Ralph Hawley Distinguished Service Award

The University of Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association Ralph Hawley Distinguished Service Award honors an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the local community through medical practice, teaching, research or other humanitarian activities.

2011 Ralph Hawley Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Thep Himathongkam, MD '69

Dr. Himathongkam has contributed greatly to bringing education and practice advancement in endocrinology and metabolism to Thailand and Southeast Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Theptarin Hospital in Bangkok, one of the leading diabetes centers in the region.

He introduced radioimmunoassay to his country and initiated teaching and research in thyroid and pituitary function tests. He founded Lab Plus One, the first lab to facilitate the use of hormone assay in the Thai clinical community.

In the field of diabetes, Dr. Himathongkam introduced a teamwork approach to managing the disease in the 1980s. He continuously advocates for the acceptance of diabetes educators, dietitians and foot care specialists among the physician community and the public, and is the founder of Thailand's Association of Diabetes Educators.

Dr. Himathongkam completed his residency in internal medicine at New England Deaconess Hospital and a fellowship in endocrinology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, both affiliated with Harvard University.