Vol.No.54. No.27 FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY JANUARY 02, 2017 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 State-level Workshop on Tuberculosis for Nurses Special Prayers : January 01-07, 2017 Sunday Services : January 08, 2017 6.00 pm : Scudder Auditorium Dr. Anna B. Pulimood 6.30 pm : Hospital Chapel Dr. Sunil T. Chandy Congratulations: Mr. Joseph Dian Bondu, Lecturer, Clinical Biochemistry, won the 1 st prize for oral presentation and Mr.Yesudas Sudhakar, Lecturer won the 2 nd prize for poster presentation in the 7 th Annual Research Day held on 10th October, 2016, at the Scudder Auditorium, CMC. Mr. Bondu also won the 1 st prize for oral presentation in the 2016 Endocrine Society of India Conference. Department of Infectious Diseases and Mrs. Emily Daniel, Additional Deputy Dean, College of Nursing, who each offered their felicitations. Topics such as Disease burden, Overview of Disease Condition, Diagnostic tests, Treatment, Revised National TB Control Programme and Environmental Control were presented by a panel of experts in the field. Continued on Page 2 December, 2016. Dr. Padmanaban V., final year post-graduate registrar, Department of Biochemistry, received the Best Poster Award for his research work titled "Serum hepcidin levels in diabetes mellitus". This piece of work, done under the guidance of Drs. Molly Jacob and Joe Varghese (Department of Biochemistry), in collaboration with Dr. Jasmin Prasad (Department of Community Medicine), was presented at ACBICON 2016. Continuing Nursing Education in Construction of Classroom Tests T he Fundamentals of Nursing Department along with the Continuing Nursing Education & Research Department conducted a one-day workshop on Construction of Class Room Tests on 12 th December, 2016. The workshop commenced with a word of prayer by Rev. Subir Lal Nath. Dr. Vinitha Ravindran, Deputy Dean, College of Nursing welcomed the delegates and offered the overview of the workshop. Continued on Page 2 T he Department of Medical Nursing, College of Nursing and Infectious Diseases, organised a workshop titled Update on Tuberculosis: Nursing Perspectives on 20th December, 2016 at the College of Nursing. Dr. Shirley David, Professor and Head, Medical Nursing Department welcomed the gathering in the presence of Dr. Abimanesh, Assistant Professor, Mrs. Janani Iswarya, Lecturer, Clinical Biochemistry, won the Best Poster Award at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (ACBICON 2016) held in Mangalore from 12 th to 15 th 1
State-level Workshop on Tuberculosis for Nurses Continued from Page 1 Participants were then engaged in two group activities, namely, a visit to the Microbiology Lab and a discussion on Nursing Management. Fifty nurses from Tamil Nadu attended the workshop, which was awarded 6 credit hours by the Tamil Nadu Nurses & Midwives Council. The scientific content of the workshop was found relevant and beneficial by the participants. Continuing Nursing Education in Construction of Classroom Tests Continued from Page 1 The programme aimed at providing comprehensive information for teachers of nursing, on setting a standard question paper. The resource faculty for the workshop included experts from the medical and nursing faculty of CMC. This educational workshop included various interactive sessions on purposes and principles of constructing classroom tests, designing and scoring essay questions, short answers and objective type questions, reviewing and revising the test items, and guidelines to prepare a blue print. A group activity was conducted, where the delegates designed a blue print and set a model question paper based on their learning from the workshop. The workshop was accredited by the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council and Mrs. Sathya Jones, Professor, St. Jones College of Nursing, Vellore was the observer from the Council. Attended by fifty-three participants from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the programme addressed a pivotal subject effectively. CMC celebrates Christmas with Vellore Town Community The Vellore Community Christmas dinner is an annual CMC event that dates back to the time of its founder Aunt Ida. Prominent citizens of Vellore town are invited to a dinner with the CMC faculty, to create an opportunity for fellowship and to acknowledge them for the various ways in which they partner with the institution. This year, around 200 such individuals came together on the lawn of the recently constructed Eden Garden. The occasion was graced by some important members such as our District Collector, the Superintendent of Police, the MLA and the CSI Bishop. There was a wide representation from the different organisations in Vellore such