Yong Poovorawan
Encyclopedia
Yong Poovorawan is a medical professor in pediatric hepatology
at the Faculty of Medicine
of Chulalongkorn University
in Bangkok
, Thailand
. He is widely noted for his research in the fields of pediatric hepatology, viral hepatitis
and virology
, and is regarded as a subject expert on the H5N1
avian influenza virus in Thailand.
, Thailand
. The fourth of six children, he is the younger twin brother of Yuen Poovarawan
, computer scientist and Vice President of Kasetsart University
. As a child, his family moved to Nakhon Pathom
, where he attended Phrapathom Witthayalai School. He attended upper-secondary school at Triam Udom Suksa School
, and graduated Bachelor of Science
in 1972 and Doctor of Medicine
in 1974 from Chulalongkorn University
.
at the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine
and completed board certification by the Medical Council of Thailand in 1978. He was subsequently accepted as a faculty member, and received a research fellow
ship grant at the hepatology department at King's College Hospital
Medical School during 1983–84.
He has since worked continuously at Chulalongkorn, mostly focusing on teaching and research, and obtained professorship in 1990. He has served as the head of the faculty's Viral Hepatitis Research Unit and Molecular Biology Research Unit since 1992 and 1996, respectively.
His works originally focused on the fields of pediatric hepatology
and viral hepatitis
, especially in applications to the Thai healthcare system, on which such works have had significant impact. Later on they expanded to include virology
studies in general. Yong is widely recognized for his work on genetic sequencing and detection of the H5N1
avian influenza virus in Thailand, which saw outbreaks beginning in 2004, and is regarded as the national expert on the subject.
His work on avian influenza in Thailand also received outstanding research awards from the Thailand Research Fund in 2004 and the National Research Council in 2006.
Yong serves on the editorial board
of the Journal of Pediatrics, in addition to other national publications.
Hepatology
Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas as well as management of their disorders. Etymologically the word Hepatology is formed of ancient Greek hepar or hepato- meaning ' liver' and suffix -logia meaning 'word' or 'speech'...
at the Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
The Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University,the second oldest medical school in Thailand, was established in 1947 in accordance with the wishes of King Ananda Mahidol to educate a sufficient number of medical doctors to satisfy the public's demands. For more than half a century, this medical...
of Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He is widely noted for his research in the fields of pediatric hepatology, viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute or chronic forms. The most common causes of viral hepatitis are the five unrelated hepatotropic viruses Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E...
and virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
, and is regarded as a subject expert on the H5N1
H5N1
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu", A or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species...
avian influenza virus in Thailand.
Early life and education
Yong Poovarawan was born on 5 November 1950 in BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. The fourth of six children, he is the younger twin brother of Yuen Poovarawan
Yuen Poovarawan
Yuen Poovarawan is a Thai computer scientist. He currently holds the positions of associate professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Vice President for Information Technology at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand...
, computer scientist and Vice President of Kasetsart University
Kasetsart University
Kasetsart University is a public university in Thailand and a top-ranked Public University in Thailand. It is ranked No.401-500 in the world by QS. It was also the first agricultural university and the third oldest university in Thailand...
. As a child, his family moved to Nakhon Pathom
Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Pathom
Mueang Nakhon Pathom is the capital district of Nakhon Pathom Province, central Thailand.-History:This area was an ancient city, dating back to pre-historic times. It was the starting point of Buddhism in Dvaravati culture area....
, where he attended Phrapathom Witthayalai School. He attended upper-secondary school at Triam Udom Suksa School
Triam Udom Suksa School
Triam Udom Suksa School is a state school located in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. It admits upper-secondary students and has the largest yearly enrolment in the country...
, and graduated Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1972 and Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1974 from Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...
.
Work
Yong trained in pediatricsPediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
at the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
The Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University,the second oldest medical school in Thailand, was established in 1947 in accordance with the wishes of King Ananda Mahidol to educate a sufficient number of medical doctors to satisfy the public's demands. For more than half a century, this medical...
and completed board certification by the Medical Council of Thailand in 1978. He was subsequently accepted as a faculty member, and received a research fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
ship grant at the hepatology department at King's College Hospital
King's College Hospital
King's College Hospital is an acute care facility in the London Borough of Lambeth, referred to locally and by staff simply as "King's" or abbreviated internally to "KCH"...
Medical School during 1983–84.
He has since worked continuously at Chulalongkorn, mostly focusing on teaching and research, and obtained professorship in 1990. He has served as the head of the faculty's Viral Hepatitis Research Unit and Molecular Biology Research Unit since 1992 and 1996, respectively.
Research
Yong has held a deep interest in research since medical school. He first published in national journals during his first year of residency, and began publishing internationally in 1989, with his work on hepatitis B vaccination. He has had over 250 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, with over 2,300 citations.His works originally focused on the fields of pediatric hepatology
Hepatology
Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas as well as management of their disorders. Etymologically the word Hepatology is formed of ancient Greek hepar or hepato- meaning ' liver' and suffix -logia meaning 'word' or 'speech'...
and viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute or chronic forms. The most common causes of viral hepatitis are the five unrelated hepatotropic viruses Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E...
, especially in applications to the Thai healthcare system, on which such works have had significant impact. Later on they expanded to include virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
studies in general. Yong is widely recognized for his work on genetic sequencing and detection of the H5N1
H5N1
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu", A or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species...
avian influenza virus in Thailand, which saw outbreaks beginning in 2004, and is regarded as the national expert on the subject.
Awards and recognition
Yong has received numerous awards for his contributions to his fields of research, including the following:- Outstanding Scientist Award (1997), Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology
- Outstanding Researcher Award (1997), National Research Council
- Senior Research Scholar (1997–present), Thailand Research Fund
- Mahidol University–B.Braun Prize for Medicine and Public Health (2003)
- Research Citation Award (2003), Thailand Research Fund
- Outstanding Lecturer Award in Health Sciences (2004), Council of the University Faculty Senates of Thailand
- Dushdi Mala Medal for medicine (2007)
His work on avian influenza in Thailand also received outstanding research awards from the Thailand Research Fund in 2004 and the National Research Council in 2006.
Yong serves on the editorial board
Editorial board
The editorial board is a group of people, usually at a publication, who dictate the tone and direction the publication's editorial policy will take.- Board makeup :...
of the Journal of Pediatrics, in addition to other national publications.