Annual Convocation of DD Jain Memorial College

385 Graduates were awarded the degrees

Annual Convocation of Devki Devi Jain Memorial College was held on March 10, 2012. Dr. C.S. Meena hon’ble Joint Secretary, UGC was the chief guest of the function. 375 Graduates of Arts, Commerce, Computer Applications, M.A.(History and Hindi), M.Sc.(IT) & PGDCA were awarded the degrees. 18 students made the institution proud by registering their names in the book of Roll of honour for their excellent performance in various fields. Mrs. Surinder Dua, officiating principal of the college in her annual report highlighted the achievements of the students in different fields during the session 2010-11 and appreciated the role of teachers and management in the success of the college.
Dr. C.S. Meena, in his convocation address congratulated the pass outs and wished them a bright future. He emphasized the role of education in women empowerment and advised the graduates to feel proud of whatever role they choose to play in life whether it is that of a professional or a home maker.
He further said that UGC sanctions many grants and has introduced various schemes for the benefit of women who are interested in pursuing higher studies. Dr. Amarjit singh Dua, Former Dean College Development Council GNDU, Dr. S.P. Singh Former Vice Chancellor GNDU, Ms. Param Saini, a renowned Clinical psychologist were the guests of honour. Samaj Rattan Sh. Hira Lal Jain, Chairman, Sh. Kedar Nath Jain, President, Sh. Raj Kumar Jain & Sh. Shanti Saroop Jain, Sr. Vice President, Sh. Sheetal Kumar Jain, Vice President, Sh. Bipin Jain, Secretary, Sh. Arvind Kumar Jain, Joint Secretary, Sh. Shiv Desh Bandhu Gupta, Manager (Jain Girls Sr. Sec. School), Sh. Surinder Kumar Jain, Manager (D.D. Jain Memorial College for Women), Sh. Yogesh Kumar Jain, Manager (Atam Devki Niketan), Sh. Amrit Lal Jain, Member Advisory Board, Sh. Yogeshwar Jain, Sh. Naresh Kumar Jain, Sh. Prem Kumar, Sh. Ajit Kumar Jain, Sh. Sachin Jain, Sh. Satinder Jain and other worthy members of managing committee graced the occasion with their benign presence. (Report:Rector Kathuria// Photos:Sanjay Sood)

Annual Convocation of 4 C M C colleges

Convocation of 4 CMC Colleges held on with traditional grandeur

Ludhiana, 10th March, 2012 ( Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria)
 Annual Convocation of Christian Medical College, Christian Dental College, College of Nursing and College of Physiotherapy, Ludhiana was held on 10th March 2012 with traditional grandeur today in the College Campus,       Prof. (Dr.) S.S. Gill, Vice Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot was the Chief Guest. He said, “At the outset, let me thank the Institute for inviting me here to participate in this memorable occasion and to distribute the Convocation credentials to merit holders. Your profession is prestigious, with ample scope for growth. You are part of the educated class that society looks up to, for guidance and awareness. On this convocation day, I wish all the young Doctors & Nurses the very best in life and a wonderful future with achievements and I wish they should also treat the poor people.
It is always a pleasure to visit CMC & Hospital and I am delighted to be here with the younger generation of doctors and nurses today. Christian Medical College has a long tradition of pursuing excellence in teaching and research in science. He also appreciated the Christian Medical College & Hospital for its exceptional services in the field of Medical.

