The Department of Parasitology, was originally a division under the Department of Pathology. Due to the significance of Medical Parasitology—a field that studies living organisms causing diseases in humans or serving as vectors transmitting such diseases, as well as the relationships between humans and various animal species—Parasitology has been regarded as one of the most important disciplines in medical education.

On January 10, 1967, the National Education Council approved the separation of Parasitology from the Department of Pathology to establish it as an independent department. Professor Anon Pradatsuntarasarn, M.D., a graduate in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane University, USA, was appointed as the first Head of the Department.

Later, the Office of the University Affairs officially changed the department’s name from “Parasitology” to “Parasitology Department.” After the separation, the Department’s office remained temporarily in the Pathology Building before being relocated to the Forensic Medicine Building.

In 1983, the Anandamahidol Building was constructed, with its lower floors serving as the administrative area of the Faculty. The Department of Parasitology subsequently moved its office to the 6th floor of this building.

In 2001, the Faculty of Medicine constructed the Apor Building to accommodate the growing number of medical students. Consequently, the Department of Parasitology relocated its pre-clinical teaching facilities to the 18th floor of the Apor Building, where it remains to this day.

The Department of Parasitology places great emphasis on imparting parasitological knowledge to medical students, graduate students, and medical personnel. Its mission is to provide a thorough understanding of parasitic diseases prevalent in Thailand and significant parasitic infections that may cross national borders in the era of globalization. Additionally, the Department provides diagnostic and therapeutic services for parasitic diseases to patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and offers professional consultation to general practitioners. Each year, approximately 30,000 patients receive laboratory diagnostic services from the Department, which also regularly conducts community-based parasite screening in collaboration with the hospital.

With ongoing advancements in immunology, molecular biology, and related sciences, the Department has integrated these disciplines into parasitological studies and research, extending beyond traditional morphology-based investigations. Thus, while adhering to its original policies, the Department has continually applied and modernized these interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, research, and clinical service in parasitology—ensuring relevance to current and future medical developments. This commitment supports the advancement of the Department of Parasitology, the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

The Parasitology Division aligns its quality policy with the hospital’s vision: “King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, and the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University shall be a model medical institution of moral integrity and international quality standards.”