The Vellore Board promotes, interprets and helps support the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, one of the largest health care institutions in India dedicated to providing quality medical education and health care in the spirit of Christ to all of society, especially the poor, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised.


The USA Board
In Partnership with CMC

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Palliative care at CMC Vellore http://elnecindia2009.blogspot.com/

Combined Federal Campaign, SEFA  and United Way.  The Vellore Board is listed for these campaigns under ID # 10765. Please note this is a new number.

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The 2009 GOTC in Texas

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(Starting with the Fall 2000 issue. The latest issue of our print Advocate, Spring 2009, is now available on line. Click here.)


Special: Glimpses, a free pamphlet which tells founder Dr. Ida S. Scudder's fascinating story, is now available from the Vellore Board.  Click here.

The Vellore Board's partnership with CMC Vellore over the last decade

 In its partnership with CMC, the Vellore CMC Board office in New York has:

  • Filed 19 successful grant requests with the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program of the U.S. government, garnering over $8 million in commitments since 1982. 

  • Raised $1.6 million and contributed a total of $2 million for the Ida S. Scudder Building for Women and Children.

  • In the last decade, underwritten senior training fellowships in the U.S. and many other countries for 61 CMC faculty.  Financial support for the program to date totals $330,000, much of which is paid for out of current giving. 

  • In the last ten years, assisted 193 volunteers from the health professions to work at CMC.  The value of their time comes to $1,317,820.

  • During that same time period, helped to orient 136 medical students who went to CMC for elective studies.  Students came from nearly every major medical school in the country.

  • This past year, raised over $150,000 for the Tsunami Relief Fund at CMC.

In sum, over the last ten years, the Vellore Board has raised money for disaster relief, poor patient care, medical student scholarships for disadvantaged students,  new equipment, and continuing education for staff totaling over $11 million.

The Board Teleconferences with the Director in India


At its April 25th Board meeting, the members of the Board enjoyed the presence (by teleconference) of Dr. Suranjan Bhattacharji, the current director of CMC.  Dr. Bhattacharji was able to bring the Board up to date on the various plans and projects at the institution.  The construction of the new campus for the College of Nursing is underway.  CMC, the Board members learned, is currently in discussions with the government of the state of Andhra Pradesh which has invited CMC  to create a primary and secondary care facility along with an educational program in Chittoor District.  CMC's distance learning project is progressing well, with improvements greatly enhancing its effectiveness. 

And a Name Change for the Board

At the Corporate meeting that afternoon, after the Board meeting, the Corporation voted on and approved a resolution to change the name of the Vellore Christian Medical College Board (USA), Inc. to the Vellore Christian Medical College Foundation, Inc.  The word "Board" is an anachronism, dating from a past era when the American organization owned and controlled the medical college in India   The new name, The Vellore Christian Medical College Foundation, Inc. more accurately reflects the work of the organization.  The word "foundation" connotes the collection of financial gifts for humanitarian purposes as well as the prudent management of charitable endowments.  Since these activities now make up most of our program, the Board felt the new name better reflects reality.  The certificate for name change is being submitted to the appropriate New York State agency and will probably be in effect sometime in the next 6 months.  Our friends and donors will be notified when the change becomes official. 
 

College of Nursing Graduation

The College of Nursing held its graduation ceremony in the Scudder Auditorium on April 22, 2009.  This year, the college graduated 190 diploma and degree students.  As the guest speaker, Dr. Joyce Ponnaiya (left), President of the Christian Medical Association of India, noted, the college is arguably the best nursing college in India.   She spoke about the rewarding and productive career that lay ahead for these young graduates, highlighting the elements of commitment, competence and compassion which constitute the hallmark of their career.  Dean Bharathy Jacob continued with her charge to the new nurses to invest in continuing their learning, give back to the community and have the courage to make a difference.
 

CMC Holds Continuing Educational Program for Mission Hospitals

From March 26 to the 28th, CMC's Missions Office, in association with the Continuing Medical Education Department, held a 3-day program for medical staff from mission hospitals throughout India. 25 clinicians (pictured left), both general practitioners and specials, participated in clinical lectures, case scenario discussions and practical sessions, covering tropics from general medicine and pediatrics through obstetrics and other specialties.  The Continuing Medical Education programs not only help medical staff at these small mission hospitals improve their skills and update their knowledge but they also give CMC the opportunity to build relationships and contribute to the quality of patient care at these mission hospitals. 
 


Construction Begins on New
College of Nursing Campus

Construction of the new College of Nursing campus began in December. This photo, taken on January 26, shows the deep excavation for the foundations of the central building. CMC engineers report that the contractor is on schedule for a dedication of the building as part of the December centenary celebration of nursing education at Vellore.


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President's Corner

Slumbdog Millionaire:
The Cinematic Pride of India

The world was surprised and thrilled this past February when the India-based film, “Slumdog Millionaire” did well in the Oscar competition.  A story of the rise of a young man from the slums of Mumbai as a contestant on a television quiz show, “Slumdog” captured the hearts of millions.  It has the ingredients of a mega-hit movie including engaging actors, a love story with a happy ending, gangster violence, and lots of conniving businessmen, police and pimps.  However, it also is a graphic portrayal of the harsh realities of urban poverty, made worse in India by communal violence and official corruption. 

“Slumdog” is an excellent example of the deep two-sidedness of India today.  The world-wide success of the film is a source of pride and a showcase for Indian movie-making skills and modern industrial accomplishment.  But the theme of the film – the wretched and violent lives of orphaned children – is not something many people want to think about much less have their faces rubbed in it by a movie. 

What I miss in “Slumdog” is any evidence that there are people and organizations working to alleviate the terrible conditions so vividly put on display.  Admittedly, such material may not be easy to work into an interesting drama, but it would provide a measure of hope so that when the audience left the theater it might be motivated to actually contribute to a solution.  There are many excellent community organizations and health programs working to improve the lives of the poor in India.  Yes, they are inadequate to the size of the task, but nonetheless they offer a way out of hopelessness.  Not the least of these is our own Community Medical College and the network of mission hospitals it serves.  By the way, if you haven’t seen our own movie, “Home of a Healing God,” give us a call to get your own copy, suitable for use with Sunday School classes and mission committees.  No, it hasn’t won an Oscar, but I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. 


(The above column is from our latest edition of the "Vellore Advocate." Follow this link to get a pdf file of the complete newsletter.}

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