Dr Achal Gulati takes charge as VC of Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Jaipur

Established in 2011, MGUMST was the first Private Medical University in Rajasthan established by an act of State Legislature. It has an intake capacity of 250 MBBS seats and almost all the departments offer Postgraduate medical courses. Apart from the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, the University also runs a Dental College, Physiotherapy College, Occupational Therapy College, Nursing College, College of Hospital Administration, and Institute of Health Informatics.

Former President of the National Medical Commission's (NMC) Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB), Dr. Gulati, took charge as the VC of Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology around four days back. He has also served as the Director of Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, New Delhi, and was the founder Director Principal of Dr. BSA Medical College & Hospital. He was appointed as the President of NMC in 2020 and was looking after the Ethics Board till May 2022.

He is a fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, the International Medical Science Academy, and a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Otolaryngology & Head & Neck Surgery. Dr. Gulati has all-round varied interests ranging from professional excellence in the field of Head and Neck Surgery and Endoscopic Sinus Surgery to the field of Medical education.

When asked about his priorities and the changes that he aims to introduce as the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Gulati told Medical Dialogues, "There are many departments and most of which are running Broad and Super-Specialty programs. So, it is already a well-run established university. But then, nothing is constant and we dynamically need to think out of the box and take it further much beyond its existing frontiers."

"The aim of an institution is not just to educate, but also to create, inspire and nurture the human spirit. The need is to develop and achieve leadership in each discipline and constituent college, strengthen interdisciplinary studies and knowledge, and pioneer new fields of learning with an eye to the future, introducing new value-added courses, developing the core competencies, create optional academic and career enhancement opportunities across the diaspora of the university, focusing specifically on the Attitude, Ethics, Communication skills and competency-based curriculum, problem-solving, developing leadership and interpersonal skills; and personal health and well-being would be not only in line of the NMC guidelines but also the NEP 2020 and are an integral part of my vision for MGUMST," he mentioned.

"If we look at it from the National perspective, we have our "Skill India" mission. One of the primary aims here is to establish a health sector for Skill Development. Medical science is a hands-on approach applying the mind, body, knowledge and skills in a coordinated manner and the aim is to achieve zero error in its application in all spheres. There should be minimum errors in the learning curve. So, we need to have a phased training programme in which we have simulators, we have training forces, hands-on experience, skilling, medical education teaching & technology labs, computer-aided learning labs etc. Today, skilling is one of the most important areas that I need to focus upon for the university," Dr. Gulati further added.

"The second important issue is integrated medicine. India is a pioneer in traditional medicine which developed in the early ages. Integrated Medicine just does not mean integrating the AYUSH with other systems components, but it also means the need to bring in the concept of evidence based integrated medicine and research. Each system of medicine has its own qualities and strengths, and it is these that need to be further developed in their independent spheres in a systematic evidence based manner, and then try to augment and take forward these systems where possible and integrating them amongst each other if, and wherever possible," he said.

Further explaining his vision, Dr. Gulati mentioned, "Medical entrepreneurship is another area that I would focus upon. So, the aim will be to focus on medical entrepreneurship through the Ph.D programmes by integrating engineering and medical sciences and other basic medical and social sciences. These branches need to be integrated with medicine because a lot needs to be developed in collaboration and a lot of the management techniques need to focus upon this for progress."

"Today we have to look towards Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Tools for developing various modules for management and diagnosis and research. And this is one very important area that I definitely need to look into, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and this will be a thrust area for me to dwell upon. It is still in the developing stage, and it is going to be a race to the top with these in time to come. Tie-ups with IITs, NITs, other institutes of national importance, having international tie-ups & collaborations, exchange programmes and MOU’s etc. are vital, which I shall pursue with zeal" he further added.

Also Read: Delhi: GB Pant Hospital finds a new Director in Renowned ENT Surgeon Dr Achal Gulati

Dr. Gulati further mentioned that another important but touchy issue is Ethics and Regulations. Commenting on this, the former president of the NMC Ethics Board added, "Ethics is an issue that is generally overlooked in our medical education but which is vital in the given circumstances. This has also been emphasized by the NMC and my aim would be “Catch them young and train them in their Ethics while they are young”. So development of Ethics principles is another area that will be my focus during my tenure. Thrust towards Early Clinical Exposure, Family Adoption Programmes, District Residency Programme, CBME, Faculty Development, Research thrust areas, digitization processes across the board, digital evaluation techniques etc. will be augmented further as per the NMC guidelines."

