Vellore, India

I was in the neighbourhood and thought I would drop by………

I was privileged to be invited to visit the campus of CMC Vellore, India’s second largest hospital prior to beginning my vacation. I had heard a lot about the institution from one of my gracious hosts, a radiologist from CMC who I worked with in Toronto. However, nothing could prepare me for the reality.

The hospital was founded in 1902 by an American missionary, Dr, Ida Scudder, to support the health care needs of the surrounding populations. The medical school was initially only open to women. Admission of men and creation of a nursing school followed.

The scope of care provided by the hospital is mind blowing: from mobile visits to provide health care in remote villages to the 7000 (yes, that is 7,000!!!) new outpatients seen every day to advanced medical care including bone marrow and organ transplants and minimally invasive, image guided procedures. It is a shock to come from a North American hospital and try to get a handle on the challenges being taken on by the dedicated team at this institution.

I stayed at the medical campus, 7 km south of the hospital. It was a great place to take a walk; a peaceful maze of stone buildings situated among the tropical trees. There were even monkeys wandering around – you certainly don’t see at Canadian medical schools!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Vellore and hope to form stronger working ties with the hospital in the future.