Mahidol Day in Thailand Date in the current year: September 24, 2024

Prince Mahidol was born on January 1, 1892. He was the 69th child of King Chulalongkorn. Mahidol received military education and served in the navy for nine months. When he resigned, his half-brother Prince Rangsit asked him to help improve public health in Thailand.

Prince Mahidol went to Harvard to study public health. He also asked Prince Rangsit to select four students to be sent to the USA. Their education was funded by Mahidol and his mother. He liaised with the Rockefeller Foundation to receive technical and financial aid that helped him improve the country's medical practice and public health education.

Prince Mahidol died on September 24, 1929 due to a kidney disease. To commemorate Prince Mahidol's contributions to public health and medicine, the anniversary of his passing was officially designated as Mahidol Day. In 1992, King Rama IX also founded the Prince Mahidol Award. It is given for outstanding progress in the field of medicine and for active promotion of public health.