Padma Shri Surgeon Dr Sarbeswar Sahariah takes charge as Pro Vice Chancellor of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya

Khanapara: The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has officially welcomed Dr Sarbeswar Sahariah as the Pro Vice Chancellor of USTM.

In addition, Padma Shri Dr Ilias Ali has also joined as a Distinguished Professor at the upcoming PA Sangma International Medical College & Hospital (PIMCH) of USTM.

Dr Sahariah received the Padma Shri Award in 2014, the fourth-highest civilian award from President Pranab Mukherjee for his outstanding contribution to the field of medicine. He is the Chief Transplant Surgeon and Urologist at KIMS Hospitals Hyderabad and has been associated with the Renal Transplantation programme at many medical institutions in different states.

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He has the distinction of performing the First successful Kidney Transplantation operation in the state of Andhra Pradesh in 1981 and has the distinction of performing the First Cadaver Donor Renal Transplant (Organs removed from brain dead person) in the State of Andhra Pradesh and has subsequently performed 60 more cadaver transplants.

He hails from Mangaldoi in Assam and since 1981, he has performed more than 3000 successful renal transplant operations, perhaps the largest by a single surgeon in the country. Performed about 5000 surgeries for vascular access for haemodialysis which includes arteriovenous shunts, arteriovenous fistula, implantation of vascular grafts and placements of peritoneal catheter for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for patients with kidney failure.

Seeing the vision of Shri Mahbubul Hoque he was impressed and decided to dedicate his time to the people of the North East. He has assured establishing the Nephrology and Urology Centre of Excellence at PIMC.

Dr Ilias Ali was conferred the Padma Shri civilian honour by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind in 2019 for his contribution towards raising awareness about family planning and birth control measures in the backward areas of Assam. He is a retired medical surgeon from the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. He founded the Emergency Medicine department at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

Dr Ali is currently the Managing Director of Global Hospital in Guwahati and has been championing the cause of family planning and the necessity to adopt birth control measures in the backward areas of Assam. He encourages people to undergo the No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) and despite strong resistance, he has motivated around 55,000 people to undergo the NSV process between 2008 and 2018.

The day was marked by an insightful address by Dr Sarbeswar Sahariah on the topic “Organ Donation: A Humanitarian Approach”.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sarbeswar Sahariah emphasized that establishing a top-tier private medical college locally would significantly stem the exodus of students from the North East seeking medical education elsewhere. Initiated by USTM and ERD Foundation Guwahati, the PA Sangma International Medical College & Hospital (PIMCH) stands committed to its mission of providing free healthcare services to impoverished patients.

Highlighting the pivotal role of research in healthcare institutions, Dr Sahariah commended USTM’s multifaceted initiatives across allopathic and Ayurvedic domains, emphasizing their potential to propel medical research and development.

Alongside them, over 40 esteemed physicians, including retirees and those opting for voluntary retirement, are set to enrich the medical landscape at USTM. Notably, the 1100-bed hospital will feature a 350-bed super speciality section with state-of-the-art technology and facilities dedicated to cutting-edge research.

Founder Chancellor of USTM, Shri Mahbubul Hoque, extended a warm welcome to the incoming medical professionals, emphasizing the institution’s pursuit of visionary doctors dedicated to patient care, education, research, and administration.

Prof GD Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM also graced the occasion. The medical community expressed unanimous appreciation for USTM’s healthcare initiatives.

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