From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 7: Dr V Ravi, Nodal Officer for Genomic Confirmation of SARS-CoV-2-Karnataka and former Dean, Basic Sciences and Professor of Virology, NIMHANS, who was the chief guest at the Annual Convocation 2021 of the Institute of Allied Health Sciences, St John’s Medical College, Bengaluru, on Tuesday congratulated the graduates and postgraduates for being true Covid warrior.

Dr Ravi their service and experience would stand in good stead for the rest of their lives and asked them to keep the same enthusiasm throughout their lifetime as professionals to reduce pain and suffering of mankind.

He said the learnings of the Covid period would help them throughout their career, and that as allied health science professionals, each person had a role as partners in improving the situation for patients and healthcare professionals alike.

He complimented the efforts of St John’s in combating the Covid 19 pandemic and emphasized that its continued efforts could certainly help overcome challenges in future waves and pandemics.

Rev Dr Paul Parathazham, Director of St John’s Academy, in his presidential address, said the invisible teacher in the Covid pandemic that has taught everyone, including teachers and students of the qualities needed by healthcare professionals.

“Covid 19 pandemic turned out to be the greatest equalizer with everyone playing a role in its combat,’’ he said.

A total of 120 allied health professionals were awarded their degrees. They included 58 B.Sc. Medical Technology Graduates, 18 Bachelor of Physiotheraphy graduates, 20 M.Sc. Medical Technology postgraduates and 24 Masters in Hospital Administration postgraduates.

St John’s was started in 1963 with the mission to train health care personnel to serve in rural and underserved areas of our country. The college has been consistently ranked amongst the top ten medical colleges in the country by various surveys.

Allied health professions have evolved rapidly over recent decades in response to the growing need for a health workforce with the capability to deliver specialized health services in a range of settings. They fulfil necessary roles in the health care system, including assisting, facilitating, and complementing the work of physicians and other health care specialists.

The Institute of Allied Health Sciences at St John’s Medical College was established in the year 1975 and has gradually grown to train over 250 students in various allied health sciences specialties each year.

The medical college is supported by a state of the art 1400 bed hospital with nearly 2,300 daily outpatients and 200 daily in patients with over 550 doctors serving in the Institution.

The college has consistently had very good academic results and this year was no exception. Nearly 100% of students in all years of B.Sc. and BPT, and M.Sc. and MHA MBBS have passed the University exams this year, with several University ranks.

Lalikutty T of the batch of 2016 B.Sc. MLT was awarded the 2nd rank in the University ranks, Ms Deepika R was awarded the 4th rank and Priya Seagal was awarded the 6th rank in B.Sc. MIT respectively. Over 50% of all the graduates and post graduates got first classes.

Rev Dr Charles Davis, Associate Director of St John’s Medical College welcomed the gathering, and emphasized the role of AHS students in the functioning of the institution. The Dean of St John’s Medical College Dr George D’Souza gave details of the various achievements of the students, staff and the institution, including the various new teaching and research programs introduced in the institution.