The Patriotic Burmese Physicians

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

I admire great physicians

Since I was in the kindergarten

One treated my septic skin inflammation

Another prevented me from rabies infection

I did not have to pay any thing

They treated me out of compassion.

(Service, Sympathy and Humanity are he Hallmarks of Burmese

Medical Graduates as this Logo of IM 2 Displays)

I look upon medicine as a noble profession

Saintly sincere sympathetic people are in session

They are there to help the distressed population

They will not harm any body for remuneration

They will treat their patients with utmost attention

They can do no wrong neglecting personal ambition.

(Rangoon General Hospital, RGH)

I have heard of Colonel Min Sein

He was the Dean and Professor of Medicine

He taught and practiced the profession

With utmost care and Cetana with perfection

He encouraged sport and health of the nation

He was indeed one of the best in our profession.

(Independence Monument, Bandoola Square, Yangon, Myanmar)

Daw Yin May was Min Sein’s wife and partner

She was the first Burmese female OG professor

She delivered babies and trained future gynaecologists

The women diseases were her terrain and specifics

She maintained the standard of O and G in the country

She was the mother of Burma’s OG and its specialty.

(Dr Ba Than M.B.(Calcutta), FRCSE, FACS, FICS, Professor of

Surgery, Anatomy, Forensic Medicine; Dean and Rector of Medicine)

Dr Ba Than could claim a niche spot

As the doyen of Burmese medical lords

He had been a surgeon, professor and what not?

He had practiced surgery, medical education and taught

He was examiner in surgery and anatomy in the nation

Many future surgeons and anatomists were inspired by him.

(University of Medicine 1, Pyay Road Campus, Yangon)

Colonel Min Sein followed Burma’s government to Simla

To avoid cruelty and persecution of the Japanese invaders

But, U Ba Than remained to serve his people in Burma

It was during the World War II and a sorrowful saga

He was investigated by the British when they came

He said he would treat his Burmese patients all the same.

(University of Medicine 1, Lanmadaw, Previously Medical College

of the University of Rangoon, the Oxford of the East)

He was acquitted of all the charges against the British

He was praised for being ethical and empathic with patriotic spirit

He continued working as surgeon and Dean of Medical College

Besides teaching surgery, anatomy and forensic medicine of late

He played Burmese xylophone more than an amateur

He was good at the Burmese music as a maestro teacher.

(General Aung San During the Japanese Occupation)

Many doctors joined General Aung San during 2^nd World War

Dr Maung Maung Gyi, Dr Hla Han, Dr Chiang among others

They sacrificed their lives in the fight for independence of Burma

They together organized the Burma Army Medical Corps for better

That looked after the independence fighters and soldiers of the nation

It’s one of the achievements of the Burma Army in the nation building.

(The Old Lake-Khone Building where Premedical Subjects were Taught

For IM 1 Students of Mediciine)

Dr Maung Maung Gyi relinquished the army for the WHO directorate

He later became the Dean and Rector of Mandalay Medical College

He worked tirelessly until the ripe age of over seventy until retired

Both the military and civil medical worlds have profited from his endeavors

He did not care for his personal wealth or what so ever

It’s a trait the great Burmese patriotic physician had preferred.

(The Funeral Cortege for Slain Burmese Soldiers During the Civil War)

Dr Hla Han became the Director of the Burma Army Medical Corps

He enlarged it and promoted it to be a great healing force

Not only for the soldiers and their families, but also for the country

It looks after the people’s health wherever it has the authority

Many great physicians and surgeons have emerged from its territory

Examples are Colonels Myint Aung, Tin Ohn, Pho Myat Ya and Lakshmipathy.

(Colonel Dr Ko Ko Gyi M.B., B.S. (Rangoon), Internist and Psycchiatrist

(American Boards Certified, First Dean and Rector of IM 2)

The Defence Services General Hospital was the centre of medical education

It served as the teaching hospital for No. 2 Institute of Medicine

All its doctors taught medical students from 1964 to the 1990s

Until the IM 2 moved to the North Okkalappa campus lately

Then, DSGH serves as the teaching hospital for the Army Medical Academy

Burma has thus gained two medical colleges out of one medical facility.

(University of Medicine 2, North Okkalappa, Yangon)

Many doctors have fought against the foreign enemies

Against the Japanese Fascists and Kuo Ming-Tan (KMT) invasion

Dr Hla Shwe was in charge of a ward in RGH during Japanese Occupation

He treated and protected Burmese Resistance Fighters in his jurisdiction

He was student leader fighting the British Colonialists before graduating

It’s a great loss for the nation as he died plane wrecked during further education.

(Base Military Hospital, BMH, Maymyo Now Pyin Oo Lwin)

Drs Soe Thein and Tin U joined the Burma Army to fight the KMT

They were sent to the front line in the Shan territory

Soe Thein fought day and night with passion

He was separated from his medical unit in an operation

He had to hide for several days before being saved by the Army

He was ready to sacrifice his life and limb for the country.

(Professor of Surgery Dr Kyee Paw and Head of Forensic Medicine

Dr Maung Maung Taik)

Dr Tin U commanded a mobile hospital in Mongton area

He treated the wounded soldiers and civilians together

He operated on the seriously wounded even under fire

Brigadier Kyaw Zaw gave cover before it’s was over

He sacrificed his life and welfare only second to the patient’s life

All our medical personnel should be glad and take pride.

(General Aung San Speaking at Panglong Conference)

Many doctors have sacrificed their lives in the civil war conflicts

Mon Htaw gave his life in the fight near Pho Thar Aung Bridge

He was awarded the Thura Hero Medal as befitting his courage

No other medical officer has followed his example to date

Dr Maung Kaung may be graded as equating him in his fate

Maung Kaung was killed in an ambush while exhuming the renegade.

(The KMT Invaders in the Shan State of Burma)

Communists do have many medical doctors on their side

I’m not arguing whether they are right or wrong to decide

Drs Nath or Tun Maung and Nyan Chit were certainly there

They were good doctors politically motivated and declared

Their belief in socialism for the progress and prosperity of Burma

They gave up their lives for their belief without a bother.

(Brigadier Kyaw Zaw Who Repelled the KMT Forces

from the Shan State)

I have been fortunate to be familiar with these great doctors

Their names strike a note in my heart whenever I hear

I knew some of them personally and some I have seen

They have been my role models and heroes of medicine

Including Saw Mra Aung, Shwe Zan, Kyee Paw, Ko Ko Gyi

They are perennial patriots and physicians shining in the country.

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

26.04.2009 (original)