as the Judiciary, Public Administration, Water Board, Electricity Board, and academic institutions to name a few. Hotels, Textile industries and other business organisations were also well represented. Greeting the gathering, the Director, Dr. Sunil Chandy, expressed his appreciation to the many individuals and groups with whom CMC partners and upon whom it relies for the continued fulfillment of its mission. He called upon all those present to join forces to work towards a smarter Vellore with calmer traffic and cleaner streets. CMC pays a home visit to Mr. A's neighbourhood Mr. A lives in a village ten kilometers from Bagayam and has suffered chronic severe psychosis for most of his adult life. Despite the best efforts of his mother and the psychiatrists at CMC, continuing disease dictates that he remains angry, harbors false, grandiose beliefs and obstructs all efforts to ensure adherence to treatment. Social support dwindled steadily as his father passed away and his mother grew older. Psychotic beliefs and behaviour alienated him from his neighbours. His wife abandoned him. Continued on Page 3 Stories from CMC's Services 2
Stories from CMC's Services Continued from Page 2 One day, he climbed an electric transformer and sustained severe burns across his chest and arms. To this day, he is unable to explain his actions. Sometimes he believes he was burnt by his persecutors. When the district government hospital referred Mr. A. to Chennai for further treatment, his mother brought him to Mental Health Centre because she was unable to make the journey without help. The story of CMC s response to Mr. A s need demonstrates the many ways in which professionals and the community can collaborate across boundaries of specialisation and role. Mr. A was admitted to the Psychiatry Ward, because his psychosis would have been difficult to manage elsewhere. Under the directions and advice of the Plastic Surgery and the Infectious Disease teams, Psychiatric Nurses enabled the healing of all burns apart from the site of entry of electricity on the right forefinger. Not only was the required grafting done by the Plastic Surgery team in their ward, treatment charges were written off and food was provided free for patient and mother. Back in the Psychiatry Ward, relatives of fellow patients offered to collect free food from New Life Centre for Mr. A and his mother, since she could not leave his side. Clothes, utensils and toiletries were donated. Mr. Chandrasekhar of Udhavum Ullangal, provided transport between home and hospital and brought in an indigenous healer to bolster hope when the prognosis appeared worrying. After discharge, when Mr. A refused to come to hospital for review, the Psychiatric Team made home visits. Since symptoms had settled partially, a nurse living in the neighborhood found the courage to administer essential depot antipsychotic injections at home. This is one of many ways in which CMC not only provides essential, scientific, socio-economically tailored medical care, but also enables the coming together of contributions from the community within its healing processes and systems. CMC persists in its mission through the Demonetisation period Close to two months on since the discontinuation of high denomination currency notes, health care services in India have had to re-strategise their monetary operations. An administrative team of CMC met on 9 th November, the first day following demonetisation, towards mobilizing resources and easing the payment process for its patients and staff. Receipt of advance from patients needing hospitalization was limited to Rs.10,000 irrespective of the total cost of treatment. Inpatients were allowed to settle outstanding bills with whatever legal tender they had at hand. Refunds At the ATM on the Hospital premises from these down payments, post-treatment, were made out as cheques (for patients were from distant places) and as credit notes that could be redeemed in other transactions within the hospital. Increased provisions were made to facilitate the use of debit and credit card for all transactions, and the CMC Chris Card, the in-house e-health Card. On the medical services front, acutely ill patients needing critical care in the ICUs, emergency surgery, etc. and women and children were granted adequate concession or free treatment, as determined by the treating team, if they did not have cash ready. Also, in instances where ready cash could not be fronted, doctors minimised elective investigations to pare down patients expenses. The CMC Pharmacy continued to accept demonetised currency notes of Rs.500 as per government regulations. Even patients and families who were exhausted while waiting in the serpentine queues in front of ATMs and cash counters was assuaged; the hospital arranged for free refreshments for them several times a day. Furthermore, financially disadvantaged relatives of in-patients were supplied meals in the wards by the Good Samaritan Canteen inside CMC Hospital. The Accounts Department opened multiple additional counters to pay out refunds to patients; this greatly reduced waiting time and crowding. The institution also enlisted the services of banks to help patients get access to some cash and the CMC's Cash Counters banks opened temporary kiosks in the hospital and college campuses. Also, CMC employees were accommodated in a separate queue at bank counters and ATMs. Continued on Page 4 3