"I was also the founder Director Principal of Baba Saheb Medical College, Delhi, which had a phenomenal rise at that time despite its hiccough stage. Then I headed G B Pant Institute and then later worked in the National Medical Commission as well. Each assignment gave me a fairly wide area of exposure to various aspects of medical education, regulations and medicine as a whole. So, I want to implement all the ideas which I have had. It is like having a wish list," he further mentioned.

Referring to the vision of Dr. M.L Swarankar, a renowned Obstetrician & Gynecologist & the Chairman Emeritus of the University, and Dr Vikas Swarankar, the Chairman of the University, Dr. Gulati added, "So, we will work with the vision that he has regarding the areas that need to be developed and augmented. We need to not only focus on medical education but also focus on thrusting the other constituent colleges that are there- Dental, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Health Administration, Health Informatics etc forward with zeal and energy. I will try and take the University’s motto of “Serving, Learning and Healing” forward to its infinite destination" I look forward to taking the university towards the future it deserves, and carry the legacy of taking the dreams of its founders forward by analyzing what has happened, what could have happened and what should happen and take it beyond the borders.

When asked if he wanted to give any message to the freshers joining the institute, he said “An institution is a family to be carried along the progressive path to infinity. Researching has shown me that MGUMST has achieved great heights over time. But nothing can rest on a plateau for long, since change is the only constant thing and it is a dynamic process. We need to expand the horizons of academic excellence, global collaborations, utilizing Artificial Intelligence to the benefit, creating a transformative impact on society through continuous innovation in education, research, creativity and entrepreneurship, creating an environment conducive to the students, faculty and staff not only who are present, but also those who will be attracted to and joining the university in the time to come as it goes forwards to fulfil the hopes and dreams of not only the founders, but also of all others for academic excellence and a state of art quality of life. I have to educate the students for today, prepare them for tomorrow and propel them towards the India of Our Prime Minister’s vision of “India @ 2047, which aims to “train for India, by India, for the world”. Any University needs to look at it from the future of the students & the faculty. Every institute in the country needs to look at it with the same vision. I really hope every university in the country progresses so that we become a destination for medical education. The National Medical Commission and the Government is bringing in good reforms and these reforms need to be implemented in the true grit & spirit and only then we can progress further.

"I believe “Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see but what your mind can imagine.” Time teaches you a lot many things…some of them are put in action, some are waiting to be put in action while some are in the stage of being dreamt to be put into action….and I intend to put them ahead of myself. MGUMST hopes to be the destination for medical education fields not only for the country but for the world " he said.

An ENT pass out from the prestigious PGI Chandigarh, Dr. Achal Gulati has been the recipient of numerous orations and awards, including amongst others the "National Eminent Teacher of Excellence Award" by the Government of India, "Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan National Award" for Eminent Teacher, the "State Award for Contribution to the Field of Medicine", "The Great Teaching Master Award", "Times Research Media Excellence Award in Healthcare etc."

He is a member of Board of Governors of the International Rhinologic Society, is the current President of the Indian Society of Rhinoplasty, the former President of the All India Rhinology Society, the Honorary Secretary of the All India Rhinology Society, as well as the President of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India (Delhi State).

In the past, he has been a member of the Board of Research Studies of various universities, the Specialty Board for ENT and Ethics Committee in the National Board, advisor to the Centre on Noise Pollution, has been on numerous committees on curriculum planning for the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and is on the editorial board of National and International journals.

Dr Gulati has been a visiting professor to the Mayo Clinic, USA, and the University of Padua, Italy. He has been an honorary faculty member of the Medical Education Unit of Regional Centre at MAMC, has been conducting training workshops for teacher training and for communication skills for Medical and Management Professionals, he is also a keen and professional quizmaster at National and International level, a food and travel critique writer for magazines, he has about a 100 national and international academic publications, has contributed chapters in various text books, has developed numerous CD’s on examination techniques and has also produced and directed a documentary film titled “To be or not to be” which is based on end of life issues.

Also Read: Gazette confirms appointment of Dr Achal Gulati as President, NMC Ethics and Medical Registration Board