Her Royal Highnesss Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn receives an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopskins University

On Thursday, May 26, 2005, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letter from Johns Hopskins University during the 2005 commencement ceremony at Homewood Campus, Baltimore. The ceremony was led by Johns Hopskins University, President William R. Brody. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is one of four persons to receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters which including the former Vice President Albert Gore Jr., Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg and Mr. Edward Witten.

The citation that accompanied the award praised HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of her deepest commitment to the poorest and neediest of Thailand especially the hill tribes of the north and among the sea gypsy and minority Muslim peoples of the south. Moreover, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also has a commitment to the systematic campaigns for education, for nutrition, for public health, for human rights, and for sustainable economic development.

After the ceremony, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Bloomberg School of Public Health and was welcome by Dr. Alfred Sommer, Dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also held the meeting with professors of Bloomberg School of Public Health, namely: Dr. David

D. Calentano, Director of the Department of Epidemiology: Dr.Susan Gail Sherman, Assistant Professor , Department of Epidemiology: Dr.Kernard Nelson, Professor of the Department of Epidemiology: Dr. Amy Tsui, Professor of the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences: Dr. Keith West, Professor of the Department of the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences and Dr. Chris Beyrer, Associate Professor of the Department of Epidemiology, to discuss on the current research activities in Thailand and the result from the trip to Thailand in  January 2004 which was hosted by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 

The professors were impressed by the improvements in health, education, and productive enterprise, particularly the reduction in AIDS cases. The rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission has declined by more than two-thirds, and the prevalence in young men (21-year-old military conscripts) has dropped from 12 percent in 1993 to less than 1 percent in 2000.

During their visit, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also showed them numerous programs to help farmers from move from growing poppies for opium to raising crops like coffee beans, macadamia nuts, and vegetables. These efforts demonstrate how public health vision and commitment can improve health, productivity, and prosperity.

After the meeting, 15 Thai students who are studying at Bloomberg School of Public Health had an audience with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. In the evening, the Bloomberg School Health Advisory Board Members who visited Thailand in January 2004 and friend from the 2003 trip to Thailand and Nepali travelers hosted a dinner honoring HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Baltimore Country Club.Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn receives an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopskins University

On Thursday, May 26, 2005, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn  was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letter from Johns Hopskins University during the 2005 commencement ceremony at Homewood Campus, Baltimore. The ceremony was led by Johns Hopskins University, President William R. Brody. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is one of four persons to receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters which including the former Vice President Albert Gore Jr., Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg and Mr. Edward Witten.

The citation that accompanied the award praised HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of her deepest commitment to the poorest and neediest of Thailand especially the hill tribes of the north and among the sea gypsy and minority Muslim peoples of the south. Moreover, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also has a commitment to the systematic campaigns for education, for nutrition, for public health, for human rights, and for sustainable economic development.

After the ceremony, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Bloomberg School of Public Health and was welcome by Dr. Alfred Sommer, Dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also held the meeting with professors of Bloomberg School of Public Health, namely: Dr. David D. Calentano, Director of the Department of Epidemiology: Dr.Susan Gail Sherman, Assistant Professor , Department of Epidemiology: Dr.Kernard Nelson, Professor of the Department of Epidemiology: Dr. Amy Tsui, Professor of the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences: Dr. Keith West, Professor of the Department of the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences and Dr. Chris Beyrer, Associate Professor of the Department of Epidemiology, to discuss on the current research activities in Thailand and the result from the trip to Thailand in  January 2004 which was hosted by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.   

The professors were impressed by the improvements in health, education, and productive enterprise, particularly the reduction in AIDS cases. The rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission has declined by more than two-thirds, and the prevalence in young men (21-year-old military conscripts) has dropped from 12 percent in 1993 to less than 1 percent in 2000.

During their visit, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also showed them  numerous programs to help farmers from move from growing poppies for opium to raising crops like coffee beans, macadamia nuts, and vegetables. These efforts demonstrate how public health vision and commitment can improve health, productivity, and prosperity.

After the meeting, 15 Thai students who are studying at Bloomberg School of Public Health had an audience with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. In the evening, the Bloomberg School Health Advisory Board Members who visited Thailand in January 2004 and friend from the 2003 trip to Thailand and Nepali travelers hosted a dinner honoring HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Baltimore Country Club. 

Royal News Clip, TNA News Station