Dr. Abraham G. Thomas, Director CMC & Hospital welcomed the gathering, Dr. S. M. Bhatti, Principal administered the Hippocratic Oath to the Graduates and Postgraduates. Fifty five Medical Graduates 25 Postgraduates were awarded the degrees.  Students excelling in various academic activities were awarded Prizes and Medals by the Chairman, Governing Board, CMC Ludhiana.   Geetika Gera, Sebastian Marker, Asha Thomas, Devki Verma, Cynthia Sarah Mathews,  Shrutika Gupta,  Jenni Mariam George, Jibi John , Jincy Mariya Paul were the prominent prize winners.  Dr. Midhila Baby won the gold medal for best intern while Dr. Shubdha Garg was awarded Dr. Jaswant Kaur Gill Memorial award for best outgoing medical resident and Dr. Supriya Sen was awarded Dr. Abraham G.Thomas award for the best outgoing resident in Surgery.  Overview of faculty achievements was presented by Principal, Dr. S.M..Bhatti. The Association of Medical Alumni awarded Life Time Achievement award to Dr. Patience Williams. Dr. V. K. Satija Award for best Clinical Teacher went to Dr. Nitin Batra while batch of 1976 Excellence in Teaching Award went to Dr. Bobby John. Rejul K Raj was awarded Alumni Prize for best all-round graduate.
58 B.Sc. Nursing graduates and 23 M.Sc. Nursing post-graduates awarded the degree on 36th Annual Convocation. Gurwinder Kaur B.Sc. Nursing 1st year, Damanpreet kaur B.Sc. Nursing 2nd year, Navpreet Kaur B.Sc. Nursing 3rd year, Shefali Singla B.Sc. Nursing 4th year secured 1st position in the college.  Gigi M.George secured first position in B.Sc. Nursing Aggregate. Amrinder Kaur M.Sc.Nursing 1st year and Sukhbir Kaur M.Sc.Nursing 2nd year stood first in the College.  Sukhbir Kaur ranked first in M.Sc. Nursing Aggregate. Special prizes were awarded to Shefali Singla for Best Community Health Nurse, Twinkle Mary Paul & Gigi M.George for Best Bed Side nurse and Achsah T.Thampi was awarded for the All Round Best Student Nurse. Pro.Mrs. Ponnamma R.Singh, Principal, College of Nursing congrats all the students.

Dr. Abi M. Thomas, Principal, Christian Dental College presented the college report.  There were 40 BDS and 4 MDS graduates to receive their degrees.  5 students received gold medals.  In the report he highlighted the achievements of the faculty and students in the last year.  Ms. Ashima Razdan was topper in the final Professional BDS examination.    The overall pass percentage in the University examinations for the third and final year BDS was 100%.As part of the goal oriented education, all our students are committed to serve an area of need after their graduation.   At present 35 graduates of Christian Dental College are working in different parts of the country and one at Liberia, West Africa.  The dental students council actively supported the administration in coordinating different programmes.    The Principal highlighted that there were 22 scientific paper presentations, 13 poster presentations, and 22 scientific publications in national and international journals were done by our students and faculty in the last year. 

Dr. Kim Mammen, Associate Director, CMC proposed the vote of thanks.

Therapist Uses Art to Help Troops Heal

The center provides treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and...
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

Creative arts therapist Melissa Walker offers a wealth of supplies to service members to complete their art projects in the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Walker developed her program to help those with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk 

BETHESDA, Md., March 8, 2012 - An art therapist is using the power of creativity to help service members heal from traumatic brain injuries and psychological health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Melissa Walker designed the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence on the campus of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here. She is the program's sole art therapist, and also serves as its coordinator. The program aims to help the recovering service members find a creative haven where their buried post-war thoughts and emotions can come to the surface through art and therapy.
With gentle encouragement from Walker, active-duty troops create their way to healing. By working on their art projects in a personal manner, they confront the circumstances of their injuries and begin to overcome the uncertainty they might feel, she said.

"What's bothering them runs the gamut of that moment in time: ... the frozen trauma, the frozen memory. They can't seem to shake what they've internalized," Walker said.

Service members with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries create an endless variety of designs on papier-mache masks to help them clarify their thoughts and sense of self, art therapist Melissa Walker said. Their designs vary from their war experiences to picturing themselves as healing while undergoing treatment at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk.Download screen-resolution                                    Download high-resolution

The center provides treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and, sometimes, reintegration to active duty for service members who have psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury. All have mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder, and most also have had some kind of head injury from exposure to a blast injury or fall, Walker said.

