Mae Fah Luang University is located in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand, bordering both Lao PDR and Myanmar. Cross border areas have many public health problems. They are important entry points for communicable diseases that can affect country’s population, lack access to health care, health promotion, preventive health and emergency services. Communities in these areas face many social, legal, environmental and occupational health risks with women, children and elderly particularly at risk.

Mae Fah Luang University faculty and health personnel have rich experiences of providing health care services for people who live or have migrated to work in these border areas. Common “border health” issues have shared geographic, social, demographic, economic and cultural realities. Mae Fah Luang University is aware of the significance of cross border health and has previously run undergraduate summer programs to enhance learning and care capacity for cross border health issues.