Steering Committee and Speakers

Daryono Hadi Tjahjono, a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Bandung Institute of Technology, has made significant contributions to the field of medicinal chemistry. He obtained his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the same institute in 1990 and later pursued his master's and Ph.D. degrees in medicinal chemistry at Keio University, Japan. His research focuses on the design and synthesis of porphyrin and chlorophyll derivatives for photodynamic therapy and radiopharmaceuticals, as well as drug discovery using molecule databases. With over 55 published papers and four patents, he's a member of several prestigious societies, including the American Chemical Society, and serves as a country representative for the Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines. He has held leadership positions, including President of the Asian Association of School of Pharmacy.

Assistant Professor Dr. Thanapat Songsak, currently the Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Rangsit University, has a distinguished career in pharmacognosy. He earned his B.Sc. in Pharmacy from Rangsit University, M.Sc. in Pharmacognosy from Chulalongkorn University, and Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy from The University of Manchester, U.K. His academic journey includes roles as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Acting Dean at the College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University. His research interests encompass Thai medicinal plants, plant cell culture secondary metabolites, phytochemistry, natural cosmetics, and medicinal cannabis development. Dr. Songsak's extensive publication record in these fields underlines his significant contributions to pharmaceutical sciences.

Chow currently serves as a Professor of Pharmacy at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, and also serves as President of Strategic Drug Solutions, Inc., a start-up company concentrating on nasal spray formulation development. After earning his Pharm.D. from UCSF and completing post-graduate training at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, he taught at the University of Connecticut and directed Hartford Hospital's Drug Information Service. His tenure also includes Directorship at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Pharmacy. His 50-year research focuses on cardiovascular pharmacokinetics, prostate cancer treatments, and intranasal/sublingual drug delivery, resulting in over 300 publications. Professionally, he's the inaugural President of the Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy and has held roles as a Board member and Secretary of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and as a consultant to NIH and USP.

Areerut Leelathanalerk, currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Thailand, has an impressive academic and professional background in pharmacy. She completed her Doctor of Pharmacy with honors at Mahasarakham University and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her experience includes post-graduate residencies in internal medicine and pharmacy at Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona. Leelathanalerk has been a part-time pharmacist at University Community Pharmacy, Thailand, since 2017 and has numerous publications in international journals, showcasing her expertise in pharmacy services, economic evaluation, and pharmaceutical care for non-communicable diseases. Her work emphasizes the economic and educational aspects of pharmacy practice.

Li-Jiuan (Rita) Shen, Ph.D., is a distinguished academic and administrative figure in the field of pharmacy, serving as an Associate Dean for International Affairs and Professor at National Taiwan University's College of Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Pharmaceutics from the University of Southern California and has extensive experience in academia, including roles as Dean and Director at the School of Pharmacy and Department of Pharmacy at National Taiwan University Hospital. Dr. Shen's research interests include pharmaceutical sciences and health-system pharmacy, and she has been involved in various professional societies and has received numerous awards for her contributions to pharmacy education and research.

Tohru Hashida, Ph.D., is a prominent figure in clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, currently serving as the Assistant Hospital Director and Director of the Center for Clinical Research and Innovation at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, as well as a Professor at Kobe Gakuin University. He holds a Ph.D. in Medicine from Kyoto University and a Pharm.D. from Meijo University. Dr. Hashida's career encompasses roles as Director of the Pharmacy Department and Vice Director of the Pharmacy Department at Kyoto University Hospital. He is also a member of various pharmaceutical societies and has been recognized with the Academic Contribution Award by the Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences for his work in pharmaceutical interventions. His current focus includes advancing pharmaceutical practices, education, and clinical research.

Jay Chong Jin Jian is a pioneering pharmacist in Singapore, leading the digital transformation in pharmacy and telehealth. As the Head Pharmacist at WellAway ePharmacy since 2022, he has developed tele-pharmacy systems, launched the first virtual pharmacy app in the country, and established significant telehealth collaborations. Previously, he served as a Hospital Pharmacist at Singapore General Hospital, where he introduced tele-pharmacy services and digital tools for medication delivery. Jay also actively contributes to the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, promoting innovation among young pharmacists. He holds a B.Sc. in Pharmacy with the highest distinction from the National University of Singapore.

Suthira Taychakhoonavudh, Ph.D., is a highly accomplished professional currently serving as the CEO & Co-founder of Baiya Phytopharm Co. LTD, Chairperson at BGF Plantrix Co. LTD, and the Department Head at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University. With a Ph.D. in Health Economics from the University of Texas Health Science Center, she has also been an Associate Professor at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Science Center. Her notable achievements include being named CEO of the year and Woman of the year by Bangkok Post in 2021. Her research interests span a range of topics, including health economics, public health, and pharmaceutical sciences, with numerous publications in respected journals.