VOICESof VELLORE NEWSLETTER New York, NY
vellorecmc.org
February 2015
CMC ‘s Historic Growth Takes it to a Global Level gift of $200,000 in honor and memory of Dr. “Ida B.” I write from CMC in Vellore where I was privileged to as she is affectionately remembered. With this gift the represent the Foundation, along with our Board Chair Assisted Living Facility for retired faculty will be Dr. Honorine Ward, at the January Council meeting. named for her. The campus where the residence will We reviewed the nearly final design for the new hospital be built will be renamed the Paul and Margaret Brand at Kannigapuram (see rendering above); discussed ways New Life Campus. to ensure ongoing consistency in the implementation As always, CMC is alive with new ideas, expanding of the sponsorship system (for admission into CMC); services and the deep faith that forms the foundation for everything. More information about my visit and and debated the merits of the Institution’s policy of mandatory retirement at age 65. We were pleased to see recent news are included in this first newsletter of the year. I feel elated to be part of the Foundation’s growth the expansion of RUHSA’s outpatient department, and development. Thank you for the extraordinary which many of you have supported, gain Council support you showed in 2014 and for your prayers and approval. It was a great session led by the Council’s benevolence in the year ahead. new Chair and our friend, Dr. M.C. Mathew. It is because of your continued contributions that With best wishes, the Foundation remains a vibrant and essential partner with CMC. In 2014 we achieved and even surpassed our goals. We are exceedingly grateful to those who helped us reach this high water mark. The Scudder Katherine D. Guenther, President Association and Dr. Robert Fish (grand-nephew of Vellore Christian Medical Dr. Ida B. Scudder) joined forces to make a leadership College Foundation Dear Friends of CMC,
The Dr. Ida B. Scudder Residence for Retired CMC Faculty Will Be Built!
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hanks to alumni and friends, gardens, quiet sitting areas and and most especially the walking paths will accent the building. Scudder Association and The property where the residence Dr. Rob Fish, CMC is beginning the will sit will be renamed the Paul & design process for its first residence Margaret Brand New Life Campus. for retired faculty. The 2014 initial Situated near CHAD, routine goal of $400,000 was met; we will healthcare will be convenient with continue to fund raise expecting the the constant availability of the Main full cost of the building to be over Hospital for more serious needs. $600,000. Your continued generosity Each apartment will have its own Dr. Ida B. Scudder will make all the difference. kitchenette and a community dining Dr. Albert Johnson (’61) room will offer meals for a small charge. chaired the Foundation Many of the details will be drawn up this year Board Committee (the such as a selection process if the need expands “PAC”) with passion and beyond capacity; establishment of a sliding scale inspired leadership. He for entry and maintenance fees; the role of alumni in running the building, etc. continues to call on his fellow alumni to contribute Honoring Dr. Ida Belle Scudder to this valuable and worthwhile project that will The Scudder Association, a philanthropic serve retired medical nursing organization of Scudder family members, honors and allied health faculty the memory of their medical missionary forefathers. who need assistance, Dr. Albert Johnson Today’s Scudders represent many walks of life; the rehabilitation or end-of-life Association was founded in 1938 to support the care. As Albert has said, paraphrasing Sir Winston Churchill, “Never has so much been owed by so few.” Thousands of men and women received India’s finest medical training at CMC from professors who sacrificed to remain in Vellore and carry on the mission and vision of Dr. Ida S. Scudder. Not to Be Served, But to Serve After devoting their lives to service, there is a steady number of CMC retired faculty who are in need of support, both medical and social. It is their turn to be served! Their needs are currently met in the A Block, but it is often noted that a widowed or single professor might not be able to travel home to an empty house and recover well. The option of staying in the Hospital is offered today; but most people know that this arrangement diminishes the important income that sustains CMC’s work with the poor. In response to this need the decision to fund a residence with assisted living, rehabilitation and hospice care gained momentum in 2014. The facility will be approximately 20-25 units, complete with a chapel, dining room, library, and exercise area. Situated on the Bagayam campus,
The Scudder family and friends on a recent visit to CMC
Scudder Memorial Hospital in Ranipet and CMC in Vellore. The Association provides medical and educational grants and promotes unity and kinship throughout the Scudder clan. To honor the work of Dr. Ida Belle Scudder and the spirit of compassion and service she embodied the Scudder Association and Ida’s B.’s grand-nephew Dr. Rob Fish have made major gifts to name the building in her memory. To learn more about the project and to make tax-deductible donations, visit us online at www.vellorecmc.org
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Pay Tribute to Someone Special
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or those contributing, several naming opportunities are available. Naming is available to individuals, groups, and batches. You may also donate in honor of a loved one, and a plaque will be placed in the facility when it opens. 100% of your gift is tax-deductible and 100% will go to CMC. All administrative costs will be paid by the Foundation. You may pledge a gift over three years. Thank you!
