Media Release
Bengaluru, Jun 7: The 59th annual undergraduate convocation of St John’s Medical College, was held at 3 pm on June 6. Dr Jose CC, vice chancellor of Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bengaluru was the chief guest. A total of 150 health professionals were awarded their degrees.
Established in 1963, the institution was set up with a mission to train health care personnel to serve in rural and underserved areas of India. From then to date, nearly 70% of the 3800+ graduates have provided medical services in rural and underserved areas of the country. This year, 145 of the graduates have opted for undertaking the rural service. The institution has been consistently ranked amongst the top medical colleges in the country by various surveys. It was placed 30th in the NIRF rankings of nearly 800 medical colleges overall in India for 2025 and is also consistently among the top 5 private medical colleges of the country.
The college is supported by a state-of-the-art 1600 bedded hospital and over 100 critical care beds, which is NABL & NABH accredited, with an average of 2500 daily outpatients and 150 daily inpatient admissions, and over 600 doctors serving in the institution. It is rated as one of the best in the city and in the state, with patients seeking medical help from as far as West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and international patients from neighboring countries Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh among others. Every year, international students mainly from Europe, USA, Middle East & Africa come to St John’s as observers for elective postings or to work in the Institute’s research labs. Last year, nearly 1500 students from India and abroad did electives or trained in the college and hospital. The institute is one of the 12 NMC Nodal Centers across India to train faculty in basic and advanced medical education from various medical colleges across South India. There is also a standalone Research Institute that is engaged in cutting edge scientific developments in collaboration with National and International renowned institutions. Several faculties have been recognized at state, national and international levels with several of them being part of governmental and academic committees.
At its inception in 1963, the college admitted 60 students, currently for nearly a decade, it admits 150 students every year. In its endeavour to support students with financial challenges, this year the college supported one tenth of all admitted students with full scholarships and a total of Rs 1.85 cr in financial aid. An average of nearly 95% of students in all years of MBBS have passed the University exams this year, with several securing first class, distinction, and university ranks. Among the graduating batch, the pass rate was 100%, with 5 students securing 9 University ranks. Akshay Ajoy secured 4th rank in community medicine, 4th rank in general medicine and 7th rank in general surgery. He also came overall 9th in the phase III part II MBBS examination. Ananya Varshney secured 7th rank in pharmacology and 8th rank in general surgery, Rachel Ranjan secured 8th rank in community medicine and 8th rank in paediatrics, Suzanne Mary Stephen secured 8th rank in microbiology and Zainab Fathima secured 9th rank in ENT.
Fr Jesudoss Rajamanickam, director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. He congratulated the graduates, lauding their extraordinary efforts and sacrifices and every challenging moment that they had endured and overcome to reach where they are today. He emphasized that the graduating doctors should continue to practice the values that they have imbibed at St John’s to serve across the country, combining professional excellence with compassionate service to the poor and marginalized. He said that they should remember that they had chosen medicine not only as a profession but for fulfilling a cause, for meaningful service to humanity.
Dr George D’Souza, the dean of St John’s Medical College, praised the outstanding achievements of the students, faculty, and staff at the college. He also highlighted the innovative teaching and research initiatives that have been developed within the institution. He also mentioned that for a second year in a row, St John’s was recognized as one of the top two extramural collaborative medical institutions in India, alongside CMC Vellore and that this year alone, the college hosted 102 CMEs, workshops, and conferences, providing a forum for thousands of healthcare professionals. He recognized the contributions of the alumni, particularly their ongoing support in establishing new scholarships, enhancing infrastructure, and building partnerships with prominent organizations both nationally and internationally. He reminded the graduates that they are not merely stepping into a profession of cold clinical reasoning; but are entering a sacred calling of restoration. The balm that the world so desperately seeks is not just found in the advanced therapeutics, or the clinical protocols they have mastered, rather it is carried in their compassionate hands, integrity, and capacity for deep human empathy.
The chief guest Dr Jose C C in his graduation address emphasized to the graduates five guiding principles for medical practice - Care Without Boundaries which seeks to extend care beyond conventional limits, Ethical, affordable, and just care which would ensure healthcare remains accessible and morally grounded, AI is a support, not a replacement which means technology can enhance medicine but cannot substitute human compassion, self-care also matters reminding the graduates that caring for oneself is as important as caring for others and lastly, healthcare also needs to be combined with social philanthropy thus helping address healthcare holistically and in totality. The address concluded with 15th century guidance for doctors and healers: "Cure sometimes, relieve often, comfort always", a mantra which acknowledges that while cures may be limited, relief and comfort remain constant responsibilities.
The graduates were awarded their degrees and were officially declared as medical doctors. The graduates thereafter took the Hippocratic Oath, promising to uphold ethics and values in their profession.
Dr Prakash Rosario, retired professor of surgery was awarded the Pioneers Award for the best teacher adjudged by the graduating batch. Dr Christopher Lasrado, alumnus of the batch of 1984, was awarded the Sr Dr Mary Glowrey award by the St John’s Medical College Alumni Association for his dedicated service to underserved, vulnerable, and marginalized and rural communities across India.
Other students and faculty were presented with certificates and awards won for various intramural and extramural academic and extracurricular activities.
The programme ended with the vote of thanks.