The Institute Day 2003 was celebrated on Saturday, the 8th February, 2003 at Banting Hall. Prof. Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, Director, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Luncknow, was the Chief Guest. The function started with the invocation. Prof. S. Badrinath, Medical Superintendent, JIPMER Hospital welcomed the gathering. Prof. R. Sambasiva Rao, Director, JIPMER, presented the Annual Report and highlighted the achievements and progress made by JIPMER during the year 2002. Prof. Ashok Kumar Das, Dean, JIPMER administered the oath to the graduates. The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Mahendra Bhandari presented the scrolls to the graduates and distributed prizes and medals to proficient students in different disciplines.

Dr. Ashwin N Ananthakrishnan was adjudged as the "Best outgoing MBBS Graduate" for the year 2002. He also received the Dr. Vikram Gupta Memorial Medal and the Dr. M.C. Rama Varma Valia Raja Memorial Gold Medal. The Dr. K.S. Sridhar Memorial Medal for the best all-rounder among MBBS Students, instituted by JIPMER Alumini Association, was shared by Dr. B.V. Sastri and Dr. Ashwin N Ananthakrishnan. Dr. Kapil Rangan was adjudged as the best intern of the year 2002. Miss. A. Sujatha won the medal for the best outgoing B.Sc. (MLT) student. A total of 28 medals for MBBS course one medal for B.Sc. (MLT), 7 medals for PG (MD/MS) and one medal for M.Sc. (Medical Biochemistry) were distributed on the occasion. 77 MBBS students and 18 B.Sc. (MLT) students received scrolls. The total number of graduates so far produced from the Institute increased to 2327.

Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, the Chief Guest, in his address, said that JIPMER has produced a good number of graduates in the medical profession. He exhorted the graduate students to have big dreams in life and take positive measures for implementing their goals. He gave an inspiring speech to all the students and advised that in future, prevention of disease should be aimed instead of cure.

The JIPMER Students' Association President, Mr. Abhijai Singh, felicitated the outgoing batch of graduates. Dr. Prashant Ganesh of the outgoing MBBS batch gave an account of the experiences of their batch in JIPMER during his reply speech.

The function ended with a vote of thanks by Prof. Robinson Smiles, the staff advisor, and the National Anthem.

1. A guest lecture was held under the auspices of the JIPMER Scientific Society and the Department of Urology JIPMER, Pondicherry at 3.15 PM on Thursday the 6th February 2003 at Pasteur Theater. The Guest Speaker Prof. Mahendra Bhandari, Director, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, delivered a lecture on "Surgery in the information technology age".

2. The monthly meeting of the JIPMER Scientific Society was held on 20th February 2003, Thursday at 3.15 PM in Pasteur Theatre.

The following papers were presented:

i. Minimum inhibitory concentration of ciprofloxacin of recent isolates of Salmonella typhi at JIPMER, Pondicherry. Harish BN, Madhulika U, Parija SC.

ii. Urological injuries during hysterectomies: A six year experience. R Gowri, P Reddi Rani, S Habeebullah, LN Dorairajan.

iii. A study of response of primary tumour to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma breast. Ashley Solomon C, Kadambari D, Basu D, Reddy KS, Srinivasan K, Elangovan S.

iv. Computer assisted teaching in physiology: An innovative experience. Chetan C. Satapathy, Susheela Veliath, N. Kannan, Joy Bazroy and Madanmohan T.

3. The Annual Alumni Oration of the JIPMER scientific society for the year 2002-2003 was held on 27th February 2003 (Thursday) at 3.15 PM in Pasteur Theater. Prof. K.R. Balakrishnan, Prof. and Head, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Chennai delivered the Oration on "Role of mathematical modeling – an engineering tool to understand cardiac structure and function – a clinician’s perspective".

4. Prof. Deepak K. Tempe, Professor and Head, Department of Anaesthesiology, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi delivered a lecture on "Current Practice of Cardiac Anaesthesia" under the auspices of the JIPMER Scientific Society and the Department of Anaesthesiology, JIPMER, Pondicherry at 3.15 PM on Friday the 28th February 2003 at Pasteur Theater.

