From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jul 8: The Director of the prestigious St John’s National Academy Health Sciences, Fr Dr Lawrence D’Souza, was warmly felicitated by the staff of his administrative office at the St John’s Hospital and Medical College recently on his being conferred the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s Kempe Gowda Award.
Fr Lawrence D’Souza, who is busy preparing for the finale of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Medical College and Hospital on August 9, was among the 187 persons, who were conferred the Kempe Gowda award by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Union Fertilisers Minister H N Ananth Kumar, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Information and Wakf Minister Roshan Baig were among the dignitaries who attended the Kempe Gowda Award presentation function.
The other prominent awardees included centenarian lexicographer Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, cricketer Vinay Kumar, former hockey international Ashish Ballal, international swimmer Khushi Dinesh, cycling champion Krishna Naikodi, film makers KSL Swamy and Sai Prakash and heart specialist Dr Srikanth Shetty.
The 66-year-old Fr Lawrence D’Souza, who was functioning as Director-Designate of the St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences from March 1, 2008, formally took over as the Director on September 1, 2008. He has been serving as the Director of the St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences during the last 6 years.
He was born on November 28, 1948 at Pernal in Udupi district. He was ordained priest on May 5, 1977.
Fr Lawrence D’Souza obtained BSc degree from St Aloysius College, Mangalore. He did his post-graduation in Philosophy from the Karnataka University in Dharwad and Post-graduate diploma in Business Management from St Aloysius College. He also holds a LLB degree, which he completed through SDM Law College and also completed his MA in Religious Studies and PhD in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University in New York.
He has the rare distinction of serving as the Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church, New York and Sacred Heart Church, New York, between 1992 and 1998. He served as Secretary of the Catholic Board of Education for seven years.
He had also served as the Administrator of Father Muller Medical College and College of Nursing, Mangalore for eight years.