American-born-in-Siam who pioneered Thai medical education

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00:00Thailand's medical excellence today would not be possible without the contribution of this American man, George Ballet McFarlane.

00:07Born in Siam and the son of a U.S. missionary, he was also known by his Thai noble title, Praat Vithayakum.

00:14McFarlane played a vital role in shaping Thailand's modern medical education.

00:18He became the first lecturer at Thailand's first medical school, the Royal Medical College at Sillard Hospital.

00:24Now the Faculty of Medicine Sillard Hospital, Mahidon University, established by King Lamar V.

00:30He also served on the committee that founded the college and went on to teach there for 35 years.

00:36McFarlane authored the first Thai medical textbook, compiled a Thai-English dictionary,

00:40and helped popularize the use of Thai-language typewriters.

00:44He also studied both medicine and dentistry in the United States.

00:49Beyond medicine, McFarlane also helped establish Watanavitya Academy,

00:53Thailand's first boarding school for girls.