About IAPS Odisha
HISTORY OF PAEDIATRIC SURGERY IN ODISHA
Odisha (formerly, Orissa) is famed for its ancient history, rich cultural heritage, awesome beaches and above all the divinity of Lord Jagannatha. The name of the region has changed over centuries from Kalinga during the rule of Ashoka to Udra Dessa, Udissa, Orissa and recently Odisha. On the basis of language, this province was formed in the year 1936.
During the Maratha rule, in the second half of the eighteenth century, a small dispensary was started at Cuttack with the sole purpose of providing medical help to pilgrims bound for Puri, especially during the car festival of Lord Jagannatha. The British rulers occupied Odisha in 1803 AD and converted it into a small hospital. They even channelized a part of the funds for the terrible famine (Naanka Durbhikhya, 1866) for its upkeep. In 1875, the Orissa Medical School was born; it was the brainchild of the then civil surgeon of Cuttack, Dr Stewart. The school was established with a capacity of 20 LMP (Licentiate Medical practitioner) students. After the establishment of the pioneer university of Odisha - the Utkal University in 1943, the school was converted to the Orissa Medical College on June 1st 1944. Major A T Anderson was the first principal and there were 22 students. Thus were the hoary origins of the premier medical college of the state - Sriram Chandra Bhanj Medical College.
The Orissa Medical College was renamed in 1951 after the late Mahraja of Mayurbhanj Sriram Chandra Bhanjdeo. This was recognition of the generous donation and genuine philanthropic efforts of the king towards the establishment of the institution. The college received recognition for MBBS degree from the Medical Council of India in 1952. In 1960, postgraduate courses in different disciplines were started. In 1981, two postdoctoral courses, i.e.; DM cardiology and M Ch Neurosurgery were initiated. 2007 saw another two postdoctoral courses - MCh in Paediatric Surgery and Plastic Surgery being introduced.
"Sishubhawan", Cuttack is situated on the banks of the river Kathajodi - a tributary of the Mahanadi and has witnessed numerous major historical events of the state. It is from this palatial building that the local rulers of the Marathas, Mughal and British Empire wielded their power from 1568 AD. It is here that the princely states of Orissa were amalgamated to the state of Orissa by the "Instrument of Accession" in the august presence of the then Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Post independence this building was the Raj Bhawan for the state till 1961 when the capital was shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar. The then Hon'ble Governor of Orissa Mr Y N Suthankar donated this building to the Indian Red Cross Society to start a Children's Hospital. In 1966, the state government took over this hospital and started an institute for post graduation in Paediatrics.
The department of Paediatric Surgery started in this institute in 1966. Dr Guru Prasad Mohanty, Dr Babani Shankar Das, and Dr Lambodar Pati - all general surgeons with interest in Paediatric Surgery remained in charge of the department. Dr S Saiffullah, who is incidentally the first Paediatric surgeon with M Ch degree from PGI Chandigarh, joined the department in 1969 and the full fledged paediatric surgery unit was established. In 1980, a baby surgical ward was created at M K C G Medical College Berhampur and another paediatric surgeon Dr Balabhadra Prasad Das remained in charge of it. A group of young doctors like Dr Niranjan Parida, Dr Hiranya Kishor Mohanty, and Dr Pravas Chandra Subudhi were available with M Ch degree in Paediatric Surgery in the '80s & were placed to work in the government medical colleges. In the '90s Dr Pradip Ku Jena, Dr Ram Narayan Dash, Dr Pramod Ku Mohanty were absorbed in government service and Dr Subrat Ku Mohanty and Dr Rabindra Ku Bal were available in private sector. Subsequently Dr Baikuntha Narayan Mishra, Dr Prasant Ku Tripathy, Dr Rabindra Ku Mohapatra and Dr Bikasha Bihary Tripathy were available as paediatric surgeons. Paediatric Surgery department started at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2013 and Dr Kanishka Das joined as Professor.
Super speciality degree course in Paediatric Surgery started in Sardar Vallabhbai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics of S C B Medical College, Cuttack in August 2007 with one seat. Dr Akash Pati was the first student to whom the degree was awarded in July, 2010 and the MCh degree was recognized by the MCI in the same year. The Odisha chapter of Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons was inaugurated on 9.1.2010 with more than 15 members by the then President of IAPS Dr Ashoke Ku Basu. Prof H K Mohanty and Dr R N Dash were elected as President and Secretary of Odisha Chapter respectively.
The paediatric surgeons working in the state of Odisha is far less than required. Generally 3 paediatric surgeons are required for a centre catering to every million of the population. Accordingly number of paediatric surgeons required for the state will be approximately 120. At present only 30 qualified paediatric surgeons are available and all are conglomerated in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. Hence the main issue with the paediatric surgeons of the state is to create awareness among their fellow physicians and surgeons particularly paediatricians regarding the type of job they have specialized with.
