Hidden Gems of Vellore: Bob and Lu Carman

Bob and Lu Carman
Those of us from CMC respect and love Bob and Lu Carman. Bob and Lu have been such lovely friends of Vellore and very special and important members of the Vellore CMC extended family. Some of us knew him during our stay in Vellore. We knew him as Professor of Pathology, Director of clinical pathology, Chief of the Blood bank, Associate Director and the spirit and power behind the choir at CMC. His distinctive and mellifluous tenor voice enriched many a choir performance and festivities related to campus events. Lu Carman’s soprano voice added luster to many of the same performances. Students felt welcome in their home and that made campus life a uniquely rich experience to many an alumnus. Bob and Lu also introduced many visitors and volunteers to Vellore, often hosting them and initiating them to life in our community.

Some of us knew Bob as the Executive Director of the Vellore CMC Board. Apart from all these achievements that we know about, there is one very special, important and innovative program that was initiated by Bob in the early 1970’s.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control are common ‘buzz’ words today. Did you know that Bob and his colleagues at CMC Vellore initiated the first nationwide QA/QC program in India?

Bob Carman and his colleagues (Ms.Hermina Meyer, Dr.Ramani Pulimood, Mrs. Thaiyanayaki, Dr. Peter Hill, Dr. Kanagasabapathy and others) started the first QA program for the mission hospitals labs, especially those that were involved with the CMAI Lab Training Program. It started out small. The first step was to introduce the basics of Quality Control and Quality Assurance into the syllabus of the CMAI Lab technician Course. The group prepared large numbers of slides, batches of serum with known composition of various biochemical ingredients and concentrated sediments of feces with a ‘zoo’ of known intestinal pathogens. This was tested at the labs of the participating CMAI Hospitals. They also set up an internal/ external QC program from external sources in the UK and USA. This effort established CMC Vellore as the external reference source for QC programs to the mission hospitals.

The next step was to carry this concept to the Biochemistry and Microbiology services. The program grew by leaps and bounds and was very successful. It became well known and widely accepted all over India.

CMC Vellore became the External Reference Laboratory for all hospitals in the Southern half of India. The impact of this program has been recognized by the WHO and some of the prime movers behind this program have been recognized for this effort.

Bob Carman and his team at CMC Vellore were ahead of the times.



Mani M. Mani
Member, Board of Directors

 Photos by Mani M. Mani

Vellore Board|CMC Vellore