The US-ASEAN Consortium

The US-ASEAN Consortium

In the early 1990s, Thailand’s pharmacy sector faced a capacity gap: only eight schools offered largely product-oriented BS curricula, research output was limited, clinical practice was nascent, and the pharmacist-to-population ratio hovered near 1:10,000 amid rising health-care demand. To respond, the Royal Thai Government launched the US–Thai Pharmacy Consortium in 1994. Nine U.S. pharmacy schools and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy signed a Memorandum of Agreement with eight Thai schools and the Ministry of University Affairs’ Pharmacy Human Resource Development Committee. Funded by the Ministry, the program strengthened existing schools and helped establish new ones. More than 90 Thai faculty pursued PharmD training with residency/fellowship and PhD programs in the United States, then returned to build curricula and research networks. Governance was sustained through biennial conferences, a steering committee, and focused working groups.

A meeting of the US–Thai Consortium

Outcomes have been substantial. Pharmacy schools increased from 10 (1993) to 19 (2013); the pharmacist-to-population ratio improved to 1:2,261 by 2016; and Thailand transitioned from a five-year bachelor’s to a six-year PharmD curriculum. By 2020, seven universities offered residency/fellowship programs, while the eight Thai founding institutions produced over 500 international publications annually. The consortium illustrates how sustained, context-sensitive international collaboration can modernize pharmacy education, elevate clinical practice, and enhance population health.

The 20^th Anniversary Conference of the US–Thai Consortium in 2014

Transforming to US–ASEAN Pharmacy Consortium

Building on the US–Thai Consortium’s demonstrated impact and growing interest from ASEAN partners, the two sides advanced to establish the US–ASEAN Pharmacy Consortium. The new consortium broadens participation to additional institutions across ASEAN and deepens U.S.–ASEAN collaboration in pharmacy education and research.

On August 25, 2025, a delegation from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University (MUPY)—led by Assoc. Prof. Surakit Nathisuwan (Dean) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sitaporn Youngkong (Deputy Dean for Global Partnership and Corporate Communication)—joined the consortium’s Board of Directors meeting with roughly 20 leaders from member schools. The agenda centered on planning the inaugural conference, scheduled for June 3–5, 2026, at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, under the theme “Quality Education and Partnerships for the Goals.” Looking ahead, the consortium will open a membership expansion round in November to welcome additional interested institutions.

Online meeting of US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortium

By Faculty of Pharmacy