Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) co-hosted The International Conference for Health Professionals (ICHP) 2025 with The University of Philippines Open University (UPOU), Philippines, and Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia. On 17-19 November 2025, The hybrid conference took place at STOU Headquarters in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and virtually via Zoom.
The conference was under the Theme: “Innovative and Sustainable Health Practices Across Diverse Global Settings”.
On the Pre-Conference Day, Asst. Prof. Dr. Songlak Sakulwichitsintu, Vice-President for Research, Innovation, Information Technology and International Affairs of STOU, greeted the participants upon their arrivals at Seminar Building 1. Prof. Dr. Rizky Abdulah, Vice Rector for Research, Collaboration, and Marketing at Universitas Padjadjaran, welcomed the participants and colleagues from the partner universities. The pre-conference activities included 2 talks and an open forum.
At the Pre-conference Talk 1, Prof. Dr. Nur Atik, Director of Research and Community Services at Universitas Padjadjaran (UnPad), discussed the role of Higher Health Institutions in shaping sustainable health practices.
For Pre-conference Talk 2, Prof. Dr. Olga Riklikienė, (onsite), Professor at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, explored the use of immersive open pedagogies in nursing education.
An open forum followed the presentations, allowing participants to raise questions, exchange insights, and further deepen the discussion.
On the opening day, 18 November 2025, during the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr Taweewat Watthanakuljaroen, President of STOU, delivered the opening message, emphasising the importance of the discussions to be held throughout the conference.
Assoc. Prof. Finaflor F. Taylan, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, also gave her opening remarks. She highlighted that the joint leadership of the three partner universities reflects a strong commitment to collaborative action in advancing sustainable healthcare systems. She encouraged participants to reflect on the guiding truth that health is a right, not a privilege.
Prof. Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Chancellor of UP Open University, led the formal declaration of the opening of ICHP 2025. She reiterated that the conference, grounded in its theme, provides a space to reflect on and reimagine ways to build innovative and sustainable health systems.
During the morning session of Day 1, Prof. Dr. Nur Atik, Director for Research and Community Services at Universitas Padjadjaran, presented the conference rationale, providing context for the day’s discussions.
This was followed by a keynote address from Prof. Dr. Olga Riklikienė, Professor at The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, which spoke on Sustainable Nursing Education Using Innovation and E-Conscious Strategies to Prepare Global Health Professionals.
Continuing the session, Prof. Dr. Sheila R. Bonito, Dean of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Nursing, delivered Plenary Session 1 on Building Strong Leaders for Transformative Healthcare, emphasizing the critical role of investing in nursing education and leadership.
The ICHP Poster Gallery Session followed by the plenary session. This dedicated space showcases key research outputs, innovations, and insights contributed by participating scholars and institutions. The poster gallery offers attendees an opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and engage with emerging ideas in the field of health and education.
The second day was filled with dynamic activities, including keynote addresses, panel presentations, PechaKucha sessions, poster presentations, and engaging parallel sessions focused on innovation and sustainability in global health.
Professor Emeritus Prasit Watanapa, M.D. of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University of Thailand, delivered the second keynote address on Digital Health, Green Systems, and Community-Centered Approaches for Resilient and Equitable Healthcare, offering an insightful overview of Health Innovations and Sustainable Practices.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Myra D. Oruga, ICHP Program Committee Chair, wrapped up the event with a thoughtfully articulated synthesis that highlighted the key insights and emerging themes from the conference sessions. She emphasized how ICHP 2025 underscored that community empowerment is essential to long-term resilience and how it showcased the value of international and institutional partnerships in strengthening global health. The conference provided a clear roadmap for advancing health education, research, and workforce development.
An awarding ceremony followed to recognize exemplary contributions presented during the conference, including the Best Poster, Best Paper, and Best Oral Presentation.
The Best Poster Award was awarded to Dr. Javeson Roy Batuto for his poster entitled “Developing a Patient-Centered Core Framework in a Medical Tourism Facility Using the SERVQUAL Model.”
The Best Paper Award was presented to the team of Dr. Nichel Marquez, Dr. Julius Lecciones, John Ubalde, RN, and Ms. Evelyn Joson for the study “Performance of CAD-AI and Human Reading in Chest X-Ray Screening for Tuberculosis: Evidence from Urban Active Case Finding in Metro Manila, Philippines.”
The Best Oral Presentation Award was given to Ms. Sheena Kate Da-o for her study “Unraveling the Unheard Stories of Nurses on Extended Shifts.”
Assoc. Prof. Rita Ramos, delivered the closing remarks, highlighting the history of the ICHP, and extended her heartfelt gratitude to all the teams and partners. The next ICHP was proudly announced to be hosted by Universitas Padjadjaran in Indonesia.
