Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 5: The Father Muller Medical College welcomed the freshers of the MBBS 2019 -20 courses on August 5, 2019, at the Decennial Auditorium. The smiles on the budding doctors and their parents was abounds. The campus was all geared up in welcoming the new batch with welcome banners and presentations. The parents of wards admitted into the medical stream were in all praise of the Institution, echoing the professionalism and hospitality of the welcome.
Dr Jayaprakash Alva, Dean, Father Muller Medical College, took on his shoulders the huge task of welcoming the dignitaries, faculty, parents and wards. Welcoming the students and their parents he stated that, they had entered into an institution of academic excellence, high ethical and moral values, which stands as an excellence among all private medical institutions in the country. Speaking on the occasion, he spoke about the history of medicine, start of the medical education at Father Muller’s in Mangaluru city with his lucid speech which was liked by all. Proudly stating, that the institution was the first in Karnataka and one of the few medical institutions in the whole of India to be having the NAAC A+ accreditation, NABH and the certification and recertification of NABL accreditation, showcased the quality and vision of the Father Muller Medical College and Hospital. On this occasion, students and their parents were made aware of the institution, its rules and regulations as well as about the course and curriculum which has been revamped and the new syllabus which is skill-based learning. Dr J P Alva, introduced the chief guest, Dr E V S Maben, Professor and Head, Department of Medicine at the A J Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangaluru. Dr Maben was introduced as a good friend, a humble person, a renowned physician, an intellectual and an enthusiastic personality, the qualities every doctor and fresher should try to emulate.
Dr EVS Maben, in his guest speech, lauded the founder of the institution as being a pioneer in health care in the coastal town. Fr Augustus Muller, a Jesuit from Germany, travelled to Mangaluru to teach at the St Aloysius College, Maths and French, but his love for healing, with his background as a homeopath, he started treating students under the banyan tree. His popularity grew, such that he had a beeline of patients. He was then entrusted with the setting up of the small homeopathic dispensary which now has blossomed into this large Institution which is still known for its mission to heal and comfort. He lauded all the directors of the Institution in helping it grow to this stature and the current director, Rev Fr Richard A Coelho in always updating the medical technology and skills in the institution. He then spoke to the freshers saying a medical student needed to be the ardent disciple of his Guru, so as to imbibe not only knowledge but the soft skills and art in handling patients who are suffering. A man in search of pure water digs deeper and deeper into the ground using the tools given to him, so, a student should utilize the tools of the facilities provided by the institution to deepen and expand the knowledge to benefit a patient and to be a responsible citizen. He stated that medicine is both science and art. The scientific component can be enhanced through better use of the library than dependence on technology alone and moreover the enthusiasm to contribute through research which has many student research agencies. The art of medicine is in following the nuance of skill of the Guru. A good student can only learn it by following and imbibing the skills of a great teacher. He concluded by saying, “add-on to the legacy of Father Muller, don’t be serious at all times, pursue the hobby and develop it as a medium to bust stress, do not indulge in substance abuse, every day remember the sacrifice of your parents and ask God Almighty for his grace every single day.”
Rev Fr Richard A Coelho, director Father Muller Charitable Institutions, in his presidential address, whole heartedly welcomed the freshers and their parents to the institutions and coming to this institution not by chance but only by choice. The climbing of the mountain to reach the medical career was over after the toil put in by the wards and parents through 24/7 studies, tuitions, qualifying NEET and the admission rounds. He was pleased that the chief guest briefed the gathering on Father Muller and the institution; showing that how great the legacy of 139 years of service of the institution in providing healing and comfort towards humanity it has been in. Medicine cannot be learned through correspondence even if one is in a family of doctors, he has to feel the patient pulse and heartbeat, establish trust, enhance the soft skills, listen to the woes, suffering and anxiety and learn to give first aid and surgery. The brief of riding a bike can be found in its manual but the skills in medicine is not so, it has to be learnt and unlearnt repeatedly. He proudly stated the legacy of the institution in reverence to the founding Father, stating the 1250 bedded hospital with 850 as free beds; show the institutions efforts in providing quality care for the underprivileged with dignity. The institution being a Catholic Institution, headed by the President of the institution, the Bishop of Mangaluru, followed by the Director himself and Administrators, governing council, who at all time put in efforts to grow these institutions. We don’t treat but we provide wellness at Father Muller’s. God is omnipresent but uses his instruments of doctors in healing; hence healing is divine and God’s work. The institution follows the principles laid down by the Divine Healer, Jesus Christ, a physician par excellence, therefore following ethics which is the basis of all principles. He reminded that the Catholic Institution also laid down strict guidelines and the use of substance of abuse and misconduct which would not be tolerated. He asked the students to uses the power house of the institution, the Chapel, irrespective of religion, to overcome such evils and reflect and contemplate to overcome such temptations. He asked the parents to also work with the management and listen to the corrective suggestions given by them. Finally he congratulated the MBBS students and advised the students to strive hard towards excellence and bring laurels to their parents, community and the country.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Prakash Shetty, Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, who eloquently thanked the dignitaries for their advice and the parents and freshmen for being now the part of the Mullerian Family. He thanked the MBBS batch of 2017 for the arrangements and the logistics staff for their help. He wished all a pleasant stay in Mangaluru and at the Father Muller Campus.
The post break session was conducted by Dr J P Alva, Dean, Father Muller Medical College, on the new syllabus for the MBBS programme implemented by the Medial Council of India. The new curriculum is the need of the hour, making doctors not only skill full in medicine but also in soft skills. The new curriculum begins with clinical exposure of patients from the first year itself and providing soft skill learning and doctor patient’s rights learning. Students and their parents were made aware of the institution, its rules, and regulation as well as about the course and curriculum which has been revamped and the new syllabus which is skill-based learning.
Fr Ajith Menezes, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College, briefed the gathering on the legacy and heritage of the institution. He essayed the guidelines and norms to be followed in campus and to the parents in approaching the management for any concerns. He also mentioned the etiquettes to be followed during hospital rounds and in college hours. He talked about the various facilities available in-house for all round growth of the students.
The students were then asked to introduce themselves and give a brief on why they choose the institution. Most of them echoed that the choice of this institution was because of the great name of the institution world over. All the freshers were welcomed with red carnations as a symbol of ‘to be doctors’ and token of happiness by their seniors. The parent’s interactive session was overwhelmed by tears of joy and happiness for the choice of the institution. Parents prayed that the institution under the guidance of the priests be more successful and hoped to see their wards as doctors soon.
The ethics code was administrated by Dr Nagesh K R, Professor and Head of Forensic Medicine and Member secretary of the Bioethics Committee. A white coat ceremony was held and the importance and using of the doctors apron was told. White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for medical students, and was created by the Arnold P Gold Foundation in 1993. During the ceremony, a white coat is placed on each student's shoulders and the Hippocratic Oath is recited, signifying their entrance into the medical profession.
A little lilting music and the chink in ice, new faces, smiles all along, resounding laughter - yes it is our time! Continuing with the proud tradition of the Father Muller Charitable Institutions, the freshers marched on with gleaming faces.
Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Fr Dheeraj Neslon Pais, Assistant Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Dr Sanjeev Rai, Former Dean, Chief of Researcher, Dr Padmaja Udaykumar, Vice Dean, Father Muller Medical College, Dr Kelvin Pais, Liaison Officer, FMCI, staff, faculty and students were present.