The Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) was founded to empower local communities to provide primary healthcare services to underserved populations in conflict affected areas of Burma, particularly in areas that international humanitarian organizations cannot reach. The formation of the BPHWT was led by Dr. Cynthia Maung, who has served as chairperson since its inception. Dr. Cynthia, a Karen physician who fled Burma as a result of her involvement with pro-democracy activities, initially established the Mae Tao Clinic in 1989 in Mae Sot, Thailand, for the thousands of students also forced to escape Burma at that time. Over the years, the clinic has developed into a comprehensive healthcare facility offering a wide variety of services, as well as medical and public health education training hundreds of healthcare workers.