Dr. R. Sambasiva Rao, Director, JIPMER, while inaugurating the CME, highlighted the importance of attending such programs during the inaugural function in the morning. Dr. S. Jayanthi, Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology, welcomed the delegates and Dr. Bhawana Badhe, Professor of Pathology and Organizing Secretary of the CME, proposed vote of thanks.

The scientific session included guest lectures on Pathology of Placenta by Dr. Vanaja Sankaran, former Professor & Head, Department of Patho- logy and on Rare Malignant Tumors of Breast by Dr. P. Karkuzhali, Professor of Pathology, Stanley Medical College, Chennai. A Symposium on Locally Advanced Breast Cancer was moderated by Prof. K. Srinivasan, Department of Surgery, JIPMER. The participants for this symposium included Dr. K. Sathyanarayana Reddy, Director Professor & Head, Department of Radiotherapy, Prof. S. Jayanthi, Dr. N. Siddaraju, Professor of Pathology and Dr. R. Krishnan, Associate Professor of Pathology. The programme also included a lecture on Immunohistochemistry in female reproductive lesions by Prof. Jayanthi and a lecture on Clinicopathological significance of ASCUS/AGUS in cervical smears by Dr. Surendra Kumar, Professor of Pathology, JIPMER. Two scientific papers were presented by Prof. Madhavan and Dr. Krishna Kumar of the Vision Research Centre, Shankar Nethralaya, Chennai.

In the afternoon, there was a slide session which was moderated by Dr. R. Krishnan. The slides were discussed by the senior residents of this department. These included seven interesting cases pertaining to female genital tract and breast pathology.

The CME provided a meeting ground for both senior pathologists and postgraduates of pathology from various colleges in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Participation by three former Heads of the Department of Pathology of JIPMER, Dr. Malathi Madhavan, Dr. Vanaja Sankaran and Dr. Prema Sivasankaran was an added highlight of the programme.

The workshop on Nursing Care in Emergency was held in JIPMER from 19.5.2003. 30 participants from Govt. Head Quarters Hospital, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore, Govt. General Hospital Pondicherry and JIPMER attended. They were at the capacities of Staff Nurses & Nursing Sisters.

Mrs. G. David, Chief Nursing Officer & Course coordinator welcomed the gathering. Dr. R. Sambasiva Rao, Director, JIPMER inaugurated the function. He in his inaugural address, pointed out that nurses have to update their knowledge and skill. Under no circumstances should the human touch and tender Care by the Nurses and Doctors should be replaced by the monitor or ventilator. Writing work should be replaced with computers so that the Nursing staff will save time & give extra care to the patients. The Nursing Education should improve and all should work hard to start colleges of Nursing specially in hospitals where medical colleges are attached.

Dr. Badrinath, Medical Superintendent presided over the function. He in his presidential address, pointed out that nursing staff should know how to work efficiently in the intensive care unit. They should also update themselves regarding the new equipments & drugs which become available. Mr. Ramesh, Nursing Tutor proposed the vote of thanks.

All the participants actively involved themselves in the proceedings. Pretest & post tests were conducted. On 28.5.2003 the valedictory function was held. Dr. K.R. Sethuraman, Director-Professor and Head, Dept. of Medicine, in his valedictory address encouraged and appreciated the nurses activities. Certificates were distributed to the participants by him & the Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. Dutta.

The conference was inaugurated by the Director Dr. R. Sambasiva Rao. Dr. Madanmohan, Director-Professor & Head, Dept. of Physiology, and President of APPI, Pondicherry Branch delivered his presidential address. Dr. Ashok Kumar Das, Dean, JIPMER released the souvenir of the conference. Dr. Gopal Krushna Pal, Professor of Physiology and General Secretary of APPI, Pondicherry Branch read the annual report of the Conference. Dr. (Mrs) P. Vijayalakshmi, Professor of Physiology, gave the vote of thanks.

Dr. W. Selvamurthy, Advisor, Defence Research Development Organisation, New Delhi delivered the keynote address on the topic of "Stress and Herbal Medicine", immediately after the inauguration. Dr. Madanmohan, Director-Professor & Head, Department of Physiology delivered the invited guest lecture on "Stress and its Management".

In the afternoon, the award for the best undergraduate research paper was presented, following which the free-paper session was conducted 18 research papers were presented. In the evening, the General Body meeting was held to discuss the various ways to improve the functioning of the Association and to elect the office bearers for the year 2003-04. The conference ended with the valedictory function, which was chaired by Dr. Madanmohan.

