My name is Saw Poe. I am a Physician Associate, the Medical Administrator, and a Surgical Assistant across Earth Mission’s Teaching Hospital and Campus. This is my story.
Determined to Learn
Eager For More
When I was a little boy, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her I wanted to become a teacher and a doctor. But I soon realized that living in a refugee camp would prevent me from fulfilling my dream.
Although I could not enter medical school, I didn’t feel any disappointment. I tried to find a health training program in Karen State. I believed that if I couldn’t become a doctor, I would still find a way to bring healthcare to people. Thus, I decided to become a health worker.
I finished high school at the refugee camp. I went back to Karen State to do a 9 month community health worker training at a local government clinic. Following this training, I did a 4-month internship at Mae Tao Clinic. I then went to another clinic where I became a health worker. But eager to study more, I went back to do Mae Tao Clinic’s medical training for 10 months, and then public health training for 6 months.
Five years after I graduated from high school, my health director told me about Earth Mission’s 5-year Physician Associate program. I jumped on the occasion.
Joy in Learning
Before seeing patients in the PA program, we had to study about how to take patient histories, how to do physical exams, how to communicate professionally, and how to ask patients questions. We studied about the common problems that we might see at Earth Mission’s jungle clinic—problems such as fever, cough, jaundice, and diarrhea.
When we began to see the patients in the clinic, we did this every weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. I normally saw 1 patient daily. When I finished taking the patient history and physical exam and performed lab tests that I diagnosed the patient needed, I presented my patient to the doctor. The doctor would listen carefully and patiently, and corrected me if I did something wrong. At the end, I compared my assessment and treatment plan with the doctor’s assessment and treatment plan.
In the afternoon, we had lecture and reviewed the diagnoses and treatments of the patients that we saw in the clinic. We discussed the cases as a group. This was a very good and effective way for me to learn about medicine. I think it is very important to combine the theory and the practical experience in this way. I really enjoyed studying like this and I learned a lot.
I am one who likes to work in healthcare and take care of patients. I am very happy to see the patients in the clinic. For me, I like to see all kinds and ages of patients. I like to question and talk to them about their problem. At first it was very funny and difficult for me to communicate with and ask them questions. Even though we are the same culture and language, we all have different accents. This can cause problems with communication. But now I can understand them, and I know how to ask them questions.
It Takes a Team
Some of the most common diseases in the jungles are dyspepsia, worm infection, anemia, malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and vitamin deficiency.
I learned about the importance of team work at Earth Mission’s jungle clinic. For example, we saw a 3-year-old boy with kidney disease, which gave him swelling. This was a complicated case and good for us PA students and staff to discuss as a team.
At first, I thought he might have had any of these diseases: nephrotic syndrome, congestive heart failure, malnutrition, or beriberi. But after looking at his medical history, I found that he had been treated for beriberi in the past, which is a vitamin B1 deficiency. I gave him vitamin B1 and advised the family to come back in a week, or earlier if the boy had more swelling.
A few days later, the boy was admitted to our inpatient department (IPD). Our team had daily discussions on this case. We started treatment for his kidney disorder, but nothing happened.
Saw Thit, a fellow PA student, suggested another treatment and was approved by a doctor. After 2 days, the patient’s swelling decreased. Eventually, 2 weeks later, we were able to discharge the boy in better health. We also taught his parents about the treatment plan.
At the end of this case, we realized that teamwork was really helpful and necessary in our situation. We supported each other and didn't hesitate in asking for help from staff or fellow students. We believe that to provide high quality healthcare in these remote areas of Myanmar and to educate our community about public health, we need to work as a team.
Multiplying Knowledge
During our Christmas breaks, we PA students went home to work in our local clinics and report back to Earth Mission on our village area's needs.
Before I went back to my home village, I decided that I would do a 5-day training workshop. I carried 3 books there. My main idea was to share the knowledge and information, also helping others to understand the use of these books by following them as guidelines. In these workshops I shared what I learnt which is: in order to know how to diagnose, one should know how to follow the patterns of the disease. We included all kinds of healthcare staff from the village. I think it was great and helpful for these health workers.
Reaching Higher
Many years ago, it was impossible for a young guy in the jungle to become a surgeon. But a little boy wanted to be one, even though he knew it was impossible, and he never gave up on his dream. That young guy was me, Saw Poe. Earth Mission is getting me closer to my dream.
I graduated from Earth Mission’s first PA cohort. Today, I am the Medical Administrator and a Surgical Assistant at Earth Mission’s jungle clinic. I am learning surgical procedures from the surgeons handling cases at our clinic. I am grateful to them for teaching me, guiding me, believing in me, and allowing me to perform some surgical procedures on my own.
I want to be a surgeon so I can help people in the jungle who need surgical assistance to live. Many people have died in the jungle because they do not have access to healthcare, including surgery. That is why I want to be a surgeon now: I want to help people have a better chance of survival because they have access to surgical performance and high-quality healthcare. I believe that every single surgical case, whether major or just a minor cut, is performed on an equally valuable life.
I feel very privileged to be able to complete the 5-year Physician Assistant training program. I thank God, because he controls and directs my life. I would like to thank all of my teachers, leaders, donors, all of the staff at Earth Mission, and everyone who has prayed for me during this journey. I experienced life very different at Earth Mission, which eventually gave me more confidence. I hope one day I will be able to open medic training and a clinic in my village area. I would like to teach about health care and have my own training for the next generation to follow in my footsteps and help us develop quality healthcare for my Karen people.