Forty-eight girls received gold medals in the 16th annual convocation of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) here on Wednesday. Dr Rajalakshmi S J, a differently abled student from Government Dental College, Bangalore, stole the show. She has completed her MDS in Orthodontics and received an endowment award for securing the highest marks in the subject.
She did not have any disability at birth, but lost her ability to walk after meeting with and accident five years ago. Rajalakshmi is now a paraplegic and cannot walk for the rest of her life. But that did not stop her from achieving. “It took almost a year for me to recover and during that time I had decided to do something new and studied MSc in psychology and also completed a fashion designing course,” she said.
She has opened a clinic at Srinagar (Bangalore) and is also offering free service for a city-based NGO.
Meanwhile, out of the 62 candidates who have received gold medals and cash awards at the convocation, 48 are girls including the the first five toppers. Dr Atibhi Goel, a student of Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, who bagged four gold medals for securing highest marks in MBBS was more than happy as she got an opportunity to meet her role model Dr Deviprasad Shetty.
The first thing which Atibhi Goel did just after receiving her medals was pose for a photo with Dr Shetty. Dr Shetty was present to receive a honorary doctorate conferred by the university.
Speaking to Express Atibhi said: “I want to pursue MD in general medicine from AIMS New Delhi and get a fellowship in Endocrinology from Royal university UK. I will always give preference to treating poor people free of cost.”
Dr Tasneem Kamalsha, an MBBS student at SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, who received three medals is the first doctor in her family. “I believe in getting practical experience than just studying theory. I like to spend more time with patients. I would like to do my specialisation in Gynaecology or pediatrics,” she said.
Dr Pang Yee Rui, an international student who studied at Bapuji Dental College and Hospital Davanagere, and Dr Abhinaya Venkatakrishnan of M S Ramaiah Medical College also bagged three gold medals each.
‘Quality an Issue in Medicine’
Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch, secretary, Department of Health and Research, Government of India delivered the convocation address and highlighted concerns over the quality in health service.
“Quality is the main issue today in medical service. Even at elite hospitals the role of the nurse and para clinical staff is important,” he said.
“There are excellent doctors who do a good job and we have plenty of elite hospitals and yet people die. Today, people die because of bacteria infections as paramedical staff are not commendable. Hospital infections depends on paramedical staff and their role is important,” added Katoch.
He advised students who have received degrees to concentrate on clinical skills. “To make a healthy nation, clinical skills of doctors are important. Today people are dying because of non availability of health services,” he said.
He also asked students not to think beyond boundaries. “Think India as your universe and think of the universe. We should not be the followers, we should be the innovators,” he advised.
Governor and Chancellor H R Bharadwaj, vice chancellor Dr K S Sriprakash and registrar Dr Premkumar were present.