CMC persists in its mission through the Demonetisation period Continued from Page 3 Despite the cash crunch that hit CMC just as hard as any other institution, staff salaries for the months of November and December 2016 went through without delay, as well as payment of Christmas gift and advance; many employees were remunerated in part as cash. With the exception of a few patients travelling from afar who cancelled their previously booked appointments, all other patients who came to CMC over the past few weeks were well taken care of, making for unhindered service even through a challenging period. Obituary: Dr. TNS Varma Dr. TNS Varma, Professor and former Head of the Department of Biochemistry, passed away in Coimbatore on 4 th December, 2016. Dr. Varma was born on 18 th June, 1930. He obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. qualifications in Chemistry from Benares Hindu University in 1950 and 1952, respectively. He then worked as a research scholar in the Indian Institute of Science for 2 years (1954-1956). This was followed by a period of work in the Department of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Science of MS University of Baroda. During this time, he worked on a research project titled Biosynthesis of Citric Acid in Citrus Fruits. The results of this study formed the body of work for his Ph.D thesis and he was awarded this degree in 1959. Soon after, he joined the Wellcome Research Unit of CMC, Vellore, as a research assistant, where he studied the mechanism of accumulation of vitamin B 12 in Euglena Gracillis. After a brief intervening stint as a scientific assistant at the Isotope Division in the Cancer Institute in Chennai, he returned to CMC, where he started work in the Department of Biochemistry, as a research officer. He was soon promoted to a lecturer s position in the department in 1961 and subsequently became a Professor in and Head of the Department in 1971, a position that he held till his retirement in June of 1990. During his years of work in the Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Varma was most actively engaged in teaching first-year medical and Masters students in the discipline of Biochemistry. He was an enthusiastic and kind teacher. His students from the decades that he taught remember him with much affection and respect. Their strong memories include those of him dressed in his customary whites, of writing elaborate biochemical pathways on the blackboard (to teach in an era with few visual aids) and his attempts (often in vain) to encourage or elicit correct answers during viva voce examinations. Dr. Varma s academic assignments involved numerous appointments as examiner of MBBS, M.Sc., MD and Ph.D students in many Indian universities. He was a member of the Board of Studies for Basic Medical Sciences of the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala; he was also on the Board of Studies for postgraduate, non-clinical courses for the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University (1988-1990). He was a member of advisory committees of the Union Public Service Commission of India for the selection of faculty members in Biochemistry for medical colleges in Delhi. Dr. Varma joined ongoing research work on Nutritional Biochemistry in the Department of Biochemistry. His special interests during this time involved studying effects of both deficiency and excess of amino acids on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rats. He published several papers in national and international journals. He was a guide for many Ph.D and MD students during his tenure. He was a founder member of the Guha Research Conference and a member of the Association of Clinical Biochemists of India. Dr. Varma retired in 1990 and settled in Coimbatore, where his son, Dr. Shashi Varma (undergraduate [1978], postgraduate and super-specialty alumnus of CMC, Vellore) is a cardiothoracic surgeon. The Department of Biochemistry and the hundreds of students that Dr. Varma taught remember him with fondness and look back on his life with gratitude. Retirement Mrs. S. Sengamalam, Sr. Gr. I Instrument Mechanic, Bio Medical Engineering, retired from service on 24 th December, 2016, after 28 years in the institution. She became a part of CMC on 28 th March, 1988. Her husband, Mr. T.J. Sampath, is a retiree from the National Highways. Their elder son, Mr. S. Aravind is a Professor at IIM, Calicut and their younger son, Mr. S. Rajesh is a student of MS at the University of Florida. The CMC Community extends its thanks to her for all the years of service she has rendered to the institution and wishes her a blissful retirement. 4
