BACKGROUND :

Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program (PMA YP) has been established on 20 November 2008 according to the 2nd/2008 consensus of the Committee for Prince Mahidol Award Foundation (PMA) under the Royal Patronage. The program aims to inspire and to facilitate Thai youths studying medicine to pursue their dedicated life for the benefit of mankind following the footsteps of HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the Royal Father of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, for his exemplary contributions to the advancement of medicine, public health, and human services. Each year, the steering committee, the working committee, and the selection committee will select up to five applicants who meet the criteria, and nominate them to get a final decision from the Board of Trustee of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation (PMA), of which HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is the president. Successful applicants will receive a scholarship for training or studying abroad, as proposed by the scholars, with full support from the foundation for 12 months. This overseas professional training/studying period of the scholarship recipients is considered as a part of their three–year contract time after medical school graduation. The project provides opportunity for the selected scholars to meet regularly with an expert in their chosen field and to develop inspiration and motivation amongst the scholars. Following the program, the scholars will have enhanced opportunity to both strengthen and utilize their knowledge, and extend their medical insights to the benefit of many. This enhanced opportunity will present not just regionally and nationally throughout Thailand, but also internationally, and will continue throughout their lifetime. Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program scholars who have finished their training/studying abroad will present their works, experience and their future plan in the Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program Conference in both oral and poster presentations. Prince Mahidol Award Youth Program scholars’ honorable mentors are invited to attend the PMA Conference and PMA YP Conference as well to present their experience in the topic of their expertise in the mentor sessions together with presentations from Thai pioneers in relevant fields. This provides opportunity of stimulating ideas and establishing collaboration, as well as initiating fruitful discussions and lifetime mentoring and networking opportunities.