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13th BMA-NA Annual Meeting Report(2002)
12th BMA-NA Annual Meeting Report (2001)
Myanmar Medical Association Meeting
11th BMA-NA Annual Meeting Report (2000)
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I. Introduction
II. Petition from the President
III. New Officers
IV. Vision for the Future
V. Closing Remarks
VI. Attendees
I. Introduction
The meeting was held in Diamond Bar, California, on August first and second 2000. Dr. Min Soe hosted the meeting with typical Burmese hospitality and generosity. The accommodations were at a very well
appointed hotel with oriental motifs including a marble Buddha in front. We were treated to a genuine home cooked Burmese meal at Dr. Min Soe’shome Friday the 31st of July with balachaung, chinbaung gyaw, kyattha hin, toe saya, pe hin cho, samoosa, closing with shwe kyi and kaut
nyin tout. With good company , say-ta-na and delicious food the meeting was off to a good start.
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II. Petition from the President
The president, Dr. Samuels spoke about his two years tenure and his concerns about where the association is
headed. He had been to the Mae Tao Clinic i.e., Dr. Cynthia Maung’s refugee clinic 3 times in the two years and urged us to help the Burmese refugees.
Contact:
Dr. Cynthia Maung
Mae Tao Clinic.
PO BOX 67
Mae Sot, Tak 63110
Thailand
win7@loxinfo.co.th
A proposal to donate $10,000USD to Dr. Cynthia’s clinic from the special funds was made by Dr. S. Ting and after much discussion from the floor it was unanimously agreed. The donation is to be in memory of Dr. Kyawt Mu Khin. $10000.00 was wired to Dr. Cynthia’s clinic on 09-08-00.
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III. New Officers
New officers for 2000-2002 were chosen according to the association by-laws and the new officers are:
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IV. Vision for the Future
The new president proposed as his vision for the association as four folds at the executive committee meeting on Sunday at Dr. Min Soe’s house. Attendees were: Drs. Stan amp; Bea Ting, Dr. Minn Soe, Dr. GB Krishna, Dr. Eugene Taw, Dr. Michael K. L. Maung, Dr. Aye Aye Cho, Dr. John Fonmin, Dr. John S. Lin, Dr. San Aye, Dr. Michael Y. Tsai. Dr. Phillip Kaw. We were treated to delicious Mohinga by Mrs. Min Soe. His goals which were discussed were:
1. Education
2. Advocacy
3. Social/Cultural
4. Economic/Charitable
1. Education
In terms of education, it is very Burmese to pursue education and continued visits to MMA meetings in Burma and organizing educational seminars, work shops, donation of electronic books, equipment, instruments, technical education and sponsoring individuals and groups to give clinics to our colleagues in Burma. The other area is to have an informational net work to help the more recent arrivals to find residencies and when appropriate to give a stipend for travel and other expenses for interviews and applications and examination fees. Members who can serve as tutors for the new arrivals to help as much as possible. To have more educational events for the members. Others paramedical fields should also be recruited and alternative professional fields explored for the more recent arrivals.
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2. Advocacy
By advocacy, to be more politically visible in America, as a group to enjoy the rights and responsibilities as U. S. citizens and as International Medical Graduates much as the Indian and Philipino organizations are. Many of our members’ children are graduating from medical schools and they should also be recruited to be a voice in the U. S. medical field.
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3. Social/Cultural
Some of us are grand parents now with our children and grand children not having too much Burmese social and cultural exposure. More cultural entertainment, food, moral and ethical values such as generosity( setana), compassion (gayuna), hospitality (ae’t woo’t kyay chin) to be planned at the meetings . There are plans afoot for international Burmese doctors’ reunion in Burma in 2002. Details will follow in the next news letters. We have people with a lot of talents in cooking, clothes making, music, visual arts, performance arts and other forms of artistic abilities who can perpetuate our social and cultural heritage. There are now several Burmese monks and monasteries and meditation centers where events can be held. There are Christian ministers and priests as well for spiritual and social needs. Sikh, Hindu and Muslim influence and diversity with which we grew up would be an antidote for our aging seniors and the young who may face discrimination for their differences. Bamasanchin would be the theme of our association.
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4. Economic/Charitable
There was a discussion to develop a registry of Burmese doctors with various primary and subspecialty expertise as a referral source for our countrymen who may feel more comfortable with familiar language and custom. This would also help the recent graduates of residencies and fellowship. Without economic soundness, we can not be a viable force. As the most economically blessed group among the Burmese immigrants we have a social obligation to help our countrymen here and back in Burma. No
matter what our sentiments are about the government, our people are suffering. The children are not getting enough to eat and health care is non existent in most cases. Life span is short. Water and air quality is frighteningly poor. We can not eat, drink and be merry without regard to the suffering of our people. We have to work with anyone to help the needy.
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V. Closing Remarks
There was a discussion for the secretary to contact all the regional associations and have an umbrella organization to have more political and economic clout. The target date to have this happen is next August 2001, the first weekend in Philadelphia or Atlantic city. The idea is to emulate our other medical associations to have a national head quarters with regional organizations with one annual membership dues and newsletter. The secretary will be the clearinghouse for all the information and communications during the year with report at the annual meeting. We need to recruit younger blood while utilizing the wisdom and time of our retired and slowing down seniors. Details about next meeting will be communicated no later than the February newsletter. Do mark your calendars for August 3, 4 and 5, 2001 for the next meeting. I will be contacting people on the eastern seaboard for ideas for Burmese entertainment and food. We were treated to Burmese Karaoke at the banquet on Saturday night. It was a lot of fun to practice Burmese again. Some of us can not read Burmese fast enough now to sing along!
There are some universities where Burmese is offered if your children are interested. U of Pennsylvania is one of those.
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VI. Attendees
| Dr. Stanislaus Ting |
Dr. Beatrice Ting |
| Dr. Solomon Samuels |
Dr. Ramarao Naidu |
| Dr. Parkash Talwar |
Dr. Gulla B Krishna |
| Dr. Minn Soe |
Dr. Michael Y. Tsai |
| Dr. Eng W. Moy |
Dr. Nyunt Lwin |
| Dr. San Aye |
Dr. John S. Lin |
| Dr. Aye Aye Cho |
Dr. Thomas W. Lee |
| Dr. Kevin K. Win |
Dr. Zaw Win Lwin |
| Dr. Phillip Kaw |
Dr. Millan C. Baidya |
| Dr. John Fonmin |
Dr. A Sinjee |
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