Mysore Medical College Alumni Association (MAA) is celebrating a day-long MAA Utsav-2022 at Platinum Jubilee Hall in J.K. Grounds today. Here we publish a brief write-up by one of its alumni Dr. Veena Bharathi. Read on…

The 1983 December College Committee photo evoked a string of nostalgia in me. I just could not help smiling myself when I remembered Dr. (Prof.) Anke Gowda (who was the HoD of Paediatrics and Superi-ntendent of Cheluvamba Hospital at that time), who during the ward rounds had proudly narrated to us, “Just look at my son Shekar (who was doing PG in General Medicine at K.R. Hospital), Clive Lyod of our Institution !  When he had measles attack at the age of two years, many doctors cautioned me about ‘pathya’ or dieting for him. On the 10th day after the measles attack, I told my wife to give my son diluted chicken-soup, defying my colleagues’ advice!  Look at him now, how healthy he  has grown !”

When we became ‘Interns’ (Junior Doctors), my batchmate Shashikala and myself were posted in medicine ‘B’ Unit. As I examined a patient, auscultating his chest with my stethoscope, “Shashi, this is a classical case of Mitral-Stenosis, you too can hear the narrowed valve sound!,” I triumphantly told my friend.

After auscultating the patient’s left side of the chest, Shashikala had told me, “You have made a wrong diagnosis, this is surely a case of ‘aortic regurgitation’!”

The patient, who was patiently listening to our conversation suddenly got up and told us “Akkavra… naanu patient alla ! (I am not the patient). My brother, who has been diagnosed with a heart problem, has gone out with the ward boy, to have an ECG!”

Thus, we got enlightened that, whatever first class percentage of marks we might have obtained in theory, in medical profession, it is the practical clinical experiences that provide us knowledge and sculpt us to become true clinicians !

Hence, while saluting the ‘MAA’ (Mysore Medical College Alumni Association), here is my tribute to her:

“I salute you

My Alma Mater,

You still matter me the most,

For you have laid down

A firm foundation

To keep my grey matter

Alive even today!”

— Dr. Veena Bharathi, Bengaluru

[Mob: 98802- 51040]