By Pretesh Kiran
Bengaluru, Aug 12, 2023: Bengaluru’s St. John’s Medical College launched its diamond jubilee celebrations on August 12 with a minister of Karnataka state hailing the institution’s selfless service to mankind.
St. John’s “is the first private medical college in Karnataka” and its “quality of selfless service towards mankind” is commendable, said Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport and Muzrai.
Reddy, the guest of honor at the function, noted that the college has made “tremendous progress” in keeping abreast “with the latest technological developments in healthcare.” He also highlighted the institution’s unique admission police that accepted meritorious students from all over India “without political influence or donation fees.”
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) presided over the function held at St John’s Medical College Auditorium.
The CBCI manages St John’s Medical College.
Archbishop Thazhath in his presidential address spoke about the ethical principles that the college has upheld through the years and appreciated its faculty and students for serving in rural and underprivileged areas.
K J George, Minister for Energy, Government of Karnataka and another guest of honor, appreciated the institute for its humanitarian services towards education and health with its special motto to reach out to the unreached and the poorest of the poor.
He commended the institution for its services during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also conveyed wishes from State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who could not attend the function because of another event.
However, the chief minister conveyed a congratulatory message to the institution and assured of support in various initiatives to be undertaken in the diamond jubilee year.
Father Paul Parathazham, director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, welcomed the gathering and took them through the institution’s 60-year history.
S. Rajendra Kumar, Karnataka’s chief postmaster general, released an India Post special cover with insignia of St John’s and presented it to all the dignitaries on the dais, along with India’s national flag as a part of Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan (Tricolour flag in every home).
The Sr. Dr Mary Glowery 2023 award for dedicated service in rural and underprivileged areas of the country was given to Sister Ceilia, a doctor who has been working at Gonda district of northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for more than 25 years.
The alumni of the first three MBBS batch of St John’s were then felicitated by the dignitaries.
Doctor Prem Pais, alumnus from the 1964 batch, expressed his gratitude to his alma mater. He recollected fond memories of times spent by the alumni at St. John’s and expressed happiness regarding its significant achievements over the years.
The ceremony was followed by the inauguration of the new Oncology Centre and the integrated laboratory services by minister Reddy. The Oncology center would offer state of art services in cancer care, the hospital authorities said.
Nuclear medicine and PET (positron emission tomography) scan facilities are also introduced as part of the cancer care services. The integrated laboratory services have a number of special investigations in various fields such as mycology, hemato-oncology and histopathology.
The institution is also setting up St. John’s Geriatric Centre that would offer comprehensive elderly and palliative care and undertake training, research and community engagement in geriatrics.