Public Diplomacy Award Profile: Dr. Soontorn Antarasena
Thailand Foundation is honored to announce the recipient of Thailand’s first-ever Public Diplomacy Award: Dr. Soontorn Antarasena
About the Public Diplomacy Award
The Public Diplomacy Award is established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and Thailand Foundation to honor individuals, groups, or organizations who have contributed significant works in promoting goodwill and friendship between Thailand and the rest of the world, on a people-to-people level.
The purpose of the Public Diplomacy Award is to recognize and support the works of honored recipients, with hopes of inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. It is our belief that public diplomacy, the promotion of friendship and goodwill between nations, can be conducted by every individual.
Public Diplomacy Award 2022 Recipient: Dr. Soontorn Antarasena
Dr. Soontorn Antarasena is a senior otolaryngologist who founded a group of volunteer doctors that help treat ear diseases patients. For more than 30 years, Dr. Soontorn and his team have traveled around the world, helping more than 70,000 patients across 10 countries (including Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, India, Kenya, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Timor-Leste). Through his works, Dr. Soontorn has created long-lasting bonds and meaningful friendships that transcend borders.
For his outstanding contributions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thailand Foundation is honored to announce that Dr. Soontorn Antarasena have been selected as the recipient for the Public Diplomacy Award 2022, making him the first recipient of the award. Dr. Soontorn will be presented with the honor in a ceremony hosted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, on 20 October 2022.
We hope that Dr. Soontorn’s story will inspire everyone to take part in promoting goodwill and friendship from the Thais to the world. Stay tuned for more uplifting stories on public diplomacy!