When these service members come to the center, they're often in a confused place, and some experience a loss of identity. Those who want to return to duty have a difficult time because they're passionate about their jobs, and those who will rejoin the civilian world wonder what they'll face, she said.

"They need to realize, 'It's time to take care of myself,'" she said.

Art therapy is one element of the center's interdisciplinary treatment. Walker, who designed the Healing Arts Program when the center opened two years ago, said creating art slows down the brain so people can focus and improve their cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination.

Walker's interest in the effects of war on troops stems from childhood memories of her grandfather returning from military service in Korea with what she now believes was post-traumatic stress. But, she said, "there wasn't a name for it then." White House, Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials have made traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress treatment and prevention a top priority during the past decade of war.

By their third week in the Healing Arts Program, Melissa Walker assigns service members montages to design that signify their experiences at the center and characteristics they see in themselves. One wrote a poem in a creative writing class and incorporated it into his montage, which Walker said brought him "full circle." The art therapy program is a four-week piece of the treatment plan at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for those with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries from their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk.
Download screen-resolution                                          Download high-resolution
  

Walker begins her treatment by meeting the service members one-on-one so she can get to know them and their goals while they are at the center. This also helps her meet the art therapy needs of each small group of about five people, she said. She has the service members design a mask, a montage and a postcard in any design with any materials they want, from magazine clippings to beads and paint. Most of their artistic creations, she said, reflect their inner thoughts concerning deployment, their injuries, various war experiences, and their futures.

Since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military officials have recognized family members' needs for support, and Walker's Healing Arts Program is no exception. One night a week, family members come to Walker's family class to do the same projects as the service members, to give this group of caregivers a break and a chance to "breathe," Walker said.

Service members' mask designs vary, she said, recalling a service member who divided his mask into the halves of two faces, depicting how he saw himself as both a civilian and a member of the military. The split-self has to do with identity, she said. Some who still have war images in their minds might design a scene of the injuries they and their fellow troops suffered.

The groups discuss their mask creations and what they mean. Walker said these discussions bring up personal and symbolic experiences. Sharing and discussing artwork establishes a sense of community and bonding with one another, which is particularly helpful to those with post-traumatic stress who tend to isolate themselves and don't trust others, she said.

"Some feel a lot has been lifted off their shoulders," she said of the group discussions. "Some will share things they never have before and feel validated. They realize they aren't alone."

Walker said the service members with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury have "layers and layers of complications." In a similar manner, the montages they design often reflect the past, present and future of who they are, which helps them clarify their sense of self, Walker said.

The art therapist described the montage of another student who created a representation of himself in three stages: gradually coming from the dark side of war, opening a door labeled "NICoE," and stepping into brightness to depict healing, she said.

Walker's goal at the final week's commencement is to leave each
service member in "a forward-thinking mode," by asking them to design a postcard with a "positive" hand-scribed note for one of the center's recent graduates.

"One wrote, 'Remember what you learned here,'" she said.

Walker said she is confident future studies will bear positive results of art therapy for those with PTSD and TBI. For now, she added, she stands determined to help people confront and cope with their wounds by expression through art.

"I always tell them, 'I'm so glad you're here and taking time for yourself, and the biggest step you've taken is being open to this,'" she said. "That's huge. That's brave."

Related Sites: National Intrepid Center of Excellence Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Be aware ….Save The Kidney

Kidney diseases are often detected too late

Photo Courtesy: Health Medical 

Awareness of Kidney Diseases is low with many people totally underestimating the vital role our kidneys play, when in fact kidney damage and disease causes serious morbidity for hundreds of thousands of people, and in some cases leads to death. Chronic diseases – that already account for 72% of the total global burden of disease in people over 30 – will increase by 17% over the next decade; much of this in developing countries like India.

Our kidneys remove toxins and excess water from our blood. They also help to control our blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and hormones, and to keep our bones healthy.

