Profiles in Medical Education: 1. Dr Pe Thein

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

Prologue

I know Dr Pe Thein ( Sayagyi Dr U Pe Thein in Burmese) since 1970 when

we were members of the Basic Science Group in the Third Medical Education

Seminar in Rangoon. He was friendly and unassuming to the juniorteachers like me

(I was only 30 years of age then). He once came to my departmentat Institute of

Medicine 2,Mingaladon, asking a reprint of the article I wrote in the IM2

Annual Magazine entitled, “Examination.”

Dr Pe Thein M.B., B.S. (Rangoon), Ph.D. (Dunelhm or

New Castle-Upon-Tyne)

Dr Pe Thein had since occupied many

positions in medical education in Burma, starting with the post of professor of

physiology (and Biochemistry) in Mandalay, then Rector of Institute of Medicine,

Mandalay, Director-General of Health, Director-General of Medical Education

and Minister for Health in 1988. But, he remained a friend and teacher to me as

a doctor and medical educationist.

Profile

The Oxford Dictionary of Current English defines a profile as the outline of a

person’s face seen from one side or a short description of a person that attracts

public notice. Dagon Taryar, the famous writer, poet and literary critic, once

wrote a book in the 1950s about the prominent people of Burma in politics,

poetry, arts and administration named “Yoke Pon Hlwar” or “Profiles’ .It included

such personalities like Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing, Bogyoke Aung San, U Nu,

Thakhin Than Tun etc. It was a hit. Dr Maung Maung, the late President of Burma

and a confidante of U Ne Win, also wrote a book entitled “Profiles of Burma”

that included Thakhin Than Tun, U Nu, U Ba Swe, U Kyaw Nyein, U Ne Win etc.

(Dr Pe Thein's Parents U San Pe and Daw Mya Thein)

It was in English and published in the 1960s. Those profiles were brief descriptions

of the people that were most visible or salient .These profiles were not complete

biographies. I also will write about Saygyi U Pe Thein that strikes vividlyto me orto

our friends and colleagues. It is an impression and a true caricature that is unbiased.

First Acquaintance

I first heard of Dr Pe Thein’s name when I joined the Branch Medical Faculty

(BMF) at Mandalay in 1956. I was studying organic chemistry, biochemistry,

physiology and anatomy for the first time and physiology was difficult. The

prescribed textbook for physiology then was McDowall’s Textbook of Physiology.

The senior students who were in the third year like Drs Ohn Maung and Set Htwar

told us that Dr Pe Thein taught physiology to be easy and understandable so they

passed at the first attempt. “Where is Dr Pe Thein now?”, I asked.

(Dr Pe Thein with His Father U San Pe, Brother Dr Pe Nyun and

Sister Dr Khin Khin Aye)

“He is now studying for Ph.D. in physiology in UK”, they answered. I was

thus eager to meet him in person that did not realize until 1970 when I had to

examine 2^nd MB students in Mandalay as the co-examiner from IM2.

Dr Pe Thein was back from UK then and he was professor and head of

physiology department.

He initiated the firstpostgraduate course in Burma for M.Sc. in physiology

since 1967.And I knew that the results of his research in gastric secretion were

incorporated in the B.D.S.’s Textbookof Physiology and Biophysics. His name

was mentioned in that textbook. Moreover,a physiologist professor from the

University of New Castle-Upon-Tyne asked meabout him when I was in London

from 1966 to 1969. It was an honor for all Burmeseand we're proud of him!

A Good Teacher

Dr Pe Thein joined the teaching profession since his graduation in the early

1950s without even training as a house surgeon. In those days, medical graduates

did not work in teaching positions as the general practice outside the medical

schoolwas so lucrative. He was one of the few exceptions ( Dr Pe Toe,

Dr Shwe Ban also) and he whole-heartedly took up the teaching job doing its

chores every day. He did research as it interested him and so he went for a Ph.D.

degree at the University of New Castle-Upon-Tyne.

(Dr PeThein (4th from Left and Wife Dr Kyu Kyu Swe(3rd from left)

with his PG Students and Staff at Institute of Medicine Mandalay)

I heard that he immersed totally in research and did it both day

and night there for more than 3 years. That dedication made him famous for his

research besides gaining a Ph.D. and made him open the first postgraduate

course in physiology at Mandalay.. He had thus produced so many physiologists

and biochemists since then. His PG students included Professor Hla Yee Yee,

Professor Htay Htay (Monywa), Professor Margaret Mya etc.

He had taught so many undergraduates as witnessed by the IMM. He used to

teach even while he was the Director-General of Health or Medical Education.

Yes, some of his PG students are also keen in medical education as is seen by

the interest and activities of people like Professor Hla Yee Yee and Professor

Win May. He sent a botanist for medical education training in USA and that

scholar is now assuming the post of Director of Medical Science (Education)

Department in Rangoon.

