Mahidol University is the oldest and largest medical-oriented university of Thailand. Today, Mahidol University offers a wide range of knowledge fields from natural sciences, liberal arts towards engineering and technology. Mahidol University consists of 17 faculties, 6 colleges, 7 research institutes and 3 centers: offering courses in a wide range of disciplines in medicine; public health; nursing, pharmacy; dentistry; engineering; natural sciences; computer science; health sciences; social sciences; applied sciences; applied arts; humanities and arts. Mahidol University has its origins from the first hospital’s medical school, Siriraj Hospital, in 1888. Later, the hospital's medical school becomes the University of Medical Sciences in 1943, and was renamed to be "Mahidol University" in 1969 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The name "Mahidol" originates from his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the ‘Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health in Thailand’.