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Class of 1976 Reunion in Guntur:

• About 65 members of 1976 Batch met for their 20 th Reunion in Guntur in Dec 96. apparently quite a few of them are practising in Guntur only. Several members from USA also attended the celebrations and had a wonderful time.

Click here for a picture of 1976 batch reunion (100 Kb download)

Class of 1966 Reunion in Vijayawada:

• Sixty six members from the class of '66, and their families met during the weekend of December 27 and 28, 1997 for the 20 th year reunion, and had a wonderful time. They even had a short meeting at the GMC auditorium and invited many of the faculty that taught them. Several alumni from US were among those attending the reunion.

1966-72 batch 25th year reunion

(A 151 KB download !)

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Utilization of GMCANA's Contributions to GMC:

• Dr. Subbarao Uppuluri ('63), member of the Executive Committee, visited Guntur Medical College and Government General Hospital in December on a fact finding mission on behalf of GMCANA. It is heartening to note from his report that many of our contributions to our parent institutions are being well utilized and are helping enhance the educational environment.

• The DJ Reddy Statue sponsored by GMCANA was   installed on November 25, 1997 in the main hall of the college building, next to the principal's office

• The many endowments sponsored by GMCANA for continuing medical education resulted ins several conferences. Since 1991, there have been seven conferences in Obstetrics and Gynecology per the Prof. CG Ramamurthy memorial endowment fund, the oldest of our endowments. Of the more recent endowments, there was one CME Conference in Internal Medicine per the Vakamudi Tripurasundari Memorial Fund. The KRR Mohana Rao educational fund in Surgery has sponsored two conferences, one each year in 96 and 97. There are active plans for CME conferences being sponsored by Chalasani Nagaratnamma memorial endowment fund in cardiology, Kodali Sugunamma memorial fund in maternal and fetal medicine and Kanuru health and educational endowment in pediatrics. The Professor Etirajulu memorial Gold Medal in Orthopedics, sponsored by GMCANA, began to be awarded in September 1996.

• The Xerox machine that we purchased for the library is still functioning being maintained by funds generated locally. The library books that we made available over the years are being utilized by the students and postgraduates. Dr. Subbarao met with the librarian as well as several undergraduate and postgraduate students, who thanked GMCANA profusely for its contributions to the library and assured him that the donations are being well utilized.

• Special officer appointed to help improve GMC and GGH

• Sri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Member of Parliament from Guntur, was in US recently. He met with several members of the Executive committee of GMCANA and presented them with requests from the various departments of GGH to upgrade the facilities. After a series of candid discussions during which we expressed our skepticism of the institutional leaders' readiness in proper utilization of any aid sent, we agreed on accomplishing some necessary intermediate steps. Sri Sambasiva Rao worked with the hospital authorities in help setting up a local committee to help maintain the facilities in Guntur. Dr. Chowdary Jampala requested the Chief Minster of AP, Sri N. Chandrabau Nayudu, to appoint a special officer with the specific mission of coordinating the enhancement of educational facilities at GMC and GGH. We are pleased to report that, the Chief Minister has designated the Joint Collector of Guntur as Officer on Special Duty to coordinate the developmental activities. We feel that this can go a long way in coordinating our efforts with the College and Hospital.

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Update on GMCANA's activities towards GMC:

Sriharidas Kanuru

(Sriharidas Kanuru ('60) is a past president of GMCANA and is currently the Chairperson of Endowments committee.)

• Not much has been accomplished recently except the donation of textbooks worth Rs. 150,000, in 1997. Thank you alumni for your generosity. It is greatly appreciated by the GMC students and faculty. At last, Guntur Medical College is able to conduct CME conferences with our endowments in Ob&Gyn, perinatology, pediatrics, cardiology, medicine and surgery. I hope that these will be annual events, and I am confident that these endowments will benefit GMC in the future.

• We are not able to focus on further endowments because of GMC's lack of enthusiasm in the past. As things change in the future, we will continue to work to raise more funds in different subjects. If any of GMCANA members have an interest to create an endowment in their loved ones names, or their own name, please do so to help GMC.

• The auditorium building project is currently stalled because of hurdles of bureaucracy. We can give it away to the college without having any control, but, I don't think that we have to do it until we feel secure that it will be used properly and efficiently. The funds are safe and we will make use of them at the appropriate time to do the best as wished by our generous donors.

• Meanwhile, a new proposal and request came to us through the Member of Parliament from Guntur, Mr. Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, during his recent visit to the United States of America. Mr. Rayapati and other concerned citizens of Guntur are very much concerned about the quality and equipment in General Hospital to provide the care to needy people as well as to train the students. To our surprise the equipment, lab and surgical instruments are no more than what they were before the 70's and, in-fact, some of the worn out instruments were not even replaced, It has established a faculty of neurologists, cardiologists, and different high specialty surgeons but the facility has no CT scanner, chemistry machine, nor any functioning scopes for endoscopists. It is a great institution with a roof but no walls.

• The reasons for this deplorable condition are many. The health care is free and service oriented. The funding is sufficient to provide personnel but not the equipment, medicine and especially recent technology. For example, it has cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons but no cath unit; it has neurologists but no EMG machine. There has been a tremendous change in private health care in the last twenty years. Even the lower middle class will not step into General Hospital for treatment anymore. The well-to-do and influential get the best of private care where all the latest technology is available. Socially, politically and financially well-to-do citizens get their care from private health care. The government has no money and can never support such a massive consumer health care without collecting money. As nobody has interest, the facilities are run down. Unfortunately, this is the only Mecca of medical facility for 80 percent of the people who are poor and cannot provide health care. Who has the interest to help this situation? God only knows! We are not in a position to address this monumental problem.

