Remembering President Ma

This morning, when I opened my e-mail, there was some sad (though not untimely) news: A student from long ago informed me that Dr. Ma Xu, a former president of what is now Peking University Health Science Center, had died on July 8.

In 1983, President Ma sent me a letter asking me to teach research writing at what was then Beijing Medical College. I then taught there for 2 school years. I still have the letter.

Most of my students at Beijing Medical College were professors or lecturers. President Ma also took my course. Some people told him, “You’re too old to take the course. The space should go to someone younger.” But he replied, “I’m the former president of the medical college. If I’d like to take the course, I’ll take the course.”

President Ma was an excellent example to others in the course. Some class members would say, “I’m more than 50 years old. I’m too old to learn this material.” But then others would reply, “But Dr. Ma is learning this material, and he’s 70 years old.”

Indirectly, my teaching in Beijing led to my having a major role in the China Medical Board program in writing and editing. And indirectly, that role led to my involvement in AuthorAID. And so, in a way, President Ma was a grandfather of AuthorAID.

The funeral for President Ma, who lived from 1914 to 2011, will be on July 22. I hope you will join me in remembering this remarkable man.

Barbara