Over 300 Medical and Dental Students Receive Degrees at GITAM Joint Graduation Ceremony

Compassion, Communication, and Affordability Key to the Future of Healthcare, Experts Say at Graduation Ceremony
GITAM Deemed to be University jointly organized a grand graduation ceremony for the Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR) and GITAM Dental College. A total of 305 graduates from the MBBS (153), BDS (80), MD/MS (50) and MDS (32) programs successfully received their degrees during the momentous event.

Ethics, moral values, strong communication skills, thorough physical examinations, and cost-effective treatments are the need of the hour in the healthcare profession, stated eminent cardiologist and Member of Parliament (Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha), Dr. C.N. Manjunath. Addressing passing-out medical graduates as the chief guest at the GITAM Medical Graduation Ceremony, Dr. Manjunath emphasized that while technology is evolving, the human touch remains irreplaceable.

The '4 Ts' of Modern Healthcare: Insights from Chief Guest Dr. C.N. Manjunath

Highlighting the central government's initiatives, Dr. Manjunath noted that the NDA government is actively working to uplift the healthcare sector following the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Key efforts include expanding the number of medical colleges and student seats across all states and establishing generic medicine centers under the Ayushman Bharat initiative. He also lauded recent policy changes, such as the removal of customs duties on 17 lifesaving cancer drugs and the launch of a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program providing free, voluntary vaccines to 14-year-old girls. 

Furthermore, Dr. Manjunath pointed out that India’s world-class medical facilities have positioned the country as a global hub for medical tourism, extending even to traditional systems like Naturopathy and Yoga wellness. To strengthen rural healthcare, he proposed that the government award additional marks to NEET-PG aspirants who choose to serve in villages after completing their MBBS. Turning to technology, Dr. Manjunath reassured graduates that advanced tools would not displace them. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and new-age medical gadgets will never replace healthcare professionals as long as they prioritize physical examinations and the systematic analysis of diseases, he stated. He summarized his philosophy through the "4 Ts" Talk, Touch, Treat, and Trust, advising that transparent communication with patients yields the best results and prevents misunderstandings regarding treatment.

Rebuilding Public Trust Through Affordable Care

Sharing the platform, Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament and GITAM President, M. Sribharath, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the ability to emotionally connect with patients is a foundational pillar of medicine. He noted that while cutting edge advancements like robotic surgery are transformative, they cannot replace a skilled surgeon. Mr. Sribharath urged young doctors to understand the underlying factors driving up healthcare costs and to focus on rebuilding public trust through dedicated humanitarian service. He highlighted that the GITAM Hospital remains strictly committed to serving the public by offering high-quality healthcare services at an affordable cost. Congratulating the newly graduated undergraduate and postgraduate doctors, he expressed his hope that they would go on to serve society with deep empathy and utmost dignity.

Academic Achievements and Future Healthcare Innovations

Highlighting the institution's academic and research milestones, GIMSR Principal Dr.G.Sambasiva Rao shared that the MBBS batch of 2020 was trained under the advanced Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum. She informed the gathering that a significant number of MBBS students were selected for prestigious ICMR Short-Term Studentship (STS) research grants as well as postgraduate research grants. Furthermore, she commended the faculty members who successfully published 56 research articles in national and international medical journals. To support ongoing faculty research, a dedicated biomedical research unit has been established at GIMSR, and the institution has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with blockchain for impact from the Netherlands to establish a state-of-the-art MedTech Incubation Centre on campus. She announced that GIMSR is planning to start Postgraduate Course in Emergency Medicine and establishing super specialty departments.

The ceremony concluded with congratulations from several university dignitaries who participated in the event and appreciated the graduates. Prominent attendees included GITAM Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Medical Sciences) Dr. Gitanjali Bhatmanabane, Registrar Dr. D. Gunasekaran, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Gowthama Rao, GITAM Dental College Principal Dr. V. V. Narasimha Rao, alongside members of the GITAM governing body and executive council.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of GITAM Deemed to be University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.