There is a close relationship between kidney diseases, diabetes and hypertension. Worldwide, 246 million people suffer from diabetes and the figure is expected to reach 380 million by 2025. Diabetic kidney disease affects a third of people suffering from diabetes.India has about 50 million diabetic patients and diabetes affects the kidneys in 30-40% patients with renal failure related to diabetes accounting for about 20% of patients on dialysis.  Unfortunately, less than half of those people diagnosed with diabetes undergo a simple screening test for kidney disease.

Kidney diseases are often detected too late, when the patient is already in end-stage renal failure and will need either dialysis or transplantation. Worldwide, over 1.5 million people are undergo dialysis or transplantation and this number is forecasted to double within the next 10 years. In India only a small percentage of people can afford dialysis and transplantation.

A simple way to prevent these issues is to tackle the problem at the source, and ensure early diagnosis of kidney damage by systematically screening people diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension. This can be done with simple and inexpensive urine tests. If detected early, damage can be treated with effective therapies. If diagnosed too late, kidney diseases lead to kidney failure, which entails dialysis and transplantation. 

World Kidney Day

Celebrated worldwide onthe second Thursday of March, World Kidney Day offers a crucial, visible opportunity to inform and educate health policy-makers, people who are at highest risk of CKD, and the general public that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.

The Department of Nephrology at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, will be organizing a Kidney Health Camp in the nephrology OPD from 8 - 11 AM on 10^th March, 2012, which will include free registration, nephrology and diet consultation, screening urine and blood tests, health education and awareness promotion.Please feel free to check your kidneys especially if you are diabetic, have high blood pressure, smoke, use regular pain medications, are above 40 years of age or have a close relative with diabetes or kidney disease.

For Further Details Please Contact  Dr.Jasmine Das: 9988345898
by Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

The Gift of Life: 21 years later // by Dr Kim Mammen

He discontinued his studies and was bed ridden

Paramjit Singh runs a Karyana and multi-purpose store at Una, Himachel Pradesh, and supports his wife and two children. He has perfect health now and eats normal food considering the illness he suffered during his adolescence, 21 years ago. At the age of 17, in 1990, he was diagnosed to have end stage kidney failure and he was dependent on hemodialysis for his survival. Due to his kidney failure, he discontinued his studies and he was bed ridden for a while. He used to get hemodialysis three times a week at CMCH. Why would fate strike a person in his youthful age of 17? Is this God’s punishment to me and my family? These were the thoughts that went through his mind while he went through the ordeal of hemodialysis for his end stage kidney failure? His father, Rattan Singh, was a Police Officer and he decided to donate his kidney for his son. 27-August-1991 was the long awaited day he dreamt of to receive the “Gift of life” from his father. Parmajit Singh underwent successful kidney transplantation at CMCH. Dr Kim Mammen, Professor & Head, Department of Urology & Renal Transplant Surgeon had performed the renal transplant operation for Paramjit Singh. This was the first ever successful renal transplant surgery performed at CMCH. This was also Dr Kim Mammen’s first renal transplant operation of his career. Recalling the experience of his first renal transplant operation, Dr Mammen confessed that he displayed his best surgical skills in getting the first ever renal transplant operation at CMCH go right and perfect. God’s choicest blessings and a good team-work was the Mantra for the successful operation. The check list he had made for every step of the procedure went right, Dr Mammen confessed 21 years later.

Soon after the kidney transplantation operation, Rattan Singh [Father] was thrilled to know that his donated kidney was working perfectly well on his only son. This was the greatest gift a father could ever give to his son. Rattan Singh recovered well after the operation and he went home six days after the operation. Paramjit Singh was discharged two weeks after the renal transplant operation with normal kidney function. It was a dream come true for Paramjit Singh when he experienced a urine output of more than two liters a day. Before the renal transplant operation, he was passing less than 100 ml of urine in a day and that too with hemodialysis three days a week. Before the operation, he had dreamt to pass urine in good volumes and he was uncertain whether he would fulfill this dream. Paramjit Singh stayed in Ludhiana for a month after the renal transplant operation for getting regular check-ups and blood tests done. A month later, he returned to Una and he started to do part-time education.

