Naga Thein Hlaing

Thein Hlaing (; also Edward Thompson Hoke Wang; 3 November 1933 – 10 August 2021), known honorifically as Naga Thein Hlaing (, ), was a Burmese surgeon. He was well known for his performance of endocrine surgery in the Naga Hills of northwestern Burma, using local anesthetic only. Since he was able to cure goitre, which local shamans could not do, Thein Hlaing was recognized by the local residents as Naga Nat (God of Naga) and was worshiped as a deity.

Naga Thein Hlaing is highly respected among Burmese doctors. His life story is still part of popular Burmese medical history, in which he is portrayed as a heroic figure.

Early life and education Thein Hlaing was born in 1933 in Thaton, Burma Province, India to a family of Chinese descent. His father wanted him to take over the family business and become a merchant, but Thein Hlaing instead chose medicine. He graduated with a MBBS degree from the University of Medicine 1, Yangon.

Career During his university years, Thein Hlaing served as a general secretary of the Medical College Students' Union in 1957 and of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) in 1960.

He worked as an assistant doctor in Myeik Township in 1962.

Without adequate surgical instruments, Thein Hlaing operated to alleviate thyroid disease, a common condition in the area, performing surgery even under trees or outside huts. The book won the National Literature Award for Fiction in 2017.