Naming Opportunities Chapel $10 0,000 Dining Room $75,000 Community Room $75,000 Library $75 ,000 Single Apartment Unit $25,000 (approx. 20 available) Chapel Window $5,000 Chapel Pew $2,000 Outdoor Bench $1,000 Garden/Walking Path $750 Your Name on Donor Wall $25 0 (minimum)
We thank all who gave in 2014 to The Dr. Ida B. Scudder Residence for Retired CMC Faculty. Roger & Krupa Abbott (CON) Ms. Annamma Abraham (CON) Dr. K. Varkey Abraham (’55) Thankamma Abraham (CON) Jeyakamari Albert (CON) Dr. Balmookoot Balgobin (’56) Albert & Katherine Bauman WBR Beasley, II Dr. Monika Bhola (’78) Monish Bhola Lena Boggiano Drs. Sarojini & Moir Budden (’58) Dr. John B. Carman Dr. Robert & Lucile Carman Drs. K George Chandy & Susan Zachariah (’71) Dr. Ellen V. Charles (’52) Drs. George & Rachel Cherian (’61) Drs. George & Reena Cherian (’81) Nancy Cherian (CON) Drs. Abraham F. & Sarah Cheriyan (’71) Dr. Pramod Chetty (’74) Grace David (CON) Dr. Robert Fish Dr. Keith Fraker Dr. Lalitha Ganesh (’66) Drs. Rohan & Mary Ganguli (’67, ’68) Ravi K. George Sarla Gnanamuthu (’56) Conrad & Rachel Gratz Dr. Cadvan O. Griffiths, Jr. Katherine D. Guenther Lisa Pierce Harnisch Dr. Manorama Hermon (’67)
Dr. Shalini M. Jacob (’70) Drs. Gandam & Saroja Jayakar Dr. Sanjay V. Joag (’76) Drs. Sajiv & Reena John (’78, ’81) Dr. Albert Johnson (’61) Nesadoss Johnson Dr. Bharathi Kamineni (’68) Drs. Cyrus & Shanta Kapadia (’59-’60) Kathryn W. Ketcham Dr. Rabindra Kitchener (’65) Drs. Jehangir & Maneck Kotwal (’55) Leela Krishnamurthy (’57) Drs. Shanker & Uma Krishnamurthy (’65) Dr. Kasturi A. Kumar-Bhatt (’66) Dr. Mercy Kuriyan (’63) Dr. Alexander & Valsa Kuruvila (’66, CON) Dr. Jean Martin Dr. Samuel Mathai (’81) Stephen T. Mathai (’62) Manoj Kurian Mathew (‘89) Dr. Lotika Misra (’90) Drs. Raj & Tina Narayan (’69,’73) Glory Ninan (CON) Dr. Philip Ninan (’69) Joseph L. Nunziata Dr. Butchi Paidipaty Michael & Patricia Brand Peters Vimala Philipose (CON) Dr. Sasikala Pillai (’60) Lewis W. & Winifred Pinch Sudhakar & Heather Rajamoney (’89) Dr. Joseph Rajendran Drs. Seshadri & Sybil Raju (’57, ’59)
Sundaram Ramanan (’54) Dr. Peter (1923-2014) & Rose Randall Drs. Wiji and Josephine Ratnathicam (’66) Dr. & Mrs. Althuru Reddy Drs. Chandy & Shanti Samuel (’55, ’59 - ’60) The Scudder Association Dianne & Richard L. Scudder Edwina Scudder-Youth Dr. Dawn Selim (’54) Dr. Elizabeth B. Shelly Douglas & Diane Sprunger Dr. Jane Srinivasan (’58-’59) Dr. Rajiv & Deepika Srivastava Dr. Mike M. & Joyce Sundar (’61, CON) Dr. Vimala Thamburaj (’66) Drs. Bobby & Joyce Thomas (’65) Drs. Christie & Sarah Thomas (’75) Drs. John & Mariamma J. Thomas (’51) Dr. Norman & Anna Thoms Mini Tommy (CON) Dr. Richard G. & Pauline Topazian Anna Varghese (CON) Shiny Varghese (CON) Emmanuel (’85) & Reena Venkatesan Dr. Annie Venugopal (’67) & P.G. Thambuswamy Dr. Carl F. von Essen Richard L. Vreeland Dr. Honorine Ward (’69) Dr. Vick & Dorothy R. Williams Dr. Akhtar (’54) & Diane Yusufji Dr. Rachel (CON) & Kunju Zachariah
Join us in building this magnificent facility! Please send your donations to vellorecmc.org/make-a-donation
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We Remember Dr. Margaret Brand
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he outpouring of gratitude and honor for the life of Margaret Brand culminated in a beautiful and personal Memorial Service
