Vol.No.53. No.34
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
FEBRUARY 22, 2016
TB Researchers meet at the CMC Winter Symposium 12–14 February, 2016 You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you'. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. John 14 : 28 Special Prayers : February 21 - 27, 2016
The Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore organised the 14th Winter Symposium of the Christian Medical College themed “Advances in Tuberculosis Research”. Tuberculosis, a disease that has impacted humans for millennia, continues to be a huge public health problem in India and beyond. Although the most deaths from TB are preventable, the death toll from the disease is still unacceptably high. The multidrug resistant tuberculosis and poor treatment outcomes are of major concern. There is an urgent need for the development of better preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In the diagnostic armamentarium, molecular diagnostics techniques have made substantial inroads and have provided major improvements in smear microscopy and culture diagnosis that have remained the standard of care for quite some time. The newer technologies have the advantage of providing rapid results. The conference highlighted the developments in the following core areas: TB Epidemiology & control; MDR and XDR TB; TB-Diabetes co-epidemics; TB in healthcare workers; TB biomarker research; Host directed therapies; TB vaccines; Clinical Tuberculosis and Advances in TB chemotherapy. Several TB experts and scientists from leading medical institutions including Johns Hopkins, Boston, Washington, Texas, Massachusetts and Cambridge universities shared high quality research experience which were inspirational for the students, the workforce and leaders of tomorrow, undertaking research that will transform the future. A group of leading TB vaccine researchers also delivered lectures, as this is a prime area for future research. There is a proposal to commence a vaccine clinical trial in India that has shown promise in the foreseeable future. The support for this meeting came from the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) Indo-US consortium for collaborative research in Tuberculosis, Departments of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Office of AIDS Research from NIH, USA. The proceedings of the meeting will be summarized in the subsequent Weekly News.
Biostatistics
: Dr. B. Antonisamy and Staff
Bioengineering
: Dr. R. Suresh Devasahayam and Staff : Dr. Bina Isaac and Staff : Dr. K. Sathya and Staff
Anatomy Physiology
CSI Coimbatore Diocese Council Member : Rt. Rev. Timothy Ravinder Hospital
: CSI Hospital, Erode and others.
Sunday Services : February 28, 2016 6.00 pm
: Scudder Auditorium Special Service MBBS batch of 2015
6.30 pm
: Hospital Chapel Rev. Robin Phipon Lepcha
We welcome : Dr. Sumant Samuel, Associate Professor, Department of Ortho Unit-III, on his return from study leave. Memorandum : Dr. Vinod Joseph Abraham, Professor of Community Medicine is appointed Deputy Director (Gifts and Grants) for four years with effect from February 1, 2016. Wedding Bells : Mr. R. Srinivasan, Transport Department and Ms. S. Sudha,CSSD were married on February12,2016. Mr. M. Ramesh, CHAD and Ms. R. Easwari were married on February 14, 2016. We wish them a happy and blessed married life. Obituaries : Mrs. Kamsala P, Health Centre Auxiliary Gr.II, RUHSA Department, passed away on February 12, 2016, after a short term illness. She is survived by her husband and 2 children. Mrs. Leela Nambiar, mother of Dr. Rupa Vedantam, Professor of ENT and mother-in-law of Dr. Rajshekhar. V, Professor of Neurosurgery on 18th February, 2016. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved members of the families at this time of grief and loss.
