Aug 9, 2008

Dr Gurumadhva Rao, Mangalorean VC in UAE's RAK University
By Melka Miyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

When a person dreams of achieving something in life, hard work is inevitable.  Not only hard work, one has to work smart as well. In addition to this, a bit of luck also goes a long way.  Dr S Gurumadhva Rao, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of RAK Medical and Health Sciences University in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE is such a person who dreamed, worked hard and also had a bit of luck on his side.  However, little had he thought when he sat on his 5th std bench dreaming of becoming a doctor that he would one day, head a university that would train future doctors.  Today he has been successful in becoming the VC of a reputed University in the UAE.  But his hard work, sincerity and visionary thoughts have directed him towards highest post in the academic level.

He was born and brought up in a rural place called Sooda in Karkala Taluk. Gurumadhva Rao comes from a modest financial background and remembers with nostalgia the typical village boy who went to Adamar Higher Secondary School. But his aim was clear. He was dreaming of becoming a doctor. It was his elder brother the late Krishnamurty Bhat, a physiology professor in Manipal, who stood as a firm support to Gurumadhva Rao. Dr. Gurumadhva Rao fondly attributes his success and all his achievements to the efforts of his brother the late Krishnamurty Bhat.

58 year old Gurumadhva Rao studied till his pre-university education in Adamar Higher Secondary School. Later he completed his BSc degree in Poorna Prajna College, Udupi in 1970. Later he went to study Mysore Medical College for MBBS degree and he attained it there in 1976. Immediately he finished his MD degree in pharmacology in Manipal.

Later he served in the Kastuba Medical College in Manipal for 28 years. He worked there in various capacities as tutor, lecturer, assistant professor, reader, associate professor and professor of Pharmacology department there. It was the management of Manipal which recognized his efficiency and gave him the opportunity to serve in different capacities both academic and administrative, he opines.

He also served as the associate Dean of (international programme) in KMC for some years. Meanwhile, his efficiency was recognized at the international level. Later he was made registrar of Manipal University. He had an opportunity to open branch campuses in Dubai and Muscat during his tenure as registrar, between June 1999 to May 2005. Thus he was recognized in Gulf countries also.   He was handpicked by the Crown Prince of Ras al Khaimah, as Chief Executive Officer of RAK Human Development Foundation located in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE from September 2005. He was appointed as Vice Chancellor of RAK Medical and Health Sciences University in June 2006. Thus he reached a highest position in the academic field as a doctor, academician and an administrator.

Rak University has completed just 3 years yet the progress is swift. Yet, there is also a long way to go.  Therefore, Dr S Gurumadhva Rao has more responsibilities to handle as a VC. Taking the RAK University to a greater heights is his present task, he says. Definitely hard work and commitment has lifted him up. He keeps dreaming the vision of bringing RAKMHSU on par with the best medical universities of the world. May his dream come true.