District Matching Grant Project in Thailand Completed

MAE TAO CLINIC PROJECT COMPLETED
January 15, 2026
 
On January 15, 2026, Mae Tao Clinic in Thailand hosted a Zoom call to mark the receipt of all the new equipment for their Neonatal unit acquired with the collaborative support of Rotary.  Inspired and developed by former Queen's Meds student and current OBGYN resident at the University of Ottawa, Meghan Jenkins, during her practical field experience at the clinic in 2024, the Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac took the lead in bringing together Rotary resources in Canada and Thailand to acquire a recommended list of specialized equipment to improve the care available and improve the neonatal outcomes at MTC.
  
 
Together with Thai-based project leader Jerry Nelson from the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai Airport, Mae Tao Clinic founder Dr. Cynthia Maung was on-hand with MTC staff to thank Rotary for the donation which includes a new state-of-the-art incubator, infant CPAP machine and accessories, 2 new infusion pumps and a supply of new Amni hooks.  With the addition of this new equipment, the clinic is much better prepared to successfully treat pre-mature newborn infants with life-threatening health issues.
    
 
Primary support for the project came from generous donations made by K-F Rotary member Dr. John Cowan and the Barber Family Charitable Foundation, with other donations received from individual and corporate donors in both Canada and Thailand.  All funds raised in Canada (US$ 7,236) were matched dollar-for-dollar by a Rotary Foundation grant from District 7040.  Tax receipts and funds transfer support were provided by Erle Allan Trust and Inter Pares.  Collaborative administrative support in Thailand came from District 3360.
        
Meeting Dr. Cynthia in Ottawa, July 2025             
Meghan with Douglas Tanton (L) & Dr. John Cowan (R)
 
 
   
Thanks from Dr. Meghan Jenkins:

Dear friends and colleagues,

I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for the role you played in bringing this wonderful project to life. What began as an idea shaped by mentorship, generosity, and shared values is now complete, thanks to your collective support. Through your generosity, commitment, and trust, we were able to purchase everything on the equipment and resource list that Dr. Lily and I crafted together. Seeing that shared vision fully realized is both humbling and deeply rewarding.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to the Mae Tao Clinic staff, whose daily work and insight grounded this project in real clinical need. A very special thank you to Dr. Lily, whose leadership, clarity, and partnership shaped the project from the very beginning — this work would not exist in its current form without her guidance and collaboration.

I am profoundly grateful to the Barber Foundation and to Dr. John Cowan, whose generous support as our two largest donors made this project possible. I would also like to extend special thanks to Don Polk, whose leadership was instrumental in coordinating and championing the Rotary Club’s involvement from the beginning. My sincere appreciation as well to Dr. Cynthia for her leadership of the Mae Tao Clinic and for her continued mentorship and encouragement, and to the Rotary Club for your enthusiasm, generosity, and commitment to seeing this work through.

I would also like to apologize that I was unable to attend the ceremony on Wednesday. I was on call and managing patients at the hospital in Ottawa at the time, and I was very sorry to miss being there with many of you to celebrate. Even from afar, it meant a great deal to know the project was being marked and shared together.

This project was inspired by all of you, and I am genuinely excited about what lies ahead. I look forward to continuing my relationships with the Rotary Club, the Barber Foundation, and Mae Tao Clinic in the years to come, and to finding new ways to work together in service, learning, and partnership.

With my deepest thanks and appreciation,
 
Meghan Jenkins
Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident
University of Ottawa
 
From Dr. Lily Sumyat, head of Neonatal Unit at Mae Tao Clinic:
 
Dear Meghan,
 
Thank you very much for your kind words. It means a great deal to me and to our clinic to see your vision come full circle. The neonatal equipment we now have is truly a lifeline for fragile newborns, reducing mortality and easing the burden on families who might otherwise face overwhelming costs.
 
Your internship work- especially the perinatal reviews and your determination to find solutions- was the spark that inspired this effort. The memory of the very premature twins who had to share one incubator remains with us, and knowing that future babies will now have the care they need is a lasting testament to your dedication.
 
I really remember you and the impact you made here. I hope we will meet again soon, this time you as an OBGYN. It makes me very happy to think of crossing paths again in that way.
 
We are deeply grateful for your role in making this possible. Your contributions continues to strengthen our clinic's capacity to serve migrant and local families, and its impact will echo for years to come.
 
With heartfelt thanks,
Lily