“Communication, Empathy and Compassion in patient care”: Sharing of CMC’s experience with International medical students’ community Redefining Medicine, Transforming Healthcare; Putting the humanity back into medicine Being a doctor is more than just treating an illness or a patient. It involves communication, empathy, and compassion, to be truly able to treat the patient. It is this lesson that Director of Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC Vellore) Dr. Sunil Chandy wanted to impart to the more than 50 LKC Medicine students and staff who attended his lecture on Humanity in Medicine on 13th January at the Experimental Medicine Building. “Which way is medicine going? With so much technology and knowledge, are we as physicians forgetting being human beings?” the alumnus of CMC Vellore asked the audience, a challenge that both LKC Medicine and CMC Vellore address through their patient-centred curricula. Different backgrounds, same beliefs: Founded in 1900, CMC Vellore has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Set up by Dr. Ida S. Scudder, an American missionary, to train female doctors who could care for women who refused to be cared for by male doctors, CMC Vellore has become one of the top medical institutions in India. It now boasts a 2,700 – bed hospital, and prides itself on three mission thrusts: Service, Education and Research. Giving the background of CMC, Dr. Chandy stressed that “the teaching is very community-based clinical, bedside and comprehensive”. Despite the differences in age, culture and location, the fundamentals of both LKC Medicine and CMC Vellore are very similar. Regular patient contact is valued and seen as key in instilling good communication skills and more importantly, in nurturing compassion and empathy in the students. Dr. Chandy shared his belief that contact with patients helps “convert them (doctors) from just being scientists and knowledge seekers to being physicians who are socially conscious, possess empathy and compassion, and ultimately, are humane”. “There is a community orientation programme for students, where they spend time and live in villages alongside the people in the community to nurture the ethics of service,” added Dr. Chandy. This is an approach mirrored in LKC Medicine’s early exposure of students to polyclinics and hospitals as well as the Long-Term Patient Project, where students visit patients with chronic illnesses in their homes. Another key feature in CMC Vellore is the concept of foster parenting, where students are assigned to a faculty member whose home will become their home away from home. “This provides students with a greater understanding of the life they would come to lead with a role model and where their lecturers are coming from,” said Dr. Chandy. Although different from the foster system, LKC Medicine’s House System advocates the same principles. It provides students with support and guidance of tutors and peers, who have walked and are walking beside them on the road to become doctors. These programmes inculcate a spirit of service and humanity, and allow students to be able to “make that connection with patients that only doctors are privileged enough to be able, to” said Dr. Chandy. Being agents of change: “We, the healthcare community, are a really small community when compared with others. But we can make a difference by maintaining ethicality, honesty, and being human before being a physician”, said Dr. Chandy. It is this message that has resonated most with attendees, including Assistant Professor of Metabolic Disease and Lead for Practicals Yusuf Ali, who said after the talk, “The elements of service, altruism and spirituality throughout the talk were refreshing and relevant, especially in this day and age of material pursuits. This is something I feel is worth aspiring towards and that I will take with me for the rest of my career.” Already united by the many shared similarities, LKC Medicine and CMC Vellore also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide the framework for greater collaboration. Dr. Chandy shared his hopes that a planned exchange programme between the Schools would be realized soon. “Singaporeans adapt the best from what I have seen, from language and culture to food, and have been much fun. As long as we have the accommodation to do so, we would be happy to accommodate students as much as we can,” said Dr. Chandy. Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Naomi Low-Beer, whose late grandmother was one of the early students at CMC Vellore, agreed. “I am sure the exchange programme will be an enriching experience for both groups of students. As Singapore’s newest medical school, we have much to learn from, and share with CMC Vellore, where the commitment to first-class education and high quality accessible healthcare has stood the test of time,” said Assoc. Prof. Low-Beer.
Upcoming Event We are conducting 4 th Practical Paediatric Nephrology Training Course and Dialysis Workshop on 4th and 5th March 2016 at Paul Brand Building. This includes a half day hands on training on Peritoneal Dialysis, Hemodialysis and Vascular access workshop. The audience includes Trainees in Paediatrics, Paediatric Nephrology, Adult Nephrology, Critical Care and Nursing Staff and Students. Dr. MGR University has granted 20 CME Credit points for this event. Encourage your postgraduates to register and to avail the credit points. Please contact Dr. Indira Agarwal, Organizing Secretary or Mrs. Srividhya, CH-II Secretary, Phone: 3348.
2nd Annual CME in Head & Neck Cancers & Hands-on Experience in Laser, Microsurgery The CME was organized on 5-6 February by the Department of ENT Units-1 themed “New frontiers in Laryngeal Cancer”. The International faculty was Dr. Paul F. Castellanos, Associate Professor of Surgery and Director, UAB Voice and Aero-digestive Centre, Birmingham, USA, a renowned Laryngologist. Dr. Paul Castellanos was interestingly influenced and mentored greatly by Dr. Paul Brand. Dr. Bipin T. Varghese, Additional Professor, Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum was the national faculty. This was the first, hands-on Laser surgery workshop on laryngeal cancers to be held in South India with dedicated hands-on time for all delegates. The workshop focused on the multidisciplinary management of laryngeal cancers with a focus on Transoral Laser surgery and its role in the management of laryngeal cancer. All delegates were also given hands on time with the recent generation CO2 Laser coupled with the operating microscope. Dr. Paul Castellanos demonstrated many Transoral Laryngeal reconstruction techniques as well as basic Laser techniques for laryngeal cancers. The other aspects of laryngeal cancer treatment including Recent Radiotherapy methods and organ preservation protocols, pre-radiotherapy dental care, protocols for neck dissection and swallowing therapy were also discussed.
