On May 12, 2025, from 12:00 to 13:00, Associate Professor Dr. Ameporn Ratinthorn, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, participated in the "Shaping the Future of Nursing in Southeast Asia" Webinar organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) to commemorate International Nurses Day 2025 via Zoom. Dr. Ratinthorn joined as one of two representatives from WHO Collaborating Centres (WHOCCs) in the Southeast Asia Region (SEARO), alongside Dr. Vinitha Ravindran from Christian Medical College Vellore, India.

In her role as the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Dr. Ratinthorn expressed her expectations for the upcoming State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025 (SOWN 2025), highlighting the report's significance in guiding the development of the nursing workforce globally and regionally. She particularly emphasized the need to address challenges such as the shortage and maldistribution of nurses, limitations in continuous professional development, gaps in research and innovation, and the urgent need to reform nursing education and leadership to meet increasingly complex health needs.

Dr. Ratinthorn also reflected on the role of the Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development, in supporting nursing workforce development in the region through various initiatives, including:

• Providing specialized training for nurses and midwives, particularly in gerontological nursing and the care of individuals with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including multimorbidity.
• Building research and innovation capacity, such as through systematic review training, which helps nurses apply evidence-based practices in clinical and policy decision-making.
• Enhancing nurse educator development through interprofessional education (IPE) to prepare future healthcare professionals for collaborative team-based care.

Dr. Ratinthorn also stressed the critical need for more research on nursing workforce issues, especially related to working conditions, mental health, and the wellbeing of nurses—areas that are often overlooked but are essential to building a sustainable and resilient nursing workforce capable of responding effectively to both routine and emergency health challenges.

“This report is not just a collection of data, but a tool for real policy change.” Dr. Ratinthorn said, expressing her commitment that the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University will use the insights from the report to guide future activities, support countries in the region to develop their nursing workforce, and advance the goals of the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery with tangible outcomes. 

Her participation in this international platform reflects Mahidol University’s active role as a regional leader in advancing sustainable health systems and nursing development through collaboration with the World Health Organization.