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Punnathorn Auaboonkanok

Punnathorn Auaboonkanok

Organization: Chulalongkorn University


Region: Asia and the Pacific Islands

Nationality: Thailand

Country: Thailand

Interests & expertise: Paediatric and adolescent HIV

Profession or occupation: Healthcare worker/social service provider


What inspires you to work in the HIV field?

As a paediatrician, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of HIV on children and their families – the physical burden of the disease, the challenges of lifelong treatment and the weight of societal stigma. In Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region, gaps in paediatric HIV care persist, and many young people struggle to adhere to treatment or access the latest therapies. I am driven to advocate for them: to amplify their voices, promote health equity, accelerate progress in HIV prevention and ultimately contribute to ending the HIV pandemic.

What are your goals as an IAS change maker?

As an IAS change maker, I aim to translate data on the inequities experienced by children living with HIV into practical, evidence-based solutions. The CIPHER Growing the Leaders of Tomorrow Fellowship Programme will leverage networking opportunities, cultivate my research skills, advance my professional development and contribute to better health and treatment outcomes for these vulnerable children.

The IAS promotes the use of non-stigmatizing, people-first language. The translations are all automated in the interest of making our content as widely accessible as possible. Regretfully, they may not always adhere to the people-first language of the original version.