held on Saturday January 11 in Mercer Island, Seattle, Washington. With joy, prayer and song Dr. Brand’s extraordinary life was captured – but only barely. Over and over tributes embraced facets of her life, but it seemed impossible to fully imagine the ways in which Margaret Brand’s life glorified God and showed compassion and love. She was often known as the wife of the great surgeon Dr. Paul Brand. But she was in her own right an internationally recognized eye surgeon dedicated to leprosy patients; mother to seven; a life-long missionary – in Vellore, at the Leprosy
Jim Oehrig, Chief Program Officer at American Leprosy Missions (ALM) (center), and ALM Board Chair Stephen R. Genheimer, PhD (right) remember Dr. Margaret Brand with her son Christopher Brand (left)
Centre in Carville, LA and in her community in Seattle; she was an advocate for the poor, a cook, a prayer partner and a violinist. Most of all she was
dear family friend and co-author of three of
a humble servant of God and she lived every day in
Dr. Paul Brand’s books, recalled Margaret’s long,
thanksgiving and service to Him. Philip Yancey, a
mesmerizing description of the eye given in response to his query. Her wonder at creation, her tour of the eye’s miraculous abilities, became a metaphor in his talk for the clarity that guided Margaret Brand’s long life. Pauline Brand Nelson, the youngest of the Brand children, spoke of her mother as an example of unimaginable accomplishment. With touching and personal remembrances she painted a picture of family life – a never-ending adventure guided by her independent and principled Mum. In the end there was but one gift that characterized Margaret’s Brand’s impact on her children and all who knew her: that was the transference of God’s unconditional through
Members of the Carman family became close to the Brands in Vellore (l-r): Dr. Edwin Tegenfeldt, Mary Brand Jost, Donna Carman, Bruce Carman, Margaret Carman Tegenfeldt
her peace and compassion.
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January 2015 Council Meeting
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xactly half way through his 5-year term as Director, Dr. Sunil Chandy is immersed in an inspiring agenda to move CMC ahead in Vellore, in India, and in the global health arena. In late January CMC’s governing Council met (as it does twice a year) to review major initiatives, pass a budget and review staff and student considerations. Under the leadership of the new Council Chair Dr. M.C. Mathew, there was a spirited review of projects and policy issues that elicited lots of commentary and healthy debate. Here are some of the high points of the two-day gathering: Numerous international guests were invited to observe the meeting. Nesa Joseph (left), son of the late Dr. L.B.M. Joseph, is President & CEO of the Visiting Nurse Service of Greater St. Louis. He was visiting Vellore with a colleague, Dr. Bob Hill. Dr. Honorine Ward, Chair of the Foundation Board with Dr. Sunil Chandy Dr. Rita Isaac, head of the Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs (RUHSA) represented the faculty as a newly-appointed liaison Dr. Jim Taylor (far right) is the Great-Great Grandson of Dr. Silas Downer Scudder who founded the Scudder Memorial Hospital in Ranipet. Here he is pictured with mission doctors Rajiv and Deepa Choudhrie who serve at the Padhar Hospital (of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh). Jim visited them at their hospital before heading home to Wisconsin. Dr. M.C. Mathew, Chair of the Council (right) confers with his predecessor Dr. Kuruvilla Varkey.
