Mangaluru: The department of General Surgery, Father Muller Medical College held its alumni meet on February 24 and also celebrated 25 years of excellence in post graduate teaching on February 25.
The department of General Surgery started their Postgraduate training programme, the DNB course in 1990 followed by the MS General Surgery course in 1992. About 92 surgeons have graduated from the Father Muller Medical College (FMMC) since then.
A fellowship dinner for all the alumni, postgraduates and former staff members was arranged on February 24 at Mangalore club. There were over 120 Alumni, faculty members and postgraduates in attendance. It was a memorable occasion for all the alumni to reunite with their mentors and colleagues. A memento was handed over to all the alumni in remembrance of the silver jubilee celebration of the Department of Surgery.
In order to celebrate the 25 years of excellence, a Continuing Surgical Education (CSE) programme was conducted on February 25 at the Decennial Memorial Hall, Knowledge Centre at the Father Muller Medical College. The inaugural programme began with a prayer song. The welcome address was delivered by the organizing chairman of CSE 2018, Dr. Leo Francis Tauro, Professor and Head of the department. The function was presided over by Rev. Fr. Richard Coelho, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions. The lighting of the lamp was done by the dignitaries on the dais accompanied by the alumni representative Dr. Harishchandra.
The Chief Guest of the function, Dr. Y.S. Rai, a reputed plastic surgeon, former faculty of Father Muller Medical College, former Dean of Kasturba Medicla College, Mangaluru and SDM Medical College, Dharwad was introduced to the gathering by Dr. Erel A.I. Diaz, Professor & Unit Head, department of General Surgery. Prof. Rai shared his experience of his term at Father Muller’s and touched upon the history and progress of the General Surgery department and the contribution of the stalwarts of the department.
During the CSE programme, the former senior faculty member and former heads of the department of surgery were felicitated namely Dr. H.W. Furtado, Dr. B. Rathnakar Hegde, Dr. S. Raghunath Shetty, Dr. Divakar Shenoy, Dr. P.Sathyamoorthy Aithala and Dr. Erel A.I. Diaz.
The Director, Rev. Fr. Richard Coelho, President of the function, shared his thoughts on the surgery department and wished them good luck for the future. He also requested the alumni to be the brand ambassador of the institution. The Dean FMMC, Dr. J.P. Alva encouraged the alumni to have an active participation in the department’s activities and also to help propagate the name of the institution. Dr. B.R. Hegde, speaking on behalf of the former HODs, shared his thoughts on the difficulties faced during the initiation of the postgraduate course. Dr. Prashanth Marla, Medical Director, A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences, Kuntikana, representing the alumni recounted his memories during his training period and expressed that FMMC continues to remain one of the best institutes for surgery postgraduate training.
Eminent speakers like Dr. Ramdas Rai, Professor, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Dr. Sandeep Rai, Pediatric Surgeon, KSHEMA, Dr. Laxman Prabhu, Urologist, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru shared their views on newer gadgets and technology in surgery – pros and cons, professional jostling and communication skills for surgeons and humour in surgery respectively.
A short documentary was played portraying the history and progress of the department of General Surgery was compiled by Dr. Prashanth Philip Das, Senior Resident, Department of General Surgery. A moment of silence was maintained in remembrance of the departed former faculty members of the Department of Surgery, Father Muller Medical College.
Dr. Clement D’Souza, Professor & Unit Head, Organizing Secretary of the function proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was compered by Dr. Mekha Ann Andrews, Senior Resident and Dr. Monalisa D’Souza, Postgraduate Resident.