Summer Admissions Notice 2016 Group A Group B
MBBS, B.Sc. Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Degree Courses Diploma in Nursing, Diploma Courses in Allied Health Sciences, Post-Diploma & Post Graduate Diploma courses, Fellowship in Hospital Administration / Analytical Clinical Pharmacology. M.Sc. - Biostatistics, Medical Physics and Epidemiology. MPH (Master of Public Health). For more details refer Admission Bulletin available at CMC website http://admissions.cmcvellore.ac.in The last date for online application submission is 24th March 2016. PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT ADMIT STUDENTS THROUGH AGENTS OR AGENCIES. Important Information: “Candidates may kindly note that the Medical Council of India had notified the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test pursuant to the Under Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2010 (Part-II). The matter is pending by way of Review Petitions filed by the Medical Council of India in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The admission process being commenced through this Bulletin is subject to the Orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court”. REGISTRAR
Sponsorship for Staff Children - Admissions 2016 - 2017 Applications are invited from staff for sponsorship of their children for admission to the various training courses in the Christian Medical College, Vellore for the Academic Year 2016 - 2017. Forms will be available in the Directorate from February 18, 2016 onwards. Please produce your ID Card at the time of receiving the application. A. Eligibility: (Cl.Min.No.5188-11-79; 7449:6:93 & 9282:1-2003) 1. Only children of confirmed C.M.C staff members who: (a) have put in 10 years of continuous service including period of probation and are currently in service in any capacity in the Institution as on 30th June of the year under consideration; (OR) (b) have retired after at least 15 years of continuous service in the Institution, or have taken voluntary retirement after 25 years of continuous service; (OR) (c) have been discharged from service on medical grounds after at least 15 years of continuous service; (OR) (d) have died during service after at least 10 years of continuous service in this Institution are eligible to apply for sponsorship. 2. Legally adopted children of staff members whose adoption was finalized at least five years before the date of application are also eligible for sponsorship, subject to the above criteria. 3. Regarding a confirmed staff member who died during service to the institution and whose spouse has been given a job in CMC in place of the deceased staff member, dependent children of the deceased staff member will be eligible for CMC sponsorship if the cumulative years of service of the deceased staff member and his/her spouse (including probation and confirmed periods) exceeds 10 years; in case the child applying for sponsorship was legally adopted by the deceased staff member, the adoption of the child should have been finalised : (a) prior to the death of the deceased staff member, and (b) atleast five years before the date of application for sponsorship B. Conditions for sponsorship of staff children (Cl. Min.5759:3-84) (a) Only one child from a family can be admitted in a year to any single course. (b) Children from the same family can, however, be admitted to different course in the same year. (c) Sponsorship is allowed from only one sponsoring body, so children applying for C.M.C. sponsorship cannot also be sponsored by one of the supporting Churches of the Council. (d) Where there is more than one sponsorship obtained, the one received first which satisfies the criteria will be accepted. (e) No withdrawal of first received valid sponsorship is allowed.
Staff children, even with CMC sponsorship, must still meet the minimum academic qualifications for the courses for which they are applying. Staff are urged to check the prospectus to ensure the eligibility of their children for the various courses before submitting their applications. Important deadlines: 4.30 pm of 25th March 2016 : Last date for submitting sponsorship application forms. 4.30 pm of 26th May 2016 : Last date for submission of copy of self attested mark sheet of qualifying examination (Please note as per Tamil Nadu Government Orders - for MBBS admission First and single attempt marks only will be considered).