Congratulations! The following students have been awarded prizes / medals at the University Convocation which was held on 3 rd December, 2016. PG Candidates Prizes / Medal Dr. Rohit Ninan Benjamin The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - DM Neurology Dr. Vijay Gupta The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - DM Neonatology Dr. Ruchika Agarwal The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - DM Rheumatology Dr. Nemani Sandeep Anil The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - DM Clin. Haematology Dr. Riddhi Das Gupta The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - DM Endocrinology Dr. Prasanna K.S. The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - DM Hepatology Dr. Adhiti K. 1. Apollo Gold Medal - MD General Medicine 2. Dr. R. Vijayalakshmi Endowment Gold Medal for Woman Candidate 3. Dr. R.V. Rajam's 81 st Birthday Commemoration Gold Medal 4. Iraiyadimai E.A. Jiavudeen Endowment Prize 5. Prof. Dr. G.B. West Endowment Prize - MD General Medicine Dr. Upasana Kachroo The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - MD Physiology Dr. Vitsizono Sakhrie Prof. Arthur Daniel Gold Medal - MD Radio Diagnosis Dr. Mayur Mayank The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - MD Radio Therapy Dr. Nancy Angeline G. Dr. Kesavalu Educational Trust Gold Medal - MD Community Medicine Dr. Vijay Kumar Manda The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - MD PMR Dr. Minu Rekha B. The T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Medal - MD Anatomy Dr. Gaurav Ashish Prof. Mohan Kameswaran Gold Medal Endowment - MS ENT Upcoming Event Musical Mosaic Concert 7 th January, 2017 (Saturday): A selection of choral, vocal and instrumental music to refresh and inspire you at the beginning of a new year. The Handel Manuel Chorus from Chennai, will be conducted by Sharada Schaffter and accompanied by Dhruva Seshadri, along with Coimbatore Chamber Chorale, led by alumnus Faith Ragland. All proceeds go to the Development Office Emergency Fund for economically disadvantaged patients. You can donate through salary deduction, cheque or cash. Donation passes at Rs.100 (students and children below 18), and Rs.200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 for adults are available. Please donate generously if you can, but you are very welcome whatever your contribution level! Further information and passes available at the Development Office - dev.office@cmcvellore.ac.in, Phone: 228 3509. Situations Vacant 1. Tutor Gr.IV with BOT (Regular Course) for the Paediatric Orthopaedics Unit Salary scale: As per the institutional rules. Accommodation not provided. Apply with bio-data, certificates and testimonial copies, contact phone number, email ID & address with pincode to theprincipal, Christian Medical College, Bagayam,Vellore-632 002. email: princi@cmcvellore.ac.in on or before January 14, 2017 for Item 1. 2. Counsellor Gr.V (Project) for the Principal s Office Qualifications: M.A / M.Sc. in Psychology + PG Diploma in Counselling (OR) One year work experience in counselling; M.A / M.Sc. in Counselling Psychology, M.A (Pastoral Theology and Counselling). Salary scale: As per institutional rules. Accommodation not provided. 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 January 07, 2017 for Item 2. 3. Clinical Research Co-ordinator to work in project on term appointment basis. The project will be implemented under the Department of Cardiology Unit-III. The name of the project is "Multimodality Imaging in patients with HIV infection to identify early myocardial Dysfunction". Qualification: B.Sc. Nursing with M.Sc. Research or M.Sc. Nursing or B.Sc. Nursing with Research experience and use of statistics data base. Apply with biodata, photograph, certificates, testimonial/s to the Dean, College of Nursing, Christian Medical College, Vellore - 632 004 on or before January 14, 2017 for Item 3. The CMC Employee Co-operative Society s 65 th general body meeting will be held at 4.40 pm on January 4, 2017 (Wednesday), at the Kuttumbiah Hall, ASHA Building. CMC PROMOTIONS OFFICE New E-mail ID: cmc.promotionsoffice@cmcvellore.ac.in 5