With such a small number the motto should be as described by Dennis Browne:
"The aim of Paediatric Surgery is to set a standard not to seek the monopoly."
During the Maratha rule, in the second half of the eighteenth century, a small dispensary was started at Cuttack with the sole purpose of providing medical help to pilgrims bound for Puri, especially during the car festival of Lord Jagannatha. The British rulers occupied Odisha in 1803 AD and converted it into a small hospital. They even channelized a part of the funds for the terrible famine (Naanka Durbhikhya, 1866) for its upkeep. In 1875, the Orissa Medical School was born; it was the brainchild of the then civil surgeon of Cuttack, Dr Stewart. The school was established with a capacity of 20 LMP (Licentiate Medical practitioner) students. After the establishment of the pioneer university of Odisha - the Utkal University in 1943, the school was converted to the Orissa Medical College on June 1st 1944. Major A T Anderson was the first principal and there were 22 students. Thus were the hoary origins of the premier medical college of the state - Sriram Chandra Bhanj Medical College.
The Orissa Medical College was renamed in 1951 after the late Mahraja of Mayurbhanj Sriram Chandra Bhanjdeo. This was recognition of the generous donation and genuine philanthropic efforts of the king towards the establishment of the institution. The college received recognition for MBBS degree from the Medical Council of India in 1952. In 1960, postgraduate courses in different disciplines were started. In 1981, two postdoctoral courses, i.e.; DM cardiology and M Ch Neurosurgery were initiated. 2007 saw another two postdoctoral courses - MCh in Paediatric Surgery and Plastic Surgery being introduced.
"Sishubhawan", Cuttack is situated on the banks of the river Kathajodi - a tributary of the Mahanadi and has witnessed numerous major historical events of the state. It is from this palatial building that the local rulers of the Marathas, Mughal and British Empire wielded their power from 1568 AD. It is here that the princely states of Orissa were amalgamated to the state of Orissa by the "Instrument of Accession" in the august presence of the then Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Post independence this building was the Raj Bhawan for the state till 1961 when the capital was shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar. The then Hon'ble Governor of Orissa Mr Y N Suthankar donated this building to the Indian Red Cross Society to start a Children's Hospital. In 1966, the state government took over this hospital and started an institute for post graduation in Paediatrics.
The department of Paediatric Surgery started in this institute in 1966. Dr Guru Prasad Mohanty, Dr Babani Shankar Das, and Dr Lambodar Pati - all general surgeons with interest in Paediatric Surgery remained in charge of the department. Dr S Saiffullah, who is incidentally the first Paediatric surgeon with M Ch degree from PGI Chandigarh, joined the department in 1969 and the full fledged paediatric surgery unit was established. In 1980, a baby surgical ward was created at M K C G Medical College Berhampur and another paediatric surgeon Dr Balabhadra Prasad Das remained in charge of it. A group of young doctors like Dr Niranjan Parida, Dr Hiranya Kishor Mohanty, and Dr Pravas Chandra Subudhi were available with M Ch degree in Paediatric Surgery in the '80s & were placed to work in the government medical colleges. In the '90s Dr Pradip Ku Jena, Dr Ram Narayan Dash, Dr Pramod Ku Mohanty were absorbed in government service and Dr Subrat Ku Mohanty and Dr Rabindra Ku Bal were available in private sector. Subsequently Dr Baikuntha Narayan Mishra, Dr Prasant Ku Tripathy, Dr Rabindra Ku Mohapatra and Dr Bikasha Bihary Tripathy were available as paediatric surgeons. Paediatric Surgery department started at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2013 and Dr Kanishka Das joined as Professor.
Super speciality degree course in Paediatric Surgery started in Sardar Vallabhbai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics of S C B Medical College, Cuttack in August 2007 with one seat. Dr Akash Pati was the first student to whom the degree was awarded in July, 2010 and the MCh degree was recognized by the MCI in the same year. The Odisha chapter of Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons was inaugurated on 9.1.2010 with more than 15 members by the then President of IAPS Dr Ashoke Ku Basu. Prof H K Mohanty and Dr R N Dash were elected as President and Secretary of Odisha Chapter respectively.
The paediatric surgeons working in the state of Odisha is far less than required. Generally 3 paediatric surgeons are required for a centre catering to every million of the population. Accordingly number of paediatric surgeons required for the state will be approximately 120. At present only 30 qualified paediatric surgeons are available and all are conglomerated in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. Hence the main issue with the paediatric surgeons of the state is to create awareness among their fellow physicians and surgeons particularly paediatricians regarding the type of job they have specialized with.
With such a small number the motto should be as described by Dennis Browne:
"The aim of Paediatric Surgery is to set a standard not to seek the monopoly."
Prof. (Dr) H K Mohanty
Dr. Akash Pati
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