On Friday, January 23, 2015 members of the Council attended the dedication of the new Exam Center located on the Bagayam Campus. Dr. R. Selvakumar, retired General Superintendent, was honored for his innovative approach to the new Center’s construction which allowed for cost savings and completion in a timely manner
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NEWS & UPDATES The Cooper Union Exploring Partnership in Biomedical Engineering with CMC The Albert Nerken School of Engineering at New York’s elite Cooper Union (CU) was recently represented at CMC by Dr. Anita Raja who is exploring educational and clinical partnerships for engineering students at Cooper Union. Dr. Raja is Associate Dean of Research & Graduate Programs in the School of Engineering at CU, and coincidentally a CMC-born Indian-American. As a widely respected expert in artificial intelligence she specializes in meta-reasoning and (Left to right): Dr. Rajdeep Ojha, Dr. Suresh Devasahayam, meta-cognition; however one of the goals of her Deanship Akhil Mohan (PhD student), Dr. Sivakumar, Dr. Anita Raja, is to bring international partnering opportunities to Kate Guenther, Dr. Syrpailyne Wankhar. Drs. Rajdeep, engineers interested in integrating biology into their design Sivakumar, Syrpailyne and Devasahayam are the four practices to solve medical problems. This increasingly members of the faculty in Bioengineering. important area of study at CMC is led by Dr. Suresh Devasahayam, Professor of Bioengineering. The Department was started in 2003 to develop a platform to apply engineering knowledge to health care and medical research. Collaborations with the college and hospital are essential elements of the program. Also offered are M.Tech. and Ph.D. programs jointly conducted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum and CMC, with students spending prescribed durations in each institution. These are postgraduate programs in engineering (requiring an undergraduate engineering degree) with an emphasis on application of engineering principles to biology and medicine. The possibilities for partnership are numerous and would mutually benefit CMC and Cooper Union students. Dr. Jamshed Bharucha, President of CU, is a Foundation Board member and a longtime supporter of CMC in Vellore. CMC Appears in India Abroad! In an effort to connect with more of our constituency, and with those unfamiliar with CMC, the Vellore CMC Foundation placed three successful ads in India Abroad, an international newspaper, highlighting CMC’s leadership in research, community health, and low cost effective care. This weekly paper targets Indians living internationally, particularly in the US and Canada. Thousands of people were introduced to CMC Vellore, and several readers decided to become donors to CMC through the Foundation. Ground Has Been Broken for a New OPD at RUHSA Thanks to some very generous donors in the US, RUHSA has broken ground for its new Out Patient Department (OPD). Dedication will most likely be in January 2016. Laborers cleared way for the new OPD – a 100-year-old tree had succumbed to disease and was part of the demolition.
Hundreds of people waited at the current Out Patient Department the day we visited RUHSA. Next year they will have modern comfortable waiting and examination areas.
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An Historic Meeting of The Friends of Vellore The seven Friends of Vellore organizations from around the world grew independently out of alumni spirit, ties to the founders of CMC, church affiliations, and even out of a visiting physician’s inspiration to support the exemplary Christian organization he came to know. With different agendas and very different scopes of service, the individual organizations have served as conveners, fund raisers, advisors Friends of Vellore join together for unity of vision and liaisons. Custom holds that a new Director takes time and camaraderie in his first year to visit the FOV’s, to meet alumni and supporters, and to sketch out a vision for the five years ahead – something Dr. Sunil Chandy did in 2013. There is one thing that the FOV’s have never done, and that is to meet and discuss common goals and relationships with CMC! When we realized that all but one of us (we missed Doug Virgin from Canada) would be in Vellore in January, we held our first ever joint meeting. It was a great opportunity to talk about the programs we serve and how we see ourselves serving CMC in the future. We drafted a Mission Statement that we are presenting to you individual boards for approval. Stay tuned for more on the Mission Statement and on ways we will support each other and CMC in the future! FOV United Kingdom Board members Dr. Ajit Butt (center) and Ms. Ann Witchells, enjoyed time with Sam David, Coordinator of Mission Hospitals for CMC. FOV UK is devoted to the welfare of the mission hospitals and created the Coordinator position to assist with trainee placements and doctor assignments Head of FOV in the United Kingdom, Mr. Richard Smith (left) with Dr. Thomas Kuriakose
Dr. Debby Skeil & Hugh Skeil (FOV India) with FOV Sweden Director Dr. Sven Andreasson Dr. Bella George, Batch of ‘65 and the new head of FOV Australia Dr. Rita Isaac, Head of RUHSA, with FOV Germany Director Dr. Peter Albrecht Kate Guenther, President of the Vellore CMC Foundation (FOV USA) with Dr. Sunil Chandy
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Contributing to a Global CMC
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hat does a “global CMC” mean and why is it important? Ida Scudder’s CMC started in Vellore; but we know that her goals were, at a minimum, about all of India. The new CMC hospital planned in nearby Kannigapuram will extend CMC’s impact and leadership by offering state-ofthe-art trauma care plus the highest-level specialty care, training and research. At the same time discussions about creating and funding an unprecedented technology hub at the Chittoor campus are underway – tying together Distance Learning, E-Medicine and Global Health Education & Research. This will link all of CMC’s medical education, diagnostic and clinical power, and research activity to campuses, mission/private hospitals and other sites around the world. This is where your giving makes an impact at CMC. We know that CMC’s fiscal model is sound. Contributed income fuels research, new ideas, risk-taking and pioneering. US donors gave to CMC at record levels in 2014. You – CMC’s family of alumni, volunteers and friends – bring the frontier closer. You keep CMC one step ahead. Make your giving to CMC a priority, and if you have not become a donor, do so today!