Above mentioned to be submitted to the Director, Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Situations Vacant
1. Tutor Gr.IV with BPT Graduate IAP recognized College / University for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR). Should have completed 6 months of compulsory internship on or before January 31, 2016. Experience less than 4 years after internship completion. Salary scale : Approximately Gross Salary : Rs.20,963/-. Age limit : Below 30 years. Accommodation not provided. 2. Senior Resident with Diploma / M.D.(DVL) for the Department of Dermatology-I Salary : As per institutional rules. Accommodation provided. (Partly furnished, depending on availability). 3. Demonstrator (Non-PG) with MBBS for the Department of Anatomy Salary : As per institutional rules. Accommodation provided. (Partly furnished, depending on availability). 4. Assistant Professor with M.S. (E.N.T) for the Department of E.N.T. Unit-IV Salary scale : Rs.22,030-880-39,630/-. Accommodation provided. (Partly furnished, depending on availability). 5. Lecturer Grade-II (Ph.D) with M.Sc. Medical Biochemistry, Ph.D in Biochemistry for the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism. Candidates with at least four years hands on experience in Next Generation Sequencing Technology, Data analysis and Molecular Biology techniques will be considered for the post and Back ground knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus. Age limit : 35 years. Salary scale : As per institutional rules. Accommodation not provided. Apply with bio-data, certificates and testimonial copies, contact phone number, email ID and address with pincode to the Principal, Christian Medical College, Bagayam, Vellore-632 002. email : princi@cmcvellore.ac.in on or before March 03, 2016 for Item 1 and March 05, 2016 for Items 2, 3, 4 and 5. 6(a) Scientist (1 post) for the Centre for Stem Cell Research Job code : 1136 Qualification : Ph.D. in Life Sciences with 3-5 years post-doctoral research experience in iPSC technology. 6(b) Scientific Programme Manager (1 post) for the Centre for Stem Cell Research Job code : 1136 Qualification : Ph.D. with more than 3 years of experience / M.Sc. with more than 5 years of experience in laboratory and project management. 6(c) Post-doctoral Fellow (2 posts) for the Centre for Stem Cell Research Job code : 1136 Qualification : Ph.D. in Life Sciences with experience in Stem Cell Biology. 6(d) Junior Research Fellow (4 posts) for the Centre for Stem Cell Research Job code : 1136 Qualification : M.Sc. in Life Sciences. The Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), a unit of inStem Bengaluru, invites applications for the following positions under the project entitled “Novel Approaches to Haematological Disorders (NAHD)” to work in the areas of gene therapy and induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) technology : Salary : Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Mode of appointment : Project mode. Accommodation not provided. For more details of the positions and application form visit www.cscr.in Apply with bio-data, certificates and testimonial copies, contact phone number, email ID and address with pincode to the Principal, Christian Medical College, Bagayam Vellore - 632 002. email : cscredu@cmcvellore.ac.in on or before March 07, 2016 for Items 6(a), 6(b), 6(c) and 6(d). Note: Please mention the Job Code in the application form/email . The application / email without Job Code will not be accepted.
7. Technical Officer for managing GMP facility : The Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), a unit of inStem Bengaluru, invites applications for the post of Technical Officer for managing GMP facility for cell processing for clinical studies. Qualification : M.Sc. in Life Science with experience in managing such facility. Apply to : Interested candidates should send their application on a plain paper together with their bio-data, copies of certificates and testimonials, only by soft copy (E-mail to cscredu@cmcvellore.ac.in) on or before February 29, 2016 for Item 7. For more information about CSCR, Please visit: http://www.cscr.in/ 8. Staff III Graduate Technician for the Department of General Pathology Qualifications: Graduate in Life Science with PG Diploma in Histopathology Laboratory Techniques or B.Sc. MLT. Age limit : 35 years. Salary scale : As per institutional rules. Nature of job: Histopathology – Tissue processing, Section cutting and staining. Applications to be done only through online application system. Please log on to http://www.cmch-vellore.edu Link: “Vacancies”. Note : Only online applications will be accepted; Hard copies will not be accepted. Applications will close on March 07, 2016 for Item 8. 9. College Hill Nursery, Bagayam: Applications will be issued between 1.00 and 4.00 pm from February 15, 2016. CMC Staff children who will complete 2 years by May 31, 2016 are eligible for admission. The last date for submission of application forms is February 29, 2016. For clariifications call: 4583 / 9585774691.