DPU Highlights Faculty Expertise, Connecting Business, Innovation and Wellness at H.E.A.T. International Congress 2026

Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU) reinforced its role in advancing new perspectives on the global wellness industry at The 10th H.E.A.T. International Congress on Wellness Management 2026, with Assistant Professor Dr. Kulabutr Komenkul, Director of the Executive MBA Program and Head of the Finance, Investment and Financial Technology Program, College of Innovative Business and Accountancy, Dhurakij Pundit University, together with Dr. Rebecca Russell, President of the Dhurakij Pundit University Alumni Association and faculty member of the College of Integrative Medicine, serving as Co-Chairs of the session “The Wellness Shift: The New Rules of Influence, Innovation & Expansion.” The session was held on 20 August 2026 at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok.

Their roles as Co-Chairs reflected DPU’s commitment to integrating interdisciplinary knowledge across Business, Finance, Technology, Innovation and Integrated Medicine to identify emerging opportunities within the rapidly expanding global Wellness Economy. The session broadened the concept of wellness beyond conventional healthcare, positioning it as an economic and business ecosystem that brings together Medical Wellness, Technology, Data, Community, Business Models and International Expansion.

Assistant Professor Dr. Kulabutr Komenkul, Director of the Executive MBA Program and Head of the Finance, Investment and Financial Technology Program, College of Innovative Business and Accountancy, Dhurakij Pundit University, said that the transformation of the wellness industry reflects the realities of today’s business environment, in which executives must integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines  ranging from health, business strategy and finance to technology, consumer behavior and innovation  in order to transform  market trends into business opportunities capable of creating value and achieving sustainable growth.

“Wellness today is evolving into an ecosystem encompassing technology, data, communities, business models and opportunities for international market expansion. For executives, the key is the ability to transform trends into business models that create value, can be scaled effectively and deliver sustainable growth,” Assistant Professor Dr. Kulabutr said.

Dr. Rebecca Russell, President of the Dhurakij Pundit University Alumni Association and faculty member of the College of Integrative Medicine, also served as Co-Chair, bringing medical and health perspectives into the discussion. Her contribution highlighted the importance of developing innovation and business models alongside healthcare knowledge and standards, particularly at a time when technology and data are playing an increasingly significant role in the design of personalized healthcare services.

Exploring the Wellness Economy: From Community to Ecosystem

The session brought together international experts to exchange insights across multiple dimensions of the wellness industry. Mr. Anthony Jude Tan, Founder of AJT Wellity Asia Co., Ltd., who has more than 40 years of experience across the Hospitality, Healthcare, Biomedical Sciences, Wellness and Real Estate sectors, presented “Redefining Medical Wellness: The New Wave of Community-Driven Wellness.”

His presentation reflected the ongoing transition of wellness from individually focused services toward the creation of environments and communities that support long-term health and quality of life. The approach also connects wellness with Lifestyle, Healthspan and Real Estate Development, creating an ecosystem designed to enhance quality of life while generating viable and sustainable business opportunities.

“Scaling Smart”: Building Strong Wellness Business Systems Before Global Expansion

Another key topic was “Scaling Smart: Franchise Models Linking Asia to the Middle East,” presented by Dr. Abdallah Elias, an expert in Franchise Strategy and Business Growth with more than 26 years of experience across the GCC, Levant, Africa and Europe.

The presentation addressed the challenges faced by wellness and healthcare entrepreneurs seeking to expand from domestic markets into international markets. Particular emphasis was placed on maintaining standards, quality and brand identity through the development of a Scalable Business Model.

Key considerations ranged from Franchise Architecture, Operational Frameworks and Business Model Optimization to Leadership Alignment, with the objective of creating robust business systems capable of supporting sustainable growth across markets with different cultural, economic and operational contexts.

AI and CGM Transform Wellness Through Personalized Health

From the technology and data perspective, Ms. Bude Sethaputra-Piccin, Founder & CEO of Silicon Valley-based platform Tastermonial, presented “Glucose Spikes in Non-Diabetics: Using AI and CGM to Personalize Nutrition for Healthy Aging.”

Her presentation demonstrated how Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can be combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform glucose data into personalized metabolic insights.

The concept represents an important shift within the wellness industry  moving away from health recommendations based primarily on population averages toward a deeper understanding of how each individual responds to food, meal timing and lifestyle patterns. Such insights can support increasingly personalized and measurable approaches to health and wellness management.

“Insight 360” Brings Together Experts to Reimagine the Future of Wellness

The session concluded with the panel discussion “Insight 360 – Wellness Reimagined: Intelligence, Community & Scalable Growth,” featuring experts from a diverse range of disciplines, including Mr. Anthony Jude Tan, Dr. Filippo Ongaro, Dr. Abdallah Elias, Mr. Vasu Surattiantra, Ms. Bude Sethaputra-Piccin, Associate Professor Dr. Wean Sin Cheow, and Assistant Professor Dr. Andrew Stotz.

The panel connected a broad spectrum of topics  from Longevity, Personalized Health, AI, Data and Community to Entrepreneurship and International Business Expansion  with the aim of exploring how health and wellness innovations can generate meaningful outcomes for individuals while simultaneously supporting the development of scalable and sustainable businesses.

The discussion underscored the growing convergence between healthcare, technology and business, as the global wellness industry increasingly evolves from individual services and products into interconnected ecosystems driven by data, innovation, communities and new business models.

H.E.A.T. International Congress 2026 Advances the Global Longevity and Wellness Agenda

The 10th H.E.A.T. International Congress on Wellness Management 2026, organized by H.E.A.T. Academy, was held from 20 - 22 August 2026 under the theme “Self-Mastery of Longevity and Wellness.”

Led by Assistant Professor Dr. Patana Teng-umnuay, Founder & President of H.E.A.T. Academy, the international congress brought together faculty members, physicians, researchers and experts from around the world to deliver keynote addresses, lectures and knowledge-sharing sessions across a wide range of disciplines.

The congress covered key areas shaping the future of health and wellness, including Longevity Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, Biohacking, Culinary Nutrition, Cancer, Biology of Aging and Aesthetic Medicine, providing an international platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration while highlighting the increasingly interconnected roles of medicine, technology, innovation and business in shaping the future of the global wellness economy.

 

Source : Dhurakij Pundit University