1. The monthly meeting of the JIPMER Scientific Society was held on 10th April 2003, Thursday at 3.15 PM in Pasteur Theatre.

The following papers were presented:

1. Acinar cell carcinoma of pancreas – a case report. Magnus J. Mansard, Dinker Pai, S. Jagdish, Bhawana A. Badhe

2. Determination of the Mac intubation of sevoflurane in oxygen in children. Lalitha Vani S, Ravishankar M, Hemavathy B, Sandhya PS, Vijay Mohan H

3. Bone marrow cryptococcosis – a report. Rajagopal Saravana, S. Chandrakumar, Bendangtoshi S. Longkumar, Debdatta Basu, R.P. Swaminathan.

4. Gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Vivek Babu, Shankar Raman, N. R. Vishnu Prasad, Bhawana Badhe, Vikram Kate, N. Ananthakrishnan.

2. The Annual Guest Oration of the Jipmer Scientific society for the year 2002-2003 was held on 24th April 2003 (Thursday) at 3.15 PM in Pasteur Theater. Dr. W. Selvamurthy, Outstanding Scientist & Advisor Biomedical Sciences, Defense Research and Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, Government of India delivered the Oration on "Man behind the Weapon: Role of Life Sciences". The President JSS, Dr. Madanmohan, presented a Medallion and the Scroll of Honour to the Chief Guest. Dr. R. Sambasiva Rao, presented a memento to the Guest orator on the occasion.

3. The Best Paper Awards of the JSS for the year 2002-2003 were:

1. CATEGORY A (Case reports)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Vivek Babu, Shankar Raman R, Vishnu Prasad NR, Bhawana Badhe, Vikram Kate, N. Ananthakrishnan.

2. ICMR CATEGORY (For Undergraduates)

Evaluation of the role of Helicobacter pylori in patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy. Vaishnavi Batmanabane, Vikram Kate, N. Ananthkrishnan.

3. CATEGORY B (Clinical or Laboratory studies)

A study of risk factors in predicting the need for surgery in liver abscess. Ranjith Sukumar, Dinker R. Pai, Jagdish S, Dutta TK, Parija SC.

The awards were given on 24th April 2003 by Dr. W. Selvamurthy after the annual guest oration.

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Dr. K.P. Mishra, Consultant Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai conducted a course on Electrocardiography on 28th May, 2003 at Theatre Pasteur, JIPMER. His book on "Action Potential to Arrhythmias" was released on the occasion. The course was attended by over 100 doctors of this institute.

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During the month of April 2003, 57 candidates joined MD/MS/Diploma courses for the 2003 session.

The announcement for B.Sc., M.Sc. (Medical Biochemistry), M. Ch (Urology & C.T.V.S), D.M. Cardiology courses & Ph. D Programmes starting in July 2003, has been given in all leading news papers.

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1. Three Residents from the Department attended the UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Changing Youth Population – Challenges" organized by the Department of Population Studies, Annamalai University on 25th and 26th March, 2003. Dr. Kavita Vasudevan presented a paper titled "An epidemiological study of domestic violence in a rural area of Pondicherry". The co-author was Dr. S.B. Rotti. Dr. Neelima Tirkey presented a paper titled "A study of family formation patterns in an urban area of Pondicherry". The co-authors were Dr. A. Tamilmani and Dr. K.A. Narayan, Dr. D.K. Srinivasa, Dr. P.J. Pelto and S. Veerammal.

2. Dr. M.V. Ajay Kumar won the third prize in the nation-wide essay competition organized by IAPSM and USAID supported Environment Health Project on "Challenges and options for the delivery of Primary Health Care in the disadvantaged urban areas". A certificate and a prize were awarded in the XXX National Conference of the IAPSM held at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka between 6th and 8th February 2003.

Dr. R. Anil Kumar, Professor of Cardiology, was invited as National faculty to participate in the interventional Cardiology conference – Trans Catheter Interventions 2003 – conducted by Medical College Trivandrum on 5th & 6th of April 2003. He attended the conference and moderated a live session on complex angioplasty during the workshop.

Dr. Latha Chaturvedula, Assistant Professor of Obstt. & Gyn. delivered a health talk to the adolescent girl students during the Special NSS Camp at Blue Star High School, Arumparthapuram, Pondicherry on 25.04.2003.

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