VOICES SUMMER 2018
New York, NY | vellorecmc.org
of VELLORE
The inspiration and motivation she ignited in me have been constant companions throughout my professional career.
First Matching Gift Campaign – A Resounding Success!
T
his past spring, the Founda-
ory of his late children, Sanjeev and
are only two Level 1 trauma centers
tion initiated a matching gift
Aroti Sisodia, in order to leave a last-
in India, both are located in the north.
campaign, thanks to the gen-
ing dedication to all first responders.
The state of Tamil Nadu, where CMC
erosity of Dr. Jitendra Si-
Dr. Sisodia’s wish is to des-
is located, has the highest rate of road
sodia (Batch of 1951). Dr.
ignate his donation for trau-
traffic accidents, traumatic injuries,
Sisodia, Director of Emer-
ma and EMS training, as well
and other related deaths in the entire
gency Services & Trauma at
as equipment, to further
country.
Kingston Hospital in New
support trauma care in the
York for the past twenty
region.
years, pledged $40,000 to-
We thank Dr. Sisodia for his generous donation to the trauma center.
The campaign raised a fur-
After meeting Dr. Ida Scudder, Dr. Si-
ther $38,000 for the trau-
sodia noted that “the inspiration and
ma center, exceeding the
motivation she ignited in me have
Trauma Center being constructed at
expectations for this initiative. With
been constant companions through-
CMC’s new Kanningapuram Campus.
this money, CMC is building a state-
out my professional career.” His dona-
Dr. Sisodia, inspired throughout his life
of-the-art Level 1 trauma center and
tion has inspired many of our donors
by CMC’s founder Dr. Ida S. Scudder,
1500 bed hospital on its 88 acre cam-
to follow his lead and give generously
dedicated this donation to the mem-
pus in Kannigapuram. Currently, there
to this project.
wards a matching gift cam-
Dr. Jitendra Sisodia
paign designated for the
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NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2018
Dear friends, 2018 IS THE CENTENARY YEAR FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AT CMC. On August 12, 1918, Ida S. Scudder, the founder of CMC, started a medical school for women in Vellore offering the LMP (licensed medical practitioner) course. Back then it was called the Union Missionary Medical School for Women. In the 1940’s, it was renamed Christian Medical College, Vellore, the course was upgraded to MBBS (Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery - the equivalent of the MD degree in the USA), and men were also admitted. We at the Vellore CMC Foundation are excited to celebrate this momentous year with CMC. On May 4, 2018, the centennial was inaugurated by Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, who also unveiled the book “Healing for the Nations - An Alternative Healthcare Model,” edited by Dr. Rita Isaac, to celebrate the centennial (http://www.cmcedu100.org/inaugural-function-of-the-centenary-year/). Additionally, CMC has organized celebratory events throughout the year including the Luminary Lectures. In June, the Foundation celebrated the centenary year during the visit of CMC Director Dr. J.V. Peter
Thank you in advance for your generous support to CMC through the Vellore CMC Foundation. 100% of your gift goes to support the project you choose to donate to and is 100% tax deductible.
and Associate Director (and ex officio board member) Dr. Vikram Mathews for the annual meeting of the Foundation Corporation. The celebration included a musical evening at the Aicon Gallery in New York. Dr. J.V. Peter, an accomplished pianist, his wife Jayanthi, an accomplished vocalist, and Ms. Sue Sobolewski, another accomplished pianist, delighted us with a wide selection of musical pieces. CMC and the Foundation are also partnering together to present the 7th Annual Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration on August 9th at 6pm in the Ida S. Scudder Auditorium. In this centenary year, the oration honors the legacy of Ida. B. Scudder, the niece of Ida S. Scudder, who also dedicated much of her life to CMC. The oration will be delivered by Dr. Robert H. Fish, the nephew and closest living relative of Ida Belle Scudder and grandnephew of Ida Sophia Scudder. He is the former President of the Scudder Association, a dental surgeon, and a philanthropist. Dr. Fish Dr. Robert H. Fish will release a book entitled “One Step
Dr. Robert H. Fish
at A Time: The Birth of the Christian Medical College, Vellore,” written by alumna Dr. Reena George, at CMC to commemorate the centenary. 2018-19 is also the bicentennial of the arrival of John Scudder Sr., Ida S. Scudder’s grandfather, to South Asia. He set sail from Boston to Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) via Calcutta and later came to India, becoming the first medical missionary to the country. We join with the Scudder Association in celebrating this important milestone. Please read more about these memorable events on the CMC and Vellore CMC Foundation websites. Warm regards, Honorine Ward, MD Chair, Vellore CMC Foundation Board
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NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2018
2018 Vellore CMC Foundation Annual Meeting
O
n June 20, 2018,
latest awards and rank-
comed: Dr. Christie Thom-
corporation
ings,
events,
as, Mr. Binu Varguhese,
centenary
members of the
construction at the Kan-
and Dr. Madelon Finkel.
Vellore CMC Foundation
nigapuram campus, and
Additionally,
gathered for its annual
progress at the Chittoor
rine Ward (Board Chair)
meeting at the Interchurch
campus. Finally, Dr. Peter
thanked Dr. Bibhuti Mishra
Center in New York City.
Dr.
