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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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BMA-NA twelfth annual meeting(2001) was held from august 4th evening to 6th morning at the Sheraton convention center in Atlantic City. Dr. Naidu hosted a reception dinner at
the Trump tower. There were 17 people attending.
There were twenty-two physicians (Drs. Chan Aung, Millan Baidya, Katherine Batunkyi, Saw Batunkyi, H. Chawla, Jimmy Chao, Jennifer Chu, N. Essa, G.B. Krishna, Micheal Min T. Kyi, R. Naidu, Aung Pwint, P. Sarin, M. Sheikh, S. Soni, Collins P. Sein, P. Talwar, S. Ting, B. Ting, Oung Than, Kyaw Win, Than Win.).registered for the meeting. The meeting was called to order by Dr. S. Ting the current president. After the self-introductions of those in attendance, a report by the president about last year's agenda and accomplishments was presented. Much of what was reported is on our web site on.
A discussion ensued about the best way to help the newly arrived medical graduates obtain residencies. Dr. Chan Aung and Dr. Collins Sein brought up the issue of needing high scores to get into residencies. Dr. Talwar suggested compiling a list of educators who are currently in residency programs all over the U.S.
Those present were:
Dr. Than Win, Internal Medicine at Cook County in Chicago.
Dr. Talwar , Radiology at Sandwich Community Hospital in Sandwich Illinois.
Dr. Stan Ting, Pediatrics/Allergy-Immunology at Texas Tech in El Paso Texas.
Dr. Chawla , Pediatrics at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Jennifer Chu, Physiatry at University of Penn in Philadelphia.
We are seeking all the others who are currently in teaching institutions to add to the above list.
Group studies are the best and cheapest way to achieve high scores. We are compiling regions where graduates can meet to study together. The most recent graduates who just finished the examinations and are in residency or just recently finished their residencies would be a resource for those newly arrived graduates. Drs. Chan Aung, Aung Thein and Collins P. Sein were in attendance and will form the nucleus of this support group. We are recruiting more people to participate and guide the newcomers.
The newcomers need clinical exposure since clinical medicine is very different and part 111 requires patient interview and physical. We are recruiting practitioners to assist them in this area.
Alternative paths to earn a living and enter into the medical field through the back door should be encouraged. There is a tremendous cultural resistance to move into paramedical fields including Physician Assistant, Pharmaceutical industry, Respiratory Therapy, Laboratory Technician as well as research assistants. Counsel to enter these fields has been met by resistance and worse as degrading or unwillingness to allow them the same stature and opportunity. Some resources and contacts to these areas are listed on our web site.
A discussion ensued about the cultural resistance and the need for mentors in the process of acculturation. The major areas of problems were recognized as: - Time concept, Americans work on linear time not the Asian timelessness. We are asking for auxiliary members and adult children to help these newcomers adopt this time concept. Ah Nar De does not work well here. Incidences of unreasonable demand for others' time were mentioned and seeming unconcern for prolonged dependency on sponsors which lead to misunderstanding and accusations of snobbishness and unwillingness to help.
Another area of difference is the concept of responsible adulthood. Asians rely on the extended family unit and friends throughout our life span. This is what is good about our culture. But, a 30 something that is still physically dependent is looked down on by the American establishment. When the host or sponsor brings this issue up there is a great misunderstanding. Americans frown upon adult dependency and this fact needs to be made clear in a firm but tactful way.
Another area is financial responsibility. The American economy based on capitalism and self-reliance is quite alien to the Burmese. To make your own wealth not because you need to but because you are capable of doing so, needs to be made clear to the new comers. A concept of se-ta-na only to the needy and disabled but not for the able bodied of sound mind needs to be clarified to them.
Another area is the " Burmese Mentality" of needing to be "pin't de" or begged to participate in any occasion. Shyness and timidity and humility are not considered positive attributes in America. Offering your talents and services without being asked and coming forward with new ideas and suggestions, assertiveness in defending oneself are considered positive attributes. Too much subservience will be taken advantage of.
MEMBERSHIP Drive.
We need everyone of Burmese origin to participate. We are not a political organization!! We have no political coalition with any governmental bodies. But, to be an organization we need to get legal clearance both here and in Burma and Thailand. WE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND PERMISSION OF THESE GOVERNMENTS AND CONTINUE TO EXIST!!
Dr. Jennifer Chu stated that she was told that our organization was giving money to the Burmese government. All our assistance to the people had been in kind and directly to the target persons but with the knowledge of the government without which the receiving parties dare not accept. We expatriates, of all people, should understand this! We go to the MMA meeting to give lectures on topics of our areas of expertise. Dr. San Aye goes frequently to perform eye sugary in Sagaing under the auspices of Sayadaw. Our past president Dr. Samuels had been to the Mae Tot clinic three times in the past 2 years to teach the backpack medics and to bring supplies and to assess the needs.
Dr. Naidu stated that we must do three things to bring up membership.
1. Change Perception of our organization as being pro- Burmese Government.
2. Run the organization like a business with clear benefits to members considering hiring a secretary.
3. Transfer the leadership to the younger generation with the older ones serving only as mentors and emeritus lifelong members.
