Media Release
Udupi, Oct 17: Prof Dr Muralidhar V Pai has been appointed as the new vice chancellor of Sikkim Manipal University (SMU). He will succeed Dr Gopalakrishna Prabhu K who will be superannuated on October 31. Dr Gopalkrishna had contributed for the growth of SMU during his tenure as vice chancellor in a respected way.
Prof Dr Muralidhar V Pai, currently serving as pro vice chancellor (SMU) and dean, SMIMS, has been appointed as the vice chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), effective November 1.
Dr Muralidhar V Pai is a distinguished medical academician, obstetrician and gynaecologist, researcher and higher education leader with nearly four decades of academic and administrative experience within the Manipal group of institutions.
He received his early education in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, Karnataka. He completed his MBBS from Karnatak Medical College, Hubballi, DGO and MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.
After his MD, he joined KMC Manipal as faculty in the Dept of OBG and ever since he has been serving Manipal Group of Institutions in different capacities. Throughout his career, Dr Pai has held several key leadership positions, including founder medical superintendent of Central Referral Hospital, Sikkim; deputy director planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal; professor and head of OBG at KMC, Manipal, and MMMC, Malaysia; chairman cultural committee MAHE, dean of SMIMS, Sikkim; and pro vice chancellor of SMU.
Dr Pai has also made significant contributions to medical education policy, curriculum development and academic governance. He is a member of the Expert Committee of the National Medical Commission (NMC)and a member of the board of studies at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), Chennai. He has been a member of the postgraduate CBME Curriculum Development Committee of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Karnataka and has also served as Chairman of the Board of Studies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal.
He has guided 25 MD students and 8 PhD scholars. He has been examiner for MBBS, DGO, MD/MS/DNB (OBG), FNB and MCH (reproductive medicine) and PhD at National and International Universities.
In recognition of his contributions to the specialty, he was conferred the distinction of Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG), London, UK. His accolades include the Best Outgoing MD Candidate award, Best Teacher Award on ten occasions, Best Teaching Material Award on five occasions, FOGSI National Imaging Science Award and FOGSI National Junior and Senior awards for Best research.
A prolific academic, he has authored three prestigious medical textbooks, including Holland and Brews Manual of Obstetrics, Jeffcoate’s Principles of Gynaecology and Obstetrics &Gynaecology PMFU. He has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals and delivered over 900 invited lectures, including several prestigious orations, at national and international forums.
He has received several international travel fellowships for advanced training in infertility, endoscopic surgery and oncology in the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium and Germany and represented Indian medical academia at conferences across Australia, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Dubai, Muscat, Bangladesh and Nepal.
He has also held several leadership positions in professional organisations, including chairman of Medical Education, South Asia Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; chairman of Public Awareness Committee of Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecological Societies of India; founder chairman of Karnataka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, member of governing Council of Indian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology.
As dean of SMIMS and pro vice chancellor of SMU, he has contributed significantly to academic expansion, regulatory recognition, institutional accreditation, faculty development, the introduction of new academic programmes and digitalisation. Professor Pai is committed to academic excellence, ethical governance, research, innovation and the holistic development of students and faculty.
He is married to Dr Keerthilatha M Pai, controller of examinations at SMU and former dean of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal. Their daughter, Dr Meghna A Nayak, is a reproductive medicine specialist in the UK with her spouse Dr Arvind Nayak K, a urologist.
Once again and on behalf of the entire team, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Gopalakrishna Prabhu K for his invaluable contributions, vision and leadership. Please join me in wishing Dr Prabhu all the very best in his future endeavours and in welcoming Dr Muralidhar V Pai and wishing him the best in his new role.