“Homoeopathic medical education is witnessing sea changes and has survived the test of time,” Bengaluru-based Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) Vice-Chancellor Dr S Sacchidanand said on Friday.
“India has produced the largest number of homoeopaths,” the VC said while addressing a gathering at the Father Muller Homeopathic Medical College’s (FMHMC) 29th graduation ceremony organised at Father Muller Convention centre on Friday.
He urged students to be grateful to their parents for the hardships they had endured to educate them, to the teachers for leading them from darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge and patients from whom they have learnt clinical skills.
He advised the graduates to be knowledgeable, ethical, punctual, empathetic towards the patients.
“You should have the passion to serve people,” he stressed and added that once they excel in their profession, name and fame will come them. It is a privilege to be at FMCI as the institute has created a name in healthcare,” he added.
Earlier, the graduation ceremony began with a grand procession of graduates. The dignitaries were given a grand welcome with the traditional `Poornakumbha’.
Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI) Director Rev Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho highlighted the services rendered by FMHMC to the public from since inception in 1985.
FMHMC Principal Dr Shivaprasad K presented a report on the college’s activities for the academic year. RGUHS VC Dr S Sacchidanand awarded certificates to 73 undergraduates and 27 postgraduates. Principal Dr Shivaprasad administered the oath to graduates.
Students who secured 176 subject-wise ranks, 6 BHMS ranks, 6 MD ranks in different specialities and gold medals (instituted for the first time by RGUHS) received the awards.
The prestigious ‘President’s gold medal’ (instituted for the first time by Mangaluru Bishop and FMCI President Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha) was awarded to the best outgoing meritorious student Dr Aleena Thomas.
Mangaluru Bishop Rev Dr Saldanha stressed that Homoeopathy had kindled new hope among patients and urged graduates to alleviate the suffering of patients with their skills.
College Administrator Fr Vincent Saldanha delivered the vote of thanks. Earlier a thanksgiving mass was offered by Mangaluru Bishop Rev Dr Saldanha at Lourdes chapel in Deralakatte. The graduates accompanied by their parents attended the mass.