Sister Doctors of India

Sister Doctors Forum of India- Annual Meeting in Mangalore

This year, the Annual Sister Doctors Forum of India (SDFI) meet was held at the Shanti Kirana Retreat Centre in Mangalore on the 17-19 of February. About 150 Sister Doctors from across the country attended the meet.

The three day program included the chapter meetings, CME program and fun activities. 

 

Dr Thelma Narayan( Batch of ’71) gave the keynote Address. 

   

Another highlight was the unveiling of the theme for the year ‘Let the Girl Child Live’.  The different Chapters had already made presentations which will be used to spearhead the campaign across the country in the coming year. Faced with the harsh realities and politics around the female child across the country, the Sister doctors are especially passionate about their role in educating the public and influencing thought about the issue.

The focus of the CME revolved around the prenatal legislation, gynaecological emergencies and paediatric diseases with some great presentations by Dr Sarasu Esther of the NLSIU, Dr Srs Beena(Batch of ’96), Martina( Batch of  ‘95) and  Dr Prakash Saldanha, a paediatrician from Mangalore.

Dr Sanjiv Lewin (Batch of ‘81), a particular favourite among the Sister Doctors came in on the second day to meet them. He appraised them about the plans for conducting regular academic programs and starting an educative newsletter in the coming months.

The 80s brigade- Srs Vimal Jyothi, Liza, Cross Mary and Roshni

Over the duration of the session, after meeting many of the Sister doctors, a large number of who are Johnites, I came away with the feeling that there are many ways in which the Medical College Hospital and alumni elsewhere can help them individually or as groups. Hopefully, this venture will be the spark towards that in the years to come.

High flying St John's Colours ?

First stop.

First stop.

AT HD KOTE

St Mary’s Community Health Centre, HD Kote, 40 kms off Mysore, run by the Ursuline Fransiscan Sisters has been a boon for the local community over the past decade. 

Dr Sr Hilda Lobo

Dr Sr Hilda Rita Lobo, a Johnite of the 1989 Batch has been at the helm from the beginning rapidly turning around a fledgling health system to what has now become the premier maternity center in the Taluk. Serving the local community over the past 34 years, the Ursuline Fransiscan Sisters have over this time brought about a wonderful transformation in healthcare and Education.

Starting in the late seventies in the adjacent village of Naganahalli, the Congregation with its Nurse practitioners initially and then with Sister Doctors have been looking after the healthcare needs of the community.

Sr Hilda, who has been associated with the region from the 90s, first as an MBBS doctor in Naganahalli, and then post MD at St John’s Medical College in Naganahalli and HD Kote has quietly transformed what was essentially a primary care facility to one of the best referral centres in the region.

Oddorugudi

A marvel of multitasking, the centre has a nurse administrator and lab technician- anaesthetist among others. The fact that they still find the time to do outreach work among the tribals is a testimony to their commitment. I was fortunate to accompany them on one of their visits to Oddorugudi, a hamlet of the Jenu Kuruba tribals (one of the four prominent tribes of the region).

The centre at present has another Sister Doctor, Dr Sr Jyothi from the Batch of 2004.

Dr Sr Jyothi

On a personal note, this is the beginning of my travel and am already beginning to see what I feel are going to be recurring themes, stories of commitment and transformation of local communities.

In the scan room

First things first...

I am Binu Joy, a Radiologist at St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore and an alumnus of  '89 vintage. Let me admit, I am a bit technologically challenged and somewhat allergic to the worldwide web and social networks.That said, the reason I am blogging is because I believe I can introduce you to an amazing group of people who work in the outreaches of our country doing wonderful medical and social work. The only attribute I share with them is that, like them, I trained in the same medical school and perhaps value some of the same ideals.

These doctors work in the villages and towns of India taking healthcare to the neglected and marginalized, transforming lives, communities and as we will see, generations.

Some of these doctors work in large hospitals in India and abroad but take their expertise to help out their compatriots in the remote areas.

Then there are some who may not be from St John's by training but strongly identify with the same philosophy and are closely affiliated to the Institute.

So, why me and why now?

St John's Medical College turns 50  in 2013, and a substantial number of its students, predominantly (but not only) sister doctors work in the outreaches giving the Institute its special standing and profile. Just like a lot of you who voice pride in their work, I too have spoken about the need to do more for them. Fortunately, time, opportunity (and inclination) permits me to devote my energies in doing my bit.

Its been very heartening that , at the Institute, both the Executives as well as alumni strongly identify with the project of identifying, locating, documenting and finally meaningfully helping our outreach alumni.

Towards this, a 'needs assessment' questionnaire was sent out 2 months back to about 200 of our doctors who could be tracked. This is now followed by visits-I will try and bring you vignettes from these over the next 3 months.

Over this time , I will share with you the work and lives of some of our best. Owing to time and logistical constraints, it is not possible to visit everyone. Hopefully,I can make an adequate representation of their cumulative work and the different milieu they work in. This can then be the nidus to build our larger goal of reaching out to all of them.

The contentious points and views which might come up are my responsibility alone.I apologize for the lapses which will invariably creep in.

For Johnites at large, hopefully this will augment the wonderful work of the Alumni chapters , Carol D'Souza, Sachin D'Souza,and the various class group leads in keeping the Family together.

Be back soon.... Binu