Live | The Presentation Ceremony of the Prince Mahidol Award 2025

16.20 hrs.

• Live internet of the Prince Mahidol Award 2025. History of the Prince Mahidol Award and the work achievement of the Prince Mahidol Award Laureates.

16.30 hrs.

• The arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Chakri Throne Hall, Grand Palace.
• Introduction of the Laureates to Her Royal Highness by Professor Apichat Asavamongkolkul, Vice President of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation
• The Presentation of the 2025 Prince Mahidol Award and Royal Address by Her Royal Highness
• Private audience with Her Royal Highness at Sommut Dhevaraj Uppabat Hall

 

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The year 2025 there were 47 nominations in total from 17 countries worldwide, 2 were selected to receive the Awards. The Prince Mahidol Award Laureates in the field of Medicine is awarded to Dr. Terry Dean King from the United States of America, and in the Field of Public Health is awarded to  Professor Dr.Walter C. Willett from the United States of America.

Prince Mahidol Award Laureate 2025
In the Field of Medicine

Dr. Terry Dean King.
Senior Staff Physician, Ochsner Children’s Hospital,
the United States of America.

Doctor Terry Dean King, M.D. is a distinguished physician and scientist specializing in cardiology. He received a medical degree from the University of Texas, USA, and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Duke University, USA. He subsequently undertook fellowship training in pediatric cardiology and has since been practicing as a Senior Staff Physician at the Ochsner Children’s Hospital in West Monroe, Louisiana, USA. Dr. King developed a profound interest in minimally invasive treatments, particularly in non-surgical approaches to correct heart defects. His research and clinical experience have laid a foundation for advancing safer, more effective cardiac treatment.

In 1975, Dr. King and his team successfully performed the first non-surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD), using a newly developed small umbrella-shaped device, later known as the King-Mills Cardiac Umbrella. This innovation represented a groundbreaking step in cardiac care, allowing the repair of heart defects without open-chest surgery by inserting the device through a venous catheter. The device significantly reduced the need for major surgery, shortened hospital stays, minimized  complications, and   allowed

faster patient recovery. This achievement marked a major milestone in the history of cardiology, bridging the gap between engineering innovation and clinical application. It laid the groundwork for the development of minimally invasive cardiac technologies. Moreover, Dr. King was also a pioneer in knowledge-transfer and promoting equitable access to advanced cardiac care technologies in low- and middle-income countries.

His outstanding achievements in pioneering medical innovations and advancing the quality of life for patients with congenital heart diseases worldwide through the development of minimally invasive treatment technologies have benefited the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people around the globe.

 

Prince Mahidol Award Laureate 2025
In the Field of Public Health

Professor Dr.Walter C. Willett.
Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition,
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,
the United States of America.

Professor Dr. Walter C. Willett, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H. received a medical degree from the University of Michigan and an advanced degree in public health from Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Professor Willett is recognized as a pioneer in modern nutritional epidemiology, as he directed many influential studies on diet, lifestyle, and chronic disease. His research has transformed global understanding of nutrition and driven major public health policy changes.

Professor Dr. Willett also dispelled long-standing misconceptions that all types of dietary fats are harmful, demonstrating that fat quality, not total fat quantity, is the key determinant of cardiovascular risk. Moreover, his studies highlighted the health risks of high intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars, showing that diets with a high glycemic index significantly increase the risk of chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes.

His findings reinforced the principle that most chronic diseases are preventable, including coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes, through improved diet and lifestyle. In 2019, he proposed the concept of a “Planetary Health Diet” which could reduce premature mortality by up to 30%, equivalent to 15 million lives saved per year.

For his invaluable contributions and groundbreaking work in nutrition research, which have profoundly influenced global health promotion and the development of public health policies for disease prevention, benefiting the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.