Vice-President Attends 15th Graduation Day of SUT Academy

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan was the chief guest at the 15th Graduation Day Ceremony of the Sree Uthradom Thirunal (SUT) Academy of Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram. Speaking to the passing-out batch, he placed the institution within the healthcare and medical education landscape of Keralam and said the real strength of any medical college shows in the teaching it gives, the doctors it sends out, the research it takes up and the patients it looks after.

Technology and the doctor

The Vice-President told the graduates that they enter the profession at an unusual moment, with artificial intelligence, robotics, digital health, advanced imaging and precision medicine reshaping the field. Against that background he called the opening of Robotic Surgery and Computer-Aided Diagnosis facilities at the institute a meaningful step, since medical training has to keep pace with what technology now allows.

He warned, however, that machines cannot take over the human side of the work. A machine can analyse, a robot can assist and an algorithm can spot patterns, he said, but the patient still wants a doctor who will listen, understand, reassure and shoulder responsibility. He asked the young doctors to guard the trust the white coat carries by being accurate in diagnosis, honest in what they tell patients, kind in treatment and ethical in every call they make.

More women than men on the dais

The Vice-President said that at convocations across the country he has noticed a welcome shift, with women collecting more degrees and medals than men. At this ceremony, he noted, the figures were as follows.

Higher education and Viksit Bharat

Turning to the national goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 set out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the country is moving towards it with confidence, and that it can be reached only when every State, district and village develops. Reaching higher education to all, he added, sits at the heart of that vision. He pointed to the growth of medical education over the previous twelve years, recalling that where New Delhi once had the only AIIMS in the country, twelve new AIIMS have since been set up.

Three things to carry

• Knowledge in the mind
• Compassion in the heart
• Integrity in conduct

He urged the graduates to stay humble while confident, ethical while ambitious, compassionate while technologically able, and connected to society while successful, and told the young doctors to always say no to drugs. Closing his address, he said the greatest privilege of being a doctor is the chance to change another person life.