Professor U Maung Maung Sein (1931-2021)
M.M.,B.S(Rgn),FRCS(Eng),FRCS(Edin), ChM(Liverpool)
It gives me great pleasure to write about Professor U MaungMaung Sein who had been my teacher, mentor, surgical trainer, role model and a medical educator.
I first met him in 1967 when Saya U MaungMaung Sein was transferred to the Institute of Medicine 2 as a Lecturer in the Department of Surgery and he used to teach us Surgery in the lecture theatre, in hospital wards and in the operation theatre. At that time, my relation with him was just as a medical student and a medical lecturer.
My relation with him became more and more intimate after I joined the Department of Surgery as a clinical tutor in 1971. I was warmly accepted as a member of the surgical team, a surgical trainee and later as one of his family members. I believed it would not be wrong if I designate Saya U MaungMaung Sein as my godfather.
In this article I would like to write about Professor U MaungMaung Sein from the point of view as a Medical Educator and a Medical Educationist. He was one of the very few at that time who had training in Medical Education from Canada and Australia. He brought back the new concepts of medical education and after coming back, he shared his experience, knowledge and principles of current medical education by organizing various workshops and seminars on medical education in Myanmar. In fact, he was one of the pioneers of modern medical education in Myanmar.
He (Professor U MaungMaung Sein) had a very clear vision for the future of his trainees and had systematic, well organized plans. From a very early stage of our academic careers, he tried to introduce us to medical education by appointing us as members of the secretariat in various medical education seminars and conferences. So we became aware, exposed and familiar with the terms and concepts of medical education. Later, we were selected as participants to officially attend various medical education workshops and seminars.
In surgical training, he had a peculiar way of training, quite different from traditional methods, and I believe he preferred individualized, hands-on, in-service training. Just after appointments as clinical tutors (not as postgraduate students yet), we were assigned to organize and attend various clinical meetings every week. One tutor was assigned to organize “Pathology rounds” where we had to present the clinical aspects of major surgery cases of the last two weeks,where we sent the specimen to the pathology department. We had very fruitful discussions with the senior surgical colleagues and the pathologists over the cases, mainly on the pathological aspects.
Similar meetings were “Radiology rounds “where we had to present the clinical findings of surgical cases, together with requested special X-rays and Imaging. Again, we had a lot of discussions with the surgical colleagues and the radiologists having great learning experiences. Similar meetings were done as preoperative rounds for all major cases to be put up in the operation list in the coming weeks.
I had been fortunate enough to be selected as the one and only candidate for the very first batch of M.Med.Sc Surgery programme of the Institute of Medicine 2 and Professor U MaungMaung Sein was the supervisor and trainer and I had the opportunity of one to one training by the great master surgeon. I believe Saya preferred the casual and informal teaching rather than the formal one. I had not had a single formal lecture nor seminar during the whole course of M.Med.Sc Surgery programme but the teaching was done casually during the ward rounds, outpatient clinics, operation theatre sessions and even on emergency on call duties.
To cite an example of such a teaching episode, I was on night duty in the surgical ward 1 (Emergency admission area) at Defense Services General Hospital, Saya would come into the ward around 8;00 pm and ask about new admissions. On that day, we had a case of acute abdomen; most probably an intestinal obstruction. After I reported about the case to him, we would have a discussion on the findings in the history, findings on the clinical examination, what the reasons were for the probable diagnosis and my plan of management for that particular case; at that time an open laparotomy. Then we went to see the patient together and came back to the station to continue further discussion. He asked me what could be the probable cause of obstruction in that case; which would be the most appropriate anaesthesia, appropriate incision and the intended procedure. Then we discussed a bit more in detail about possible pathologies we might encounter in that patient and how to tackle those. In a way, Saya was making me mentally and technically prepared with confidence to face the challenge.
Once the patient was called into the operation theatre, Saya would wait in the ward for about 20-30 minutes. If he did not hear any SOS from me, he would call the O T and ask if everything was going on well and if so, he would go back home. However, if I found something nasty and peculiar which might require major surgery, he would come into the operation theatre NOT to do the operation BUT to assist and let me do the operation under his guidance and supervision, a real hands-on experience.
I had the privilege to work under my Saya’s guidance, advice and supervision for 12 years continuously and I managed to work up for my M.Med.Sc Surgery and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd) during that period. Then I was transferred to the Department of Surgery, University of Medicine 1 as an Assistant Lecturer, later promoted as a Lecturer and a consultant .Saya U MaungMaung Sein was also transferred to University of Medicine 1 on promotion as the Rector and we worked closely together again.
Saya U Maung Maung Sein had a great vision and amazing plan for the future of the young surgical trainees and we managed to re-establish the link with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, U K (RCSEd UK) and University of Medicine 1, Yangon later became one of the overseas examination centres of the RCSEdUK for both the Membership MRCSEd and the Fellowship FRCSEd examinations. Saya was later, well deservedly promoted again as the Director-General of the Department of Medical Education (D G M E) of the Ministry of Health, Myanmar. During his position as a Director General of Medical Education, he tried his best to improve the progress of medical education, not only in surgery but also in all branches of medical sciences, the nursing and allied health care professions.
Because of his dedication, conviction and commitment to the progress of medical education in Myanmar he was awarded the prestigious “The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Gold Medal” in 1994.
While Saya was working as a D G M E, we had very good international relations and many visitors from abroad came to Myanmar. Whenever we had those distinguished guests, Saya would appoint me as a national counterpart and as the laison officer. Professor Sir Robert Shields, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Professor Ambroise Wasunna of WHO were a few among the distinguished visitors.
Although Saya was a workaholic deeply devoted to his work, we had many happy occasions of get-togethers of the core members of the surgical department at his house for evening drinks and dinner. We really enjoyed those occasions.
Saya Professor U MaungMaung Sein was not only a Master surgeon, but also a Philosopher and a great Mentor. He trained us to be compassionate and holistic in treating patients.
Today he would have been celebrating his 90th birthday and may I conclude my article with my birthday wish sent to Saya a few years ago.
He would be fondly missed by many of his pupils, trainees and friends allover the world.
May his soul rests in eternal peace.
27th Dec: 2021
By:
Khin Tun
MBBS (Rgn), MMedSc Surgery, FRCS (Edin), FFSTEd, FRCS(Ire), FICS
Director of Clinical Excellence, Training & Education
Pun Hlaing Hospitals, Hlaingtharyar, Yangon
