Media Release
Bengaluru, Jul 9: The Annual Convocation 2025 of the Institute of Allied Health Sciences, St John’s Medical College, Bengaluru was held July 8. Dr Solomon Satishkumar, principal, Christian Medical College, Vellore, was the chief guest.
St John’s was started in 1963 with the mission to train health care personnel to serve in rural and underserved areas of our country. The college has been consistently ranked amongst the top ten medical colleges in the country by various surveys. The Institute of Allied Health Sciences at St John’s Medical College was established in the year 1975, and has gradually grown to train over 200 students in various allied and healthcare care sciences specialties each year. Today the institution has an intake of allied health sciences greater than the intake in medicine reflecting the importance of the allied health care specialists who form the backbone of any hospital. From its inception the focus of these courses has been on the acquisition of skills and targeted towards enhancing the skilled healthcare manpower in our country. The college is supported by a state-of-the-art 1800 bedded hospital, with nearly 2500 daily outpatients and over 200 daily inpatient admissions with over 550 doctors serving in the Institution.
A total of 199 Allied Health Care Professionals were awarded their degrees. This included 82 BSc graduates, 39 bachelors of physiotherapy graduates, 24 MSc graduates, 9 masters in physiotherapy postgraduates, 31 master in hospital administration and 14 diploma in hospital administration postgraduates. 20 of the graduating students obtained university ranks.
Feba Elias obtained 10th rank in BSc MIT. Dheeraj Kumar Gupta, Abhinaya C and Allan Fedric A obtained 3rd, 6th and 9th rank respectively in BSc RTT. Sneha U, Cheenepalli Reddy Hemanth obtained 9th and 10th ranks respectively in MSc MLT clinical biochemistry. Sandra Jacob, Bhavya M Jose and Ankita obtained 2nd, 4th and 7th ranks respectively in MSc MLT microbiology and immunology. Kochurani T A obtained 4th rank in MSc MLT hematology and blood transfusion. Geethanjali Shekhar Shriyan obtained 2nd rank in MPT cardiovascular and pulmonary sciences. Shirley Manova and Vaishnavi Prasad obtained 2nd and 5th ranks respectively in MPT pediatrics. Jangam Tejasree and Leelashree H R obtained 2nd and 5th ranks respectively in MHA.
Fr Jesudoss Rajamanickam, director of St John’s National Academy of health sciences welcomed the gathering and conveyed his best wishes and blessings to the graduates and post graduates. He said that the graduating students are ambassadors of the institution through training that they received from their teachers. Education is not about what you know but what you do in practice he said. True education lies not in information but in – formation, which is possible only when one works to be better for the sake of others. He urged the graduates to ensure that they provide their service to all, especially the least privileged which is the mission of their alma mater.
The dean of St John’s Medical College, Dr George D’Souza highlighted on the various achievements of the students and staff and of the institution and the various new teaching and research programmes that have been introduced at the institution. He reminded the graduates that in healthcare, its always the patient who is central to what they do; be it a medical record technician at the front desk, an emergency technician at the casualty or an OT technician, or a physiotherapist helping a patient get back to his/her feet and go home. Thus, whatever role played, this tenant is central to what the graduates need to do – the patient comes first. He said that he was confident that the institute has empowered the graduates not only with the knowledge and skills but also the attitude to be humane, compassionate and empathetic healthcare personnel.
The graduates and post graduates were presented their certificates, as well as the various awards won over the years of study. They were then administered a Solemn Oath to undertake their professional responsibilities with honesty and integrity.
The chief guest Dr Solomon Satishkumar in his address to the graduates and postgraduates congratulated them on their transition from carefree students to responsible professionals. Quality healthcare is a team effort, and being a competent team member is the most important for a good healthcare professional. Being ethically sound and compassionate, being role models with a special concern for the poor and marginalized, to make a difference to the most needy, would help the graduates be changemakers for the community and the country.
The programme ended with the vote of thanks.