All medical and paramedical professionals including dentists, nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, respiratory therapists, pharmaceutical reps, medical research assistants and all diagnostic and technical professionals are being recruited. We are also recruiting the second-generation medical and paramedical professionals.
Presentations were made by Drs. Than Win, Stan Ting and Jennifer Chu.
Dr. Than Win is at Cook County Hospital and has been involved in HIV-AIDS project in Burma. He attended the U.N. section on HIV in June 2001. According to the data obtained from screening among the military recruits, I.V. drug users and medical professionals in 5 regions, the conservative estimate of HIV infected people in Burma is 3.4 % of the population of 48 million. The enormity of the problem is staggering !! General Khin Nyunt finally acknowledged needing help. Currently UNICEF and WHO are severely underfunded. The funding is targeted at education and prevention and our help is needed to assist the organizations in these efforts and developing a National Strategic Plan. The crisis is considered a national security threat. Current fund allocation by the government is only 2-3 % of GDP compared to other Asian countries, which allocate much more. Johns Hopkins and WHO had been in Burma for the last 8 years studying the issue. Non Governmental Organizations around the world are in liaison with us.
Our role is for donation drive here to implement measures by the UN joint plan. Compared to Cambodia, which has 4% -infected people, their governmental funding is 10 times that of Burma.
We need to write for grants from various charitable foundations and drug companies. We can sponsor health care workers to train in the care of HIV-AIDS patients. They will be here for 3-6 months and we can help by providing room and board for them. Funds are needed for post exposure prophylaxis for the health care workers.
Contact Dr. than Win at 708-839-0657 if you can help with,
1. Sponsor Health care worker.
2. Hospice for already ill in Burma.
3. Healthcare worker evaluation and prophalaxis.
The whole WHO report and funding proposals are posted on our web site.
Dr. Stan Ting presented the progress at the Mae Tao clinic in Mae Sot for Dr. Samuels who could not attend the meeting. The whole report is on our web site. We are doing the Malaria fund drive and clean water project.
The latest communications from Dr. Cynthia Maung and financial statement are posted on our web site.
Dr. Jennifer Chu gave a brief Video presentation of her latest invention in pain management for subacute and chronic neuromuscular pain. The video was aired on Philadelphia television station and was the original prototype of her invention. The treatments were based on her finding during Electomyographic examinations that, patients experience pain relief. She is still in the research stage and working on refining and attractive packaging of the instrument and to obtain FDA approval. Kudo's to Dr. J. Chu. We need to show that, few as we are, we can contribute to advances in medicine especially in bridging the gap between Eastern spiritual and experiential (soft) medicine and Western empirical and scientific (hard) medicine.
We had a wonderful gathering with the Tri-state ( New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania ) Burmese association. The food was like being back in Burma with all the curries, salads, condiments and desserts! The weather even obliged with a little sprinkle and heat! The entertainment was literally out of this world. Mar Mar Aye was at her usual excellence, a very special welcome surprise indeed! The traditional Burmese dances performed by Marla Bu were very professional for one so young and brought up in New York! Burmese Rap music was offered by very talented youngsters. Dr. Aung Khin performed Thaing, the Burmese Martial arts and Po Sein ________dance .We closed by singing Burmese oldies.
Dr. S. Ting presented the Mae Tao Clinic and the Malaria project to the group.
Besides home cooked dishes, food was catered from Rangoon Restaurant in Philadelphia owned by Daw Cynthia Pe Kyaw and Daw Mi Mi who donated 100 $ to the malaria fund. If you want authentic Burmese food, that is the place to go.
08-05-2001
Business Meeting
Present were,
Dr. Talwar
Dr. Stan Ting
Dr. Bea Ting
Dr. Susan K. Soni
Dr. Than Win
Dr. Naidu
Dr. Baidya
Dr. Aung Khin
Dr. Aung Pwint
Dr. G. B. Krishna
Dr. Chan Aung
Dr. Najmi Sheikh
Dr. Collins P. Sein
Dr. Michael Min T. Kyi
Dr. Kyaw Win
Agenda.
Election of a new president elect since Dr. Baidya abdicated for a younger member. Dr. Stan Ting nominated Dr. Than Win for the position seconded by Dr. Talwar. There was no discussion from the floor and all members present unanimously elected Dr. Than Win.
A discussion as to the frequency of the meeting was made. Since attendance had been erratic and poor it was suggested whether the meeting should be held every other year in stead of yearly. Most members prefer yearly to give more options to various regional organizations to participate as well as to develop a momentum.
Locations
Dr. Soni proposed Chicago, but after discussion and input from the younger generation, Baltimore area was selected as the venue for next year meeting. Dr. Michael Minthawkyi will serve as the contact person for upstate New York, Drs. Chan Aung and Dr. Collins P. Sein for Baltimore area, Dr. Than Win for the Chicago area, Dr. Jimmy Chao for California,
Drs. S and B. Ting for Texas and Dr.Oung Than for Pennsylvania area.
Please mark your calendar for August 2,3 and 4, 2002. Details will be announced in the February News letter and posted on the web site. |
