddance to him - we are looking forward to a new era here.

The University Council of Mahidol has 30 members - 15 internal and 15 external. At the vote last month to resolve the situation - all 15 of the internal members, representing all faculty, staff and admin, voted that he had to choose 1 or the other. The other external members? Well, only 7 even showed up to the meeting (the way to avoid uncomfortable situations in Thailand), and only 4 voted for him. Hardly a vote of confidence. Mahidol is an autonomous university - the university council is the final authority over the school - they spoke loud and clear - take your waffling ethics and hit the road.

In all fairness, he has done one thing. He has had all those cardboard pictures of himself holding a motorcycle helmet put up all over the Salaya campus.

[KhnomKhnom]

Anyone with open eyes working within Mahidol U Salaya could see the inappropriateness of that Rector remaining on campus. The corruption seen by some there shows that moving on to a political post will have "someone" fit right in to the new job.

There are honorable people employed by MU, but they may be outnumbered.