Nuntavarn Vichit-Vadakan, DrPH, MPH
Class of: 1981
Departments: Community Health Sciences
Inductee
Vichit-Vadakan is the founding dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Thammasat University in Thailand, where she has been instrumental in developing the school’s educational program and a research agenda for the faculty. Her own research on the effects of air pollution and health has led to national policy interventions, most notably the elimination of lead from gasoline, the establishment of national air quality standards, and implementation of environmental mitigation measures. She serves as the lead negotiator for Thailand at the Conference of the Parties for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first international health treaty, and has played a pivotal role in the negotiation of a protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products. Vichit-Vadakan received both her degrees – an MPH in 1981 and a DrPH in 1987 – in Community Health Sciences from UCLA.
Magazine Article: Alumni Hall of Fame: 2012 Inductees