Mahidol University (MU), an autonomous research institution in Thailand, had its origin in the establishment of Siriraj Hospital in 1888. Mahidol is among Thailand's most prestigious universities with highly competitive entrance examinations. An acceptance rate for Medicine is 0.4% as of 2016 academic year. Becoming the University of Medical Science in 1943, it has been recognized as the country's fourth public university. The university was later renamed in 1969 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej after his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, who is widely regarded as "Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of Thailand." The university originally focused on health sciences but also expanded to other fields in recent decades. It hosted Thailand's first medical school, the Siriraj Medical School.