Welcome to the Burmese Medical Association of North America! Our team works on a daily basis to connect Burmese medical professionals across the U.S., Canada, and Burma. By holding regular meetings, annual events, and fundraising efforts, we aim to increase awareness of humanitarian issues facing Burma and bridge the communication and knowledge gap between fledging and seasoned Burmese-affiliated medical professionals.

President's New Year and Welcome Message & SUPPORT the Mae Tao Clinic

Time flies. 2009 has come to a close and we've only begun to usher in our new decade -- one wherein we hope to learn from and grow because of past events, including how our civilization affects our environment, how our behaviors, mentality, and actions affect our global and financial development, and how we respond to humanitarian crises like Cyclone Nargis whipping through Burma in 2008.

This year in September we had a very successful annual meeting in Los Angeles, in conjunction with a great medical and dental school reunion, planned and co-chaired by our past president, Dr. George Hlaing Mya, who graciously welcomed us with a dinner the Friday before the event. Our 2010 annual meeting, being hosted by our vice-president Dr. Myo Nwe, is being arranged at the Outrigger Reef in Honolulu, Hawaii. Please save the date (August 6-8, 2010).

Because of your generous contributions, the BMANA has raised nearly $30,000 in 2009 for our various educational and humanitarian efforts (visit our Humanitarian Aid site to review a list of our charities); and in accordance with our mantra, 100% of your donations directly benefit the citizenry of Burma inside and outside the country, irrespective of ethnical, political or religious background.

Thanks to the donations from the international Burmese physicians, we were able to donate medical reference books to the libraries of the University of Medicine 1 & 2 in Yangon, University of Medicine Mandalay & University of Magwe.

In addition, thanks to all our members and to the executive committee and board of directors who not only volunteers, but repeatedly donates year after year. More specifically, over the past few years, the BMANA has supported Dr. Cynthia Maung's Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot near the Thai-Burma border. Since 2008, the Mae Tao Clinic has seen a severe increase in the number of refugees and displaced people, after the Cyclone Nargis Disaster. At the same time, the world has faced a global recession and donations to the clinic have declined.

Therefore, as one of the ways to help our Burmese brothers and sisters, Dr. Cynthia Maung and the Mae Tao clinic - more than ever, needs our support. Their increasing patient load and demand for medical care has put a severe strain on the clinic's limited operating budget. The Mae Tao clinic needs $100,000 over the next year to be able to care for those who have made the treacherous journey to seek medical care from Mae Tao. Through contributions from our EC, since the Fall of 2009, we've already reached approximately $20,000. Let us come together this year to raise funds for the Mae Tao clinic. Please help those who are in dire need for our help by a tax-deductible donation to the BMANA (checks may be made to BMANA HE Fund, P.O. Box 20052, Baltimore, MD 21284).

The BMANA will always serve as a network for friends and way for us to reunite and enjoy each other's company; and as we press onward, I am looking to work with you - the BMANA members, to identify and tackle other issues and continue to hold the networking events that keep us together! Together we can achieve much more than any of us can individually. Imagine what we can achieve together in the next 5, 10, and 20 years!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

James Hsu, M.D.