Having visited and worked in Yangon on many previous visits dating back over the past 4 years, I was fortunate to have the opportunity while visiting Myanmar as part of an ongoing project to develop trauma services in Yangon in late January to take a week to travel to the three medical universities outside Yangon and spend a morning at UM2 in Yangon.
The week involved visiting at, presenting to and working with members of the Anatomy and Clinical Skills and teaching units at the University of Medicine in Mandalay, University of Medicine in Taunggyi, University of Medicine in Magway and UM2 in Yangon.
The week was a great opportunity to meet up with colleagues who had spent time with me in Cambridge at the Surgical Training Centre during the Autumn of 2019. Visiting the unbelievable sites in Mandalay, Taunggyi, Inle Lake, Magway and Bagan alongside the lectures and presentations proved to be a superb balance between travel, work and leisure and I must express my heartfelt thanks to all my hosts.
My final Sunday was spent attending Church in Yangon, and visiting the National Museum for what was sadly far too short. Another highlight on that Sunday was a visit to the house of U-Thant where I, with my two friends/colleagues were allowed to roam freely and read of the amazing life and achievements of the great man, who I remember well during his ten years as Secretary General of the United Nations.
I believe the achievements of the week include providing insight into: 1) the concepts and modern practices used in teaching undergraduate medical students using cadaveric dissection, 2) the use of cadaveric tissue in the training of surgeons and allied health professionals and 3) the use of clinical skill training for doctors in training, throughout which emphasis on the need for having respect for the dead was well received and appreciated by all concerned.
In the coming years I look forward to re-visiting all of the Medical Universities during further lecture and teaching tours in Myanmar to develop the teaching and training programmes that are currently in use and to seeing their advancement into programmes befitting their top class students and professionals.
By: ‘MrC’ Constant MA LLM MCh FRCS
Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon
Director Governance & Quality
Director Technical Management
Cambridge Surgical Training Centre
Cambridge University Health Partnership
Cambridge UK