We kindly ask all visitors and alumni of CMC to please send us your anecdotes and other interesting information to share! Send to: vellorecmc.org
VELLORE CMC FOUNDATION BOARD AND CORPORATION PRESIDENT Katherine D. Guenther
Rev. Dr. Franklin Ishida Susan Jacob, MD (’58) Diane Jedlicka, PhD BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sajiv John, MD (’78) Honorine Ward, MD (’69), Chair Cyrus Kapadia, MD (’59-’60) George Varughese, Vice Chair Shanta Kapadia, MD (’59-’60) Prasad Palla, Treasurer Shanker Krishnamurthy, MD (’65) Madelon Finkel, PhD, Secretary Rev. B.B.C. Kumar Directors Surendra Kumar, MD (’59-’60) S. Balasubramaniam, MD (’58-’59) Rev. Deenabandhu Manchala Lisa M. Beardsley-Hardy, PhD Mani Mani, MD (’55) Jamshed Bharucha, PhD Susan Mathew (CON ’69) Rohan Ganguli, MD (’67) Thomas Mathew (AHS ’89) Meredith A. Hawkins, MD Arjun Mohandas, MD (’86) Albert Johnson, MD (’61) Renu Mohandas, MD (’86) Rev. George I. Kovoor Aparna Muralidharan Emma Koshi Tina Narayan, MD (’73) Margaret Kumar, PhD (CON ’67) Jim Oehrig Ranjit Mathew, MD (’68) John J. Paul, PhD Bibhuti Mishra, MD (’71) Catherine Poornaselvan (CON) Raj K. Narayan, MD (’69) Puthucode N. Rajamani Philip Ninan, MD (’68) Rev. William Sadler Thomas Philips, PhD Annie Samuel (CON ’77, ’83) H. David Reines, MD Johnson Samuel William Scudder Rev. Elizabeth Senft Mark Steinhoff, MD Edwina Scudder-Youth Prathibha Varkey, MD (’95) Jane P. Srinivasan, MD (’59) Christine Wanke, MD John Stevens, III MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION* Ponna Thurairatnam, MD (’73) K. Varkey Abraham, MD (’55) Mark Tibbetts, PhD C.J. Alexander, MD Robin Varghese, MD Saramma Alexander, MD (’60) Nissi Varki, MD (’68) Rev. Benjamin Chan Abraham Verghese, MD Bobby Cherayil, MD (’74) Elise Youth, MD Susan Cherian, PhD (CON ’75) Rex Zachariah Abraham Fenn Cheriyan, MD Anindya Dutta, MD (’75) * In addition to those listed, every Board Robert H. Fish, DMD Member is a Corporate Member
WHEN YOU ARE SENDING A GIFT Gifts to CMC made through the Foundation are 100% tax-deductible and 100% accounted for in Vellore. We are grateful to serve CMC in the US and CMC is grateful for your support. We work closely to maximize our potential to move CMC forward in its work.
Give online or by check (payable to Vellore
CMC Foundation, mailed to 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 725, NYC 10115). We accept pledges of up to three years for major gifts. Gifts of securities are most welcome. Thank you!
VELLORE CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION, INC. 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 725 • New York, NY 10115 800-875-6370 or 212-870-2640 • fax: 212-870-2173 vellorecmc.org • foundation@vellorecmc.org
VOICES OF VELLORE IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT VELLORECMC.ORG 8