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Dr. K.S.V.K. Subba Rao, Director-Professor, Dr. Irineu A. Pereira, Dr. Chiran Babu and Dr. B.V. Sai Chandran, Senior Residents, Mr. R. Pakkrisamy, Perfusionist, Mrs. Sudhendrabai Rajadurai, Nursing Sister and Mrs. Jaculine Manuelraj, Staff Nurse from CTVS operation theatre attended the 49th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Cardio Vascular-Thoracic Surgeons held at Hyderabad from 13-16th February, 2003. The following papers were presented:

i. Muscle-Sparing auxiliary Thoracotomy for persistant ductus arteriosus closure-JIPMER experience.

ii. Prosthetic valve endocarditis – JIPMER experience.

iii. A three year study of chest trauma at JIPMER from August 1999 to July, 2002.

iv. Vascular Trauma – a three years JIPMER experience.

v. Anticoagulation dose to maintain higher INR for high risk patients with mitral valve replacement helps in reducing thromboembolic complications – a preliminary report.

vi. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery – a new incision.

vii. Atrial septal defect with severe pulmonary artery hypertension – JIPMER experience.

viii. TVMC – an incremental risk factor for subsequent MVR?

Prof. Subba Rao moderated a symposium on "Haemoptysis – surgical implications" and also chaired a session during the course of the conference.

Dr. R. Anil Kumar attended the World Congress of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology at Hong Kong from 19th to 22nd of February, 2003. He presented a paper on "Left Atrial Thrombus in Rheumatic Mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation: Transesophagal evaluation and follow up on oral anticoagulation" in the late poster session of the congress.

Dr. S.C. Parija, Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, JIPMER, delivered a Guest Lecture on 21st February 2003 on ‘Scenario of Diagnostic kits in parasitic diseases in India’ at the 9th training course on Immunodiagnostics for Infectious Diseases held between 17-22 February 2003 at Department of Biochemistry, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra. This course was supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi. Prof. Parija was the Guest of Honour in the valedictory function organized for the workshop on 23.2.2003.

Dr. Parija also was invited as Guest of Honour in the Science Day celebrations organized by the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry on 28.2.2003. He delivered a talk on ‘Fifty Years of DNA Research in Medicine’.

1. Dr. C. Adithan, Professor of Pharmacology has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences [INDIA]. This is an honour bestowed on him as an acknowledgement of his achievements in his profession.

2. Dr. R.Raveendran, Professor of Pharmacology attended the "International conference on alternatives to the use of animals in research and education" organized by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) at New Delhi from 18th – 20th February, 2003 as an invited faculty member. He delivered a guest lecture on "Alternatives for animal experiments in pharmacology teaching". He also attended the workshop on "Ethics and Guidelines on Animal Experimentation" in Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry on 25th February 2003.

1. Dr. S.B. Rotti was conferred the "Fellow of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine" for his outstanding contributions in the field of Preventive and Social Medicine during the XXX National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine held at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum from 6th to 8th February, 2003. During the conference, he chaired a session on ‘HIV & Communicable diseases and presented a paper entitled, ‘Factors influencing oral contraceptive use among married women in urban Pondicherry’. The co-authors were Dr. J. M. Daisy, Dr. M. Danabalan and A. Felix. Dr. Kavita Vasudevan, Junior resident, presented a paper entitled, ‘Epidemiological study of domestic violence in a rural area of Pondicherry’ in the same conference. The co-author was Dr. S.B. Rotti.

Dr. Balaji Naik, Junior Resident, presented a paper entitled, ‘Group discussion as a tool to teaching medical students about coronary heart diseases’. The co-authors were Dr. S.B. Rotti, Dr. Kavita Vasudevan, Dr. G. Viranjini, Dr. M. Yogesh, Dr. M.V. Ajay Kumar and Dr. T. Neelima.

Dr. Ajit Sahai,Professor of Biometrics, also attended the XXX National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM) and the preconference workshop on "Ethical Issues in Medical Research" organized by Dept. of community medicine, J.N. Medical College, Belgaum, between 5th and 8th February 2003. He presented a paper entitled "A Case Study of Community Health Centres (CHC) – Awareness and Health Seeking Behavior". Prof. Sahai was invited to chair the session and act as a judge for Epidemiological Research Project presentations by young faculty & resident Doctors for selection to the award of IAPSM – Ford-Foundation Research Grants. Prof. Sahai was elected unanimously as an executive member of the governing council of IAPSM.

2. Prof. Ajit Sahai, attended the IX Asian Congress of Nutrition, held in India after a gap of 29 years, organized jointly by Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS), Nutrition Society of India (NSI) and Nutrition Foundation of India (NFI), between 23rd and 27th February 2003 at Hotel Ashok, New Delhi. About 2000 delegates including eminent scientists and authorities in nutrition of international fame from more than 60 countries participated and JIPMER was represented in one of the poster sessions on the topic conforming to the theme of the congress "Nutrition Goals for Asia – Vision 2020".

