High in the mountains of Phayao Province, small villages have been home to Hmong and Iu Mien communities for generations. Tucked away from district hubs, these remote settlements have long lived far from healthcare facilities and medical professionals. Yet, one reality was never far from them: illness.
Recognizing this critical gap, the University of Phayao-as an institution deeply rooted in its local community-stepped in. Partnering with the Phayao Provincial Administrative Organization (Phayao PAO), they set out to create a vital lifeline: the “Village Doctor”program.
Empowering Communities to Heal Their Own
In September 2025, the University of Phayao and Phayao PAO launched a primary healthcare initiative built on a simple yet transformative premise: How can we empower villagers to look after one another?
This led to the creation of the “Village Doctors of Hmong and Iu Mien Ethnic Communities” curriculum, supported by the Equitable Education Fund (EEF). Under the direction of University President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supagorn Pongbangpho, the project was spearheaded by Assistant to the President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Panintra Teeranon alongside the Faculty of Public Health. The curriculum itself was crafted by Dr. Nattapon Punsakul, a public health lecturer.
Dr. Nattapon’s strategy was straightforward yet powerful: instead of waiting for medical teams to make the arduous journey up the mountains, why not train locals to provide care from within? The program avoided imposing rigid, modern medicine on the villagers. Instead, it seamlessly blended modern clinical practices with traditional ethnic wisdom and cultural beliefs-ensuring healthcare became truly accessible, culturally resonant, and sustainable long after the initial training ended.
From a Local Trial to a Province-Wide Movement
Months later, that initial spark grew. In February 2026, Phayao PAO expanded the effort by launching training for Cohort 2 at the Faculty of Public Health, led by Dean Asst. Prof. Dr. Somkid Juwa and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Panintra Teeranon.
Cohort 2 was far from a simple refresher. The curriculum was redesigned for a broader audience, focusing on practical, everyday skills tailored to the everyday lives of local residents across every district in Phayao. What began as a targeted effort for specific mountain tribes gradually evolved into a healthcare safety net for the entire province.
This initiative does more than offer basic first-aid training. It embodies Phayao’s identity as a UNESCO Learning City, bringing lifelong learning to life while aligning directly with the national “Thailand Zero Dropout” policy-ensuring no individual is left behind, whether in education or basic healthcare.
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Moving Beyond the Classroom
What sets this initiative apart from standard government programs is the University of Phayao’s sustained, on-the-ground commitment.
On June 10, 2026, a joint delegation-including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Panintra Teeranon, Ms. Yapha Witnalakorn (Secretary to the Phayao PAO President), Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapon Punsakul, and Asst. Prof. Netnapa Prommat-visited the mountain communities to evaluate the real-world impact of Cohort 1.
The results were inspiring. The newly minted village doctors were actively applying their skills-promoting hygiene, dressing wounds, and delivering critical first aid to their neighbors. Remote residents gained unprecedented access to primary care. Equally important, a strong collaborative network bloomed between indigenous villagers, public health agencies, and local government officials.
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The Road Ahead for “Village Doctors”
Nearly a year since its inception, the University of Phayao has proven that its mission goes far beyond merely delivering classroom lectures. The university actively shaped the entire ecosystem-from co-designing culturally attuned coursework and adapting lessons to real-world contexts, to tracking outcomes directly in the field.
The “Village Doctors for Ethnic Communities” initiative stands as a compelling model of how academic knowledge, when planted deeply in local soil, can build genuine Societal Well-being.
With sustained funding from the Phayao PAO to employ these indigenous healthcare workers, alongside continued backing from the EEF, the story of the “Village Doctors” is far from over. The University of Phayao remains steadfast beside them-proving that when academic expertise meets community trust, health and hope can flourish in even the most remote corners of the world.