Media Release
Bengaluru, May 9: The 53rd Annual Convocation and College Day of St John’s Medical College was held at 3 pm on Monday, May 9.
Dr Kavery Nambisan, renowned rural surgeon and writer, and alumnus of St John’s Medical College, of the Batch of 1965, was the chief guest. Sebastian Adayantharath, Bishop of Mandya diocese presided over the function. A total of 229 health professionals were awarded their degrees. This included 144 MBBS students, 63 postgraduates, 16 Super Specialty postgraduates and 06 PhD scholars.
St John’s Medical College was started in 1963 with a mission to train health care personnel to serve in rural and underserved areas of our country. From inception, at least 70% of all its graduates serve for at least 2 years in rural and underserved areas of the country. The college has been consistently ranked amongst the top five medical colleges in the country by various surveys, and is 13 th in the NIRF rankings of medical colleges overall in India and also 5 th among the private medical colleges of the country. The college is supported by a state of the art 1400 bedded hospital and over 100 critical care beds, which is NABL & NABH accredited, with an average of 2500 daily outpatients and 150 daily inpatient admissions, with over 550 doctors serving in the institution. It is rated as one of the best in the city and in the state, with patients seeking medical help from as far as West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Every year, International students mainly from Europe, USA, Middle East & Africa come to St John’s as observers for elective postings or to work in the Institute’s research labs.
This year despite the pandemic 431 Indian students and 21 foreign students did electives or trained in the college. The institute is one of the 10 MCI Nodal Centers across India to train faculty in medical education from various medical colleges across South India. Since 2016, the college has been admitting 150 students, and this year the first such batch of students is graduating. This batch has also been distinctive in having been affected by the covid pandemic, and yet passing out with flying colors. An average of nearly 90% of students in all years of MBBS have passed the University exams this year. Over a third got first classes.
Dr Mahin Mundra secured the 7 th rank overall in the state in the third MBBS Rajiv Gandhi University exams. The postgraduate pass rate was nearly 100%, with 10 students getting among the top 10 university ranks, with 3 of them securing Gold Medals. Dr Pooja in Community Medicine, Dr Linette Antony in Ophthalmology and Dr Ijaz Pillai in PMR stood 1st in the University. Six of our DM/MCh students obtained university ranks among the top 10 university ranks, with Dr Thomas Isiah Sudarshan in critical care, Dr Nalina A in Neonatology and Dr. Swathi Kiran in Pediatric Nephrology coming first.
Dr Paul Parathazham, the Director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences welcomed the gathering, and emphasized the mission and vision of the institution in reaching out to the unreached and excellence in providing training in healthcare to the budding medicos. He emphasized the importance of leading a meaningful life in the service of the mankind, making medicine a calling and not only a profession
The Dean of St John’s Medical College, Dr George D’Souza highlighted on the various achievements of the students and staff of the institution and the various new teaching and research programs that have been introduced at the institution and also the role of alumni in furthering the cause of medical education especially to the underserved. He congratulated the committed faculty, awardees of various university ranks and all graduating students.
The graduates, postgraduates and super-specialty graduates were presented their certificates, as well as the various awards won over the years of study. Sr Dr Aquinas Edassery of the batch of 1975 was awarded the Sr Dr Mary Glowrey Award 2022, the highest award of the St John’s Medical College Alumni Association for service in rural and underprivileged areas of the country, for her dedicated and selfless service in various parts of the country.
Dr Kavery Nambisan, in her address to the graduates and awardees reminded them to strive continually towards reaching out to those affected by multitude of problems, health and otherwise and provide relief and succor to those in need. In addition to harnessing knowledge, one also needs to harness the multiple talents that one possesses. Being kind to oneself, maintaining stability in personal and societal relationships is vital for success in the pursuit of happiness in the medical profession. She urged the graduates and postgraduates not to pursue any stream of medicine for fame or fortune alone but for the passion and service. She also emphasized the need for the graduates to serve in rural and underserved areas of the nation. As a proud author of famous books like “Mango-colored fish” and “The story that must not be told”, her message for the graduates was to also continue pursuit of one’s interest apart from professional life.
Most Rev Sebastian Adayantharath, in his presidential address emphasized the need for humility, continued learning, developing the listening quality and sincerity and dedication in every action of life.
The programme ended with the vote of thanks.