Prof. Sahai also attended a National Seminar on Health For All (HFA) in the New Millennium organized by National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi, between 24th and 26th February 2003. He chaired a session on ‘Emerging Issues in Health Care’ and presented a paper on ‘Functioning of CHCs and the Referral Services’. One of the two poster presentations from JIPMER was awarded the best poster.

Dr. Karoon Agrawal, Professor & Head of the department of Plastic Surgery attended the 11th Annual Conference of National Academy of Burns India Con. (NABICON)-2003 at Ahmedabad, from 7-9th February 2003. During the conference, he gave a guest lecture on "Friction and Fire Cracker Burns". He also chaired a session on "Unusual Burns".

Dr. Agrawal received the best paper award for his paper on "Fire Cracker Injuries of the Hand on Diwali" presented during the Assocn. of Plastic Surgeons of India Con. (APSICON)-2002 at Hyderabad.

Dr. S. Habeebullah, Professor & Head participated in a case discussion on "Abnormal Uterine Bleeding" and "C.P.D." during the 6th Rapid Revision Course for PGs at Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Hospital, Chennai on 19.2.2003.

Dr. Gita Rajagopalan, Professor acted as "Observer" for the NTTC training programme conducted at the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Channi on 27th and 28th February 2003.

The 13th Annual Conference of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venerologists & Leprologists (IADVL) (Pondicherry branch) was held at Hotel Annamalai, Pondicherry on 23rd February, 2003. Dr. D.M. Thappa, Professor and Head of the Department was Chairman for the Scientific Society and chaired the Dr. Sardari Lal Memorial Oration Award Session. Dr. T.J. Jaisankar, Associate Professor also participated in the programme.

The following papers were presented in the award sessions:

i. Dapsone syndrome – Revisited. Authors: Dr. Shriya Dave, Dr. D.M. Thappa.

ii. Complications and unusual variations of cutaneous viral infections. Authors: Dr. Laxmisha C, Dr. D.M. Thappa, Dr. T.J. Jaisankar.

iii. Pattern of Pediatric dermatoses in a referral center in South India. Authors: Dr. Deepthy V. Gopinath, Dr. Karthikeyan K, Dr. D.M. Thappa.

iv. Tuberculoid in a child: Transformation of Papulonecrotic tuberculid to lichen scrofuloserum. Authors: Dr. David, P. Dr. Karthikeyan K, Dr. D.M. Thappa, Dr. S. Jayanthi.

v. Giant shagreen patch in tuberous sclerosis associated with spina bifida occults. Authors: Dr. Udayashankar C, Dr. D.M. Thappa, Dr. B. Jeevan Kumar, Dr. Karthikeyan K.

vi. Peeling skin syndrome. Authors: Dr. Shivaswamy KN, Dr. D.M. Thappa, Dr. Karthikeyan K.

vii. Audit of admission of Leprosy patients in a referral hospital. Authors: Dr. Srinivasulu KN, Dr. Karthikeyan K, Dr. D.M. Thappa.

viii. Congenital cutaneous candidiasis. Authors: Dr. Sathesh, Dr. Karthikeyan K, Dr. D.M. Thappa.

ix. Onychomatricoma. Authors: Dr. Anand, Dr. Laxmisha C, Dr. D.M. Thappa, Dr. Karthikeyan K.

Dr. Shriya Dave got the Ist prize, Dr. Laxmisha C got the second prize and Dr. Srinivasulu KN got the third prize for the paper presentation.

Postgraduates also participated in the Quiz Programme along with the postgraduates from Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai and Annamalai University, Chidambaram. Our JIPMER postgraduate team of Dr. Laxmisha C and Shivaswamy KN got the first prize.

In the general body meeting of IADVL (Pondicherry branch) the office bearers for 2003-2004 were elected. Dr. D.M. Thappa became the President, Dr. T.J. Jaisankar the Organising Secretary and Dr. Karthikeyan K the Treasurer.

Shri. V. Sambasivam, Driver of JIPMER, died on the 16th of February after a brief illness. We offer our deepest condolences to the family.

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The following staff have retired from the institute:

Shri. K. Rangaraj, Dresser - 1.2.2003

Shri. R. Kannan, Laundry Operator - 8.2.2003

The staff and students convey their gratitude for the contribution made them to the development of JIPMER. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

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