A Devoted Researcher

Many Burmese scholars after coming back from abroad failed to continue their

research activities in Burma due to various reasons, lack of facilities and support

being two major problems. But, it is not for Dr Pe Thein. He not only continued

his research, he expanded them as departmental activities and projects, as PG

programme and as collaborative activities with clinicians. This was evident by his

many papers read at research conferences and seminars. I heard that he always

spent time in his laboratory and sometimes he did not know what was happening

in the outside world.

(Branch Medical Faculty at Mandalay, 1953 to 1958)

Once I wished to see him when I was in Mandalay and went to his Office in

Physiology Department, but he was not there and I had to see him in his laboratory.

I knocked his door and he came out and asked,” Dr Maung Maung Nyo,

what do you want from me? Why are you here?”, I answered,” Saya,

It’s 2^nd MB examination viva voce and you are the chief examiner for Physiology!

I’m co-examiner in anatomy.” Only then, he said,” Oh, That’s true.

What time is it now?” “It’s 2 PM and I just finished lunch.

What about you, Saya?”. “Oh, I have not finished yet, I must eat now.”

A Good Administrator

Many critics and colleagues of him said that he was a loose and liberal

administrator and he was interrogated for his slack in administration during his

rector-ship, but I noticed that his departments remained intact and each improved

not only during his headship, but also after he left. That shows he was nurturing

the departments correctly to be viable and vibrant. For example, look at the

Physiology Department at IMM and it is till thriving. It has evolved into two

departments: physiology and biochemistry respectively. He made these

departments filled with qualified persons. That shows his foresight and faculty too.

He was a strict disciplinarian and I had to chair various PE ( Preliminary Enquiry)

and DE ( departmental Enquiry) boards when he became the Director-General of

Medical Education as he appointed me to investigate into various irregularities

occurring in his Department and medical institutes. He was lenient, of course.

He would give directions to correct the lax in disciplines and faults in their functions,

but he never sack the person or persons concerned. There was only one person

he sacked as that lecturer was so rude and rowdy to the extent of physically

challenging his superiors in Mandalay.

A Gallant Academician

U Pe Thein was sometimes accused to be soft, but he was very firm when it came

to maintaining ethical standards. I still remember when he asked us what to do

with doctors lax in medical ethics and good conducts. We suggested him to educate

them first, then to make enquiries and reinforce as necessary. He immediately

distributed prints of medical ethics and codes of conduct for medical practitioners

as DGHS. He also resisted the wishes of his superior to readmit a medical student

who was expelled for a serious felony in one institute of medicine. He provided us

with whatever we needed for effective teaching at the Institute of Medicine 1

departments at Prome Road when he became the Minister for Health. He was

friendlier to us than when he was DG or Professor of Physiology! He initiated

many medical education workshops too.

A Kind Person

Once, a friend of mine in Pegu requested me to help his eldest son studying at IMM

to be transferred to Rangoon as the other two were with me at IM 2, Rangoon.

I wrote a letter to Dr Pe Thein about it and he recommended the transfer as he

was the Rector at IMM. Dr Ko Ko Gyi, my neighbor and friend in Yangon, told me

that his wife was a graduate without a job and their children were grown up and

independent. So his wife looked for a suitable job as she was an old B.A.

Dr Ko Ko Gyi requested help from Dr Pe Thein who was Minister for Health

and Education then. He immediately appointed her as a senior assistant teacher

in Yangon. He sent many of his old pupils abroad to study too. I was fortunate

to be provided with foreign exchange when I went to China with writers’

delegation. The ministry of health issued me US dollars and allowances for that

trip when Dr Pe Thein was the minister.

He did not promote me, of course. It's understandable.But I pleaded

with him to promote some of my teachers and friends during his ministry.

We succeeded in creating a department of biochemistry in each institute of

medicine and in proposing to confer professorship to a senior biochemist

in Mandalay.

A Fortunate Family Man

I heard that Dr Pe Thein was very popular with female students of BMF when

I was there, but I did not hear anything lurid about his love story that is bad.

There is a romantic story in that a medical student beauty waited for him from

her 2^nd MB days to her graduation in 1960 but he did not remember her

when he came back from UK in the early 1960s. She left Burma for good and

he was eventually married to the love of his life.

(Dr Pe Thein and Wife Daw Kyu Kyu Swe M.B., B.S.(Rangoon),

MRCOG (London), D.Obst.RCOG (London), FRCOG (London)

It was said that she provided as his wife all the needs for their home besides

giving birth to their child. What he does now is read, research, write, eat, sleep

and do merits for the next life to be as good as is now or better. How fortunate he is!

Epilogue

I’m writing about him from the perspective of medical education and not from the

political aspect. He was a devout party man during the reign of Burma Socialist

Programme Party and I do not know whether he was right or wrong.

And he was unexpectedly appointed as the Minister for Health and Education

during the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) Rule. He was also

the Director of Universities Training Corps as a full colonel.

Are these posts significant in his medical education career? I do not know.

(University of Medicine Mandalay 2002 to Date)

What I know is he was a devoted physiologist, teacher, researcher and

medical educationist. May Sayagyi Dr Pe Thein live a long healthy life for

over a hundred years!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

17.04.2009