Book on CMC Vellore launched in city

Discover the values and history behind the sought-after Christian Medical College Vellore in 'To the seventh generation' book launch.

The book on CMC Vellore, ‘To the seventh generation: the journey of Christian Medical College Vellore’ was launched here on Wednesday by V.I. Mathan, who was the hospital’s director from 1994-1997. The first copy was received by the present director and haematologist Vikram Mathew and the second copy was received by V.V. Bashi, director of Institute of Cardiac Diseases and senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at SIMS, Vadapalani. Dr. Mathan had spent 50 years of his life at the institution, where he joined as a student and retired as its director.

Dr. Vikram said Dr. Mathan had chronicled the history of the evolution of the hospital and was one of the few persons who had known Ida Scudder, the hospital’s founder. 

Dr. Bashi said he had wanted to work in Christian Medical College and grabbed the opportunity when it came his way, even if it meant losing the chance of gaining an MCh degree.  His tenure at the hospital from 1980 to 1992 not only taught him valuable lessons as a surgeon but also shaped his career, he said.  The institution required the doctors to be teachers and publish articles, and such a training had helped him become the surgeon he is today, he said.  

Now, when doctors relied on modern technology such as machine learning and AI, Dr. Bashi said lessons such as examining the patient and taking history had stood him in good stead. Just by examining an x-ray and an ECG and with a stethoscope he could “make reasonably good decision” even today, he said.  

Activist Usha Jesudasan read out a few passages from the book.