IU in Thailand

Seven decades of relationship-building resulting in IU’s longest-standing partnership

As one of the oldest dental schools in the United States, the school has been training future dentists worldwide for decades, including in Thailand.

As one of the oldest dental schools in the nation, and the only dental school in Indiana, the Indiana University School of Dentistry at IUPUI has been training future dentists for almost 140 years.

Over fifty of those dentists have come from Thailand.

"As far as dentistry is concerned, in terms of the U.S. norm for dental schools, we're pretty well ahead of many in terms of our commitment to internationalization," said Michael Kowolik, professor, executive associate dean and associate dean for faculty affairs and global engagement at the School of Dentistry. "So at any one time, about 50 percent of our graduate students are international students. Our largest contingent are from Saudi Arabia, and our second largest contingent is from Thailand."

Globalization has been a mission of the IU School of Dentistry for more than 50 years and has included numerous collaborations, some of which involve the exchange of students, faculty and ideas. Like IU as a whole, one of the school's longest relationships has been with Thailand.

The School of Dentistry signed its first collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, the oldest university in the modern Thai educational system, in 1993, thanks to a 1960 graduate named Thanpuying Petchara Techakampuch.

Aerial view of Chulalongkorn UniversityView print quality image
Chulalongkorn "Chula" University in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

Techakampuch, or Dr. Petch as she is known, grew up in Bangkok, the daughter of a government official and a homemaker. Education was emphasized in her family, so college was always on the horizon. And in 1958, Techakampuch had the opportunity to study under Dr. John F. Johnston, an Internationally respected lecturer and textbook author at the IU School of Dentistry who chaired the school's crown and bridge department in the 1950s and '60s.

"I have fond memories of my time at IU," Techakampuch said. "My professors were so very kind to me, especially Dr. Johnston, who was my mentor. He treated me like I was his own daughter."

After receiving her master's degree at IU in 1960, Techakampuch went on to have an illustrious career, introducing Thailand's first porcelain bridge and crown procedure and serving as dentist for the late King Rama IX and many members of The Royal Family. She helped create the Royal Dental Unit, a mobile unit that still brings dental care to people in rural Thailand.

Dr. Petch with the Thai delegation. View print quality image
Dr. Petch at the museum.View print quality image
Dr. Petch at the dental conference.

From top: Dr. Thanpuying Petchara Techakampuch with a delegation of univeristy deans from Thailand; Techakampuch at the museum; and Techakampuch at a recent dental conference co-organized by the IU School of Dentistry. Photo provided by the IU School of Dentistry.

It was her time as dean of dentistry at Chulalongkorn, home to the first dental school in Thailand, that helped solidify the connection between the two schools.

"Dr. Petch is one of our most famous alums," Kowolik said. "She is so well respected in her field, and she really served as a connection between the university and programs in Thailand."

The next generation

Although many students travel from Thailand to Indianapolis to study, the exchange between the school and the country goes beyond students.

As a prosthodontist, Kamolphob "Aek" Phasuk was well aware of the IU School of Dentistry's reputation as one of the leaders in the field. So when he had the opportunity to join the faculty, he jumped at the chance.

Peerapat Kaweewongprasert at the dental conference photo. View print quality image
Peerapat Kaweewongprasert, an IU School of Dentistry alum, presents at the dental conference recently held in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo provided by Peerapat Kaweewongprasert

"IU has a big reputation and a big connection to Thailand, especially with Chulalongkorn, where I graduated from," said Phasuk, a native of Thailand. "In the prosthodontics world, we have a lot of books published from authors who teach at IU. So IU is renowned in the prosthodontics world. When I had the opportunity to talk to one of the department chairs at the time, and he asked me, 'Would you like to join us?' of course, I said yes."

Phasuk was on hand when School of Dentistry faculty and administration visited Thailand recently. The delegation, including Kowolik and Dean John Williams, traveled to the country to take part in the Future Leaders in Prosthodontics conference, a leadership seminar for up-and-coming prosthodontics.

Attendees hailed from all over the world, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China. That conference was followed by a one-day symposium co-hosted by the Thai Association of Dental Implantology and the IU School of Dentistry that more than 300 people attended.

Bringing together both up-and-coming dental professionals and some of the top dentists in the world is part of what makes the School of Dentistry so innovative, Phasuk said.

Dr. Poy Palana at her office. View print quality image
Nok teaching students at Chula. View print quality image
Aek at the dental conference. View print quality image

From top: Dr. Poy Palika at her dental office; Bhalang "Nok" Kanokporn teaching students at Chula; and Kamolphob "Aek" Phasuk at the dental conference.

"Oral health is something that affects everyone," he said. "Whether it's for cosmetic reasons or simply needing to eat, people need good oral health. As the field continues to grow, there is a need to collaborate more, to become more global. Through our work and collaboration with countries like Thailand, we are doing that."

As the IU School of Dentistry heads into 60 years of collaboration with Thailand, administrators are continuing to look to the future, building partnerships with universities and scholars throughout the world.

"Partnerships like the one we have with Thailand align with the global mission IU has had for decades," Kowolik said. "I am a great believer in the importance of globalization, of cross-cultural exchanges that in the end can be productive not just for political reasons but social reasons for people to understand one another's lives. Globalization enhances the societies in which we live."

Produced by IU Newsroom

IU Newsroom, 2019

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