As a part of the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, the Department of Physiology is located on the 10th Floor of the Phaetthayaphat Building. Formerly situated on the 1st floor of the Physiology Building, the department was relocated to the Phaetthayaphat Building when both the Physiology Building and the Anatomy Building were torn down to build a new building dedicated for the preclinical education. The department has been in its current location since June 1st, 2008.
The Department of Physiology was one of the first three departments founded at the Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The department started operating on June 11th, 1947. In 1967, when the decree had been passed to establish the Faculty of Medicine as a part of Chulalongkorn University, the affiliation of the department along with other organizations was then transferred to the university. The department is still recognized as a division of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society.
Vision
The Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University is an institution of academic excellence in physiology, a center that creates valuable medical knowledge, and an ideal workplace that focuses on the welfare and wellbeing of its personnel.
Mission
- Instruction
Provide instructional excellence for both undergraduate and graduate medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and other faculties in Chulalongkorn University.
- Research
Create outstanding bodies of medical knowledge that are nationally and internationally recognized in the field of basic and applied physiology.
- Academic Services
Provide academic services in the forms of instruction, dissemination of medical knowledge to the public, and provide medical services at the national and international levels.
- Preservation of arts and culture
Promote, endorse and engage in the preservation of arts and culture.
- Administrative functions
The Department of Physiology adopts an administrative system that is based on the principles of good governance, efficiency, transparency, and accountability. It also aims to provide a good quality of life and positive work environment for its personnel.
Structure or Sections of the Department/Center
The Department of Physiology aims to produce and publish high-quality research in the field of Basic and Applied Physiology in order to achieve the goal of the Faculty and the University towards international recognition.
At present, the department operates the Alternative and Complementary Medicine for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Unit and the following research laboratories:
- Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics Laboratory
- Neurophysiology Laboratory
- Cardiovascular physiology Laboratory
- Gastrointestinal physiology Laboratory
- Renal Physiology Laboratory
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Laboratory
- Reproductive physiology Laboratory
In addition, the Department of Physiology in partnership with the Excellence Center of Gait and Motion, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital provides diagnostic, physiotherapy, and research services for patients with gait and motion disorders at the Exercise Physiology laboratory, 4th Floor of the Phaetthayaphat Building.
Prof. Duangporn Werawatganon, M.D.
Services
1. Provide academic services in physiology and related sciences to two external institutions, namely, the Srisavarindhira Thai Red Cross Institute of Nursing and the Police Nursing College. The Department’s faculty members are also special lecturers at other institutions such as Thammasat University, Naresuan University, and Walailak University.
2. Organize academic conferences/trainings in partnership with other academic/professional organizations such as the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University’s Annual MDCU Congress and the Physiological Society of Thailand’s annual academic conferences.
3. The Department’s faculty members are guest speakers at national and international academic conferences.
4. Provide medical services. As a pre-clinical department, the Department is not directly responsible for providing medical services to patients, but it still recognizes the significant benefits of such services and encourages its faculty members to provide appropriate medical services at the following clinics:
- Provide outpatient services at the Gastrointestinal Clinic, Neurology Clinic, Nephrology Clinic, Cardiology Clinic, and Internal Medicine Clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
- Conduct medical examination for students and staff at Chulalongkorn University Health Service Center.
- The abovementioned services are beneficial to Chulalongkorn University’s community and personnel, the Thai Red Cross Society personnel and the public as it improves the medical experiences of faculty members which can be applied to their medical instruction and basic physiological and medical research. The Department’s faculty members also conduct multidisciplinary research in collaboration with the faculty members of other specialties in the Department of Medicine.
5. Engage in various community service projects such as the provision of physical fitness tests at various events and academic meetings as requested by the University or the Hospital.
6. Provide academic services in the forms of being a member of various academic/professional committees, a thesis examination committee member for other institution. The Department’s faculty members have also been elected as members of various academic committees, both inside and outside Thailand, such as the Physiological Society of Thailand, and the Gastroenterological Association of Thailand.