Hono-
put forth his vision for the
(Batch of 1971) and Dr. Sa-
wel-
way forward, taking into
jiv John (Batch of ‘78).
comed the following CMC
consideration various in-
guests: Dr. JV Peter (Direc-
ternal and external factors
tor), Dr. Jayanthi Peter, and
at CMC. During the annual
Dr. Vikram Mathews (As-
meeting, the corporation
sociate Director). This was
also receives and approves
Dr. Peter’s first visit to NYC
the annual audited finan-
since assuming the role of
cial statements.
The
Foundation
director in late 2017. He
The following new board
provided an update on the
members were also wel-
Dr. Christie Thomas
Binu Varughese
Dr. Madelon Finkel
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NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2018
Celebrating the CMC Centenary of Medical Education in NYC!
Prasad Palla, Dr. J.V. Peter, Dr. Jayanthi Peter, Dr. Honorine Ward
O
n June 19, 2018, supporters of the Vellore CMC Foundation gathered in NYC to celebrate the centenary year of medical education at CMC. George Varughese (Vice Chair) welcomed CMC guests Dr. JV Peter (Director), Dr. Jayanthi Peter,
and Dr. Vikram Mathews (Associate Director) to the Aicon Gallery, also thanking the owners Prajit and Projal Dutta for generously donating the beautiful space celebrating contemporary Indian art. Dr. JV Peter, an accomplished pianist, played selections illustrating the impact of the musical pursuits throughout his life. Dr. Jayanthi Peter sang a beautiful devotional song in Tamil, accompanied by Dr. Peter on piano. Ms. Sue Sobolewski, a professional pianist, delighted the group with a variety of inspiring pieces. Additionally, Dr. Honorine Ward (Board Chair) thanked everyone who enabled the Foundation to sponsor the event, notably George Varughese for his meaningful suggestion for the evening and Mr. Prasad Palla for coordinating the delicious Indian catering for the event.
Left, Dr. Margaret Kumar, Dr. J.V. Peter, Dr. Jayanthi Peter, Catherine Poornaselvan Right, Dr. J.V. Peter, Dr. Jayanthi Peter, Anitha Varughese, George Varughese
What a feast for our senses and a worthy celebration of the Centenary of Medical Education at CMC!
NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2018
5
SAVE THE DATE THE IDA S SCUDDER HUMANITARIAN ORATION AUGUST 9TH, 6 PM Dr. Jayanthi Peter, Dr. J.V. Peter, Dr. Vikram Mathews, Charles Scudder, Mary Scudder
SCUDDER AUDITORIUM, COLLEGE CAMPUS, BAGAYAM, VELLORE. The theme is “Honoring the Legacy of Ida B. Scudder”. The oration will be given by Robert H. Fish, nephew and closest living relative of Ida B. Scudder, great nephew and closest living relative of Ida S. Scudder, philanthropist and former Chair of the Scudder Association.
2018 Alumni Reunion Ms. Sue Sobolewski
Dr. JV Peter
This four-day event took place from June 21st – June 24th in Toronto, Canada. The 37th annual gathering featured CME sessions, entertainment, picnics, and a banquet while welcoming Mary and Raj Ramasamy as Chief Guests.
This area is for the address and postage.
A Remembrance of Dr. Mark Steinhoff - Dr. Bobby Cherayil (Batch ’74) Dr. Mark Steinhoff, former Foundation Board member, visprised to find that there were, in fact, certain combinations iting Professor of Pediatrics at CMC and generous donor to of symptoms and signs that could be used to diagnose strepCMC recently passed away; he is remembered here. I had tococcal infection with a fair degree of confidence. It was a the privilege of working with Dr. Mark Steinhoff when I was gratifying achievement and would not have been possible a pediatric resident at CMC, Vellore from 1981 to 1984. He without Mark pushing me in the right direction. was on the staff of Child Health Unit I, supervising residents And he didn’t stop there- he convinced me that I should in the clinic, going on ward rounds and conducting research write my findings and submit them for publication. That was with Dr. Jacob John. With his thick beard, wire-rimmed granthe last thing I wanted to do in my final year of residency Dr. Mark Steinhoff since I was fully occupied with taking care of patients and ny glasses and leather sandals, he had the laid-back, casual air of a counterculture intellectual. He was a fount of wisdom preparing for exams. But he was gently insistent, pointing out in the area of infectious disease, and he did a great deal to rationalize the the importance of disseminating the information we had acquired. I fiuse of antibiotics in the unit. He also made time to act as a mentor for my nally did manage to write and submit a manuscript describing our study; MD thesis on the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis in children. It was inevitably, it was rejected. I was content to give up, but he persuaded me my first foray into any kind of research, and Mark provided essential guidto keep trying, and we ultimately did get the work published in abbreviance on designing studies, collecting data, and analyzing results. What ated form. I lost touch with Mark after I left Vellore but was pleased to particularly impressed me about him was that despite his easy-going meet him again in Boston a couple of years ago. He had changed only manner, he was the epitome of rigor and doggedness. He insisted right at superficially (beard now white and hair a little thinner), still very active the beginning that I establish a clear and consistent method for recording academically and in his support of CMC. It seemed then that he was at clinical parameters. That was the only way, he explained, we could try the peak of his career and had more contributions to make. It was particto develop them as tools for predicting the likelihood a child would have ularly dismaying to learn that he had recently passed away after a brief culture-proven streptococcal infection. His advice proved to be spot-on. struggle with Alzheimer’s. His death represents a significant loss, both for When we analyzed the data at the end of the study, I was pleasantly surthe Vellore community and for those working on infectious disease.
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