Three years after the successful renal transplant operation, Paramjit Singh got married and he now has two children. Paramjit Singh has led a happy married life and his children are excited that their dad is leading a normal life after 21 years of his renal transplant operation. He has had minor ailments and infections which were promptly treated by the CMCH Doctors. Presently Paramjit Singh comes for regular check-ups every two months. Paramjit Singh continues to work as a motivator and promoter for renal transplant surgery and he has proved that this is the only salvation for patients with end stage kidney failure who are totally dependent on hemodialysis. He is indebted to the doctors and nurses of CMCH who looked after him during and after the kidney transplantation operation.

Ever since Paramjit Singh’s successful renal transplant operation in 1991, Dr Kim Mammen has performed more than 500 renal transplant operations both at CMCH and in the UK where he had served as a Consultant Urologist and Renal Transplant Surgeon. Dr Mammen proudly reiterated that the Transplant Team at CMCH had also done Punjab’s first successful cadaver renal transplant in Jan-1997 and the second one in June-2000.

As the world celebrates the “World Kidney Day” Paramjit Singh proudly said “I am a true beneficiary of the Gift of Life by kidney donation and I am now cured of the end stage kidney disease. I was once destined to die but now, I am determined to live. Thank you kidney transplantation and thank you CMCH for the gift of life.” {Issued on:Dated: 07-Mar-2012}

Compiled by Dr Kim Mammen, 
Professor & Head, Department of Urology, 
Renal Transplant Surgeon, 
Christian Medical College Hospital, Ludhiana. 

Former Marine Gets Medal For Heroism

By Lance Cpl. Sarah Wolff
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., March 6, 2012 - With some prodding from his son, Charles P. Barrett Jr. finally received the recognition the Marine Corps says he was due for his actions 60 years ago.

Marine Corps Col. Michael L. Lawrence, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., pins the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on Charles P. Barrett, Jr., on Feb. 24, 2012. Barrett was recognized for his prompt action and courage during the Korean War. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sarah Wolff

On May 13, 1951 during the Korean War, then Marine Corps Cpl. Barrett was on refueling duties for a night combat operation when his fuel truck caught fire.

Rather than jump out of the burning truck, Barrett successfully drove it off the airfield, through a construction barrier and clear of all munitions before exiting the vehicle.

"His loyal devotion to duty in the face of great personal risk was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service," according to the Navy and Marine Corps Medal citation signed by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

Barrett's prompt action and courage was recognized because of his son's diligence.

"Three years ago, I found his service records in his shed, and saw that he had all these medals and awards," said Charles P. Barrett III. "I finally said, 'Dad, you have to tell me what you went through.'"

Among other stories, Barrett told his son that paperwork had been completed saying he rated the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but it was missing from his service record. His son began writing to Headquarters Marine Corps and military historians to track down a copy of a citation found in a storage box indicating he did rate it.

"By his prompt action and courage, he avoided the disaster which would undoubtedly have resulted from the subsequent explosion of the truck's cargo of gasoline which, due to his foresight, occurred without injury to aircraft or personnel," according to the citation.

Closing the award ceremony, Barrett passed on words of wisdom to the attending Marines.

"We had a good, tight group of people that knew the seriousness of our mission and lived it safely," Barrett said. "I have it in my mind that the Marine Corps is that way today. I see it and nobody's going to tell me any different."

1st meeting of the newly constituted NMCME

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal presiding over the 1st meeting of the newly constituted National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education (NMCME), in New Delhi on March 05, 2012. The Ministers of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. (Smt.) D. Purandeswari and Shri E. Ahamed, the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Smt. Vibha Puri Das and the Secretary, SE&L, Ministry of HRD, Smt. Anshu Vaish are also seen.  (PIB photo) 05-March-2012