Decades of advancing forensic anthropology in Thailand and training the country’s first forensic osteologists have earned Robert Mann, professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), the Sood Sangvichian Gold Medal Award from Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. The award honors those who have made significant contributions to the field of forensic medicine, and Mann is the first recipient from outside Thailand.
Mann’s relationship with Thailand began in 1992, during his work with the Central Identification Laboratory (CIL) in Hawaiʻi. On his first mission, he ventured into the jungles of Laos to recover remains of American soldiers lost during the Vietnam War. His expertise soon caught the attention of Thai officials, leading to his first lecture on skeletal trauma at the Royal Thai Air Force Base. Over the next three decades, Mann conducted workshops, trained forensic professionals and helped develop Thailand’s forensic capabilities.
Building forensic expertise in Thailand
“Thailand didn’t have forensic anthropologists when I started visiting nearly three decades ago,” said Mann. “I started giving a lot of training over the years to the Missing Persons Identification Centre Section in Bangkok.”
He began training police, medical doctors and archaeologists in forensic techniques, focusing on skeletal analysis methods commonly used in the U.S. Since his first visit in the 1990s, Mann built relationships with Thai institutions, including Siriraj Hospital, Chiang Mai University and Khon Kaen University. His mentorship has helped establish forensic anthropology programs and labs across the country.
“Many of the people I’ve trained are now referred to as Thailand’s pioneer forensic osteologists,” he said. “It’s been incredible to watch them take what they’ve learned and apply it to their own cases and investigations.”
Advancing global collaboration
Mann’s contributions extend beyond training. He has assisted with challenging cases involving unidentified human remains, providing crucial insights to law enforcement and medical examiners. His expertise has been instrumental in elevating the country’s forensic capabilities, benefiting both legal investigations and humanitarian efforts.
“Teaching in Thailand has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career,” he said. “I’m very grateful to get an award like this from a prestigious hospital, and it helps strengthen and spread the word about the role and importance of forensic anthropology not only in Thailand, but worldwide.”