• What bothers me as an alumnus is not the funds to provide free medical care, but how our 'institution can train and provide proper education to the students of the institute for the future.

• Is there something we can do as alumni to help the facility by providing some modern, badly needed medical equipment to train the new doctors? It is impossible to provide consuming medical supplies to the masses but the proper training gear may be in our reach so it can properly train the personnel while looking into the future. Many of us can do something to make things better.

• Meanwhile, a correspondence was established between our alumni and the Government General Hospital superintendent and the hospital requested several badly needed pieces of equipment with details to the approximate amount of one million dollars, The list included newborn incubators, ultrasounds- EMG machine, respirators, etc., The list was beyond our immediate capacity but not impossible for us. If we are reassured that this equipment will be properly received, placed, utilized and maintained with accountability I am very confident that our alumni will come forward to meet the demands. We may have to take it one step at a time to meet the desired goal.

• Several issues were raised in our discussions with the concerned officials. Our past experience suggested that we can't give equipment to the government facility without proper approval of accepting it. Second, there is no guarantee that the facility will keep it functioning as it requires maintenance and parts. There may not be a penny to fix it so the whole dollar may be wasted. Is there a guarantee that the faculty will continue to show the interest in up-keeping and training as they change their places frequently as their interests and political problems change? We may be very generous and compassionate but we will have no access or right to look into this matter in a Government facility. All these issues were discussed thoroughly with those interested in upgrading the facility.

• Drs. Subbarao Uppuluri and Arunaprasad Kancherla visited the college and the hospital and held discussions with management, faculty, under-graduate and post-graduate students, local alumni and local citizenry. They concluded that while many facilities have deteriorated, there are several committed faculty members who can help raise the quality of training if proper assistance is provided. Several immediate needs have been identified. Our executive committee decided to take up some small prioritized projects from the list submitted originally and see how the local institution utilizes the help given.

• If this experiment succeeds, then the primary task for us is to organize ourselves to look after different departments by our interests and our specialties, to discuss the needs and raise the required funds to take this charitable task of helping our home land and parent institute to revitalize into a reputable training institution.

• This concept needs help from every member of our alumni as well as the family's support. Let us Join hands together to accomplish this monumental task.

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• Do we have accurate information about you in our directory?

Can your friends contact you from that information?

• Much of the information we have about you in our database may not be completely current and accurate. For example, your telephone number, especially your area code may have changed recently. Please take one minute to complete Data collection form in Membership section or fill the Data card (Postage paid addressed) which was sent along with the news letter in December 98 and will be sent again with the next news letter soon. GMCANA is planning to publish a new updated and comprehensive directory soon.

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Alumni News January 24,1998

1972 Batches Silver Jubilee Reunion:

• About 56 Alumni with their families met in Detroit during the Labor Day Weekend 1997 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their admission to Guntur Medical College. These alumni belonged to the classes admitted to GMC in 1972 April and October and share an unusual bond in that the short time separating the two classes permitted them to share many activities.
  
  The reunion began with a banquet at the Southfield Marriott on August 30, 1997. Dr. Chowdary Jampala, a 72 alumnus and President of GMCANA, facilitated the reintroduction of attendees to each other. Dr. Nutakki Venkateswara Rao, former Professor of Surgery at GMC, delivered the keynote speech.  A display of old photographs and a slide presentation of GMC sights enlivened the presentations.
  
  On August 31, 1997, the day-long celebrations began with a group photograph and continued with a CME lecture at the gaily decorated auditorium of the Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield. Dr. Butchibabu Paidipaty, GMC alumnus and Director of Critical Care Medicine at St. Mary Hospital, Livonia gave an interesting presentation on Medical Ethics. This was followed by a presentation that included a series of slides and anecdotes about the college.
  
  The evening began with a remembrance of the classmates that passed away. This was followed by a videotaping of the alumni introductions and dinner. The Kalapatapu family led by the 72 Alumni Umamaheswara Rao and Sita Gita Rajyalakshmi presented a musical concert. Their talented children Kiran, Charan, and Veena provided vocal and instrumental accompaniment. A variety entertainment presented by artists from the Detroit Telugu Association concluded the evening.  Drs. Hanumayya Bandla, Vijayalakshmi and Saikumar Lingam, Sailakshmi and Rajendra Prasad Kanenganti, Basivi Reddy Baddigam, Rajasekhar Jupalli, and Rajakumari Perni helped make arrangements for this reunion.

Click Here to view a group photograph (84 KB download)

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1975 batch minireunion in sunny Florida:

• Ten alumni from 1975 batch of GMC had a wonderful gettogether in sunny Tampa, Florida recently. It looks like they may be planning for a silver jubilee reunion in a big way in year 2000. Click here to view a casual photograph of the reunion.

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Utilization of GMCANA's Contributions to GMC:

Dr. Uppuluri Subbarao, Member of the Executive Committee, visited Guntur Medical College and Government General Hospital in December on a fact finding mission on behalf of GMCANA. It is heartening to note from his report that many of our contributions to our parent institutions are being well utilized and are helping enhance the educational environment.

The DJ Reddy Statue sponsored by GMCANA is installed on November 25, 1997 in the main hall of the college building, next to the principal's office.

The many endowments sponsored by GMCANA for continuing medical education resulted in several conferences. Since 1991, there have been 7 conferences in Obstetrics and Gynecology per the Prof. CG Ramamurthy memorial endowment fund, the oldest of our endowments. Of the more recent endowments, there was one CME Conference in Internal Medicine per the Vakamudi Tripurasundari Memorial Fund. The KRR Mohana Rao educational fund in Surgery has sponsored 2 conferences, one each year in 96 and 97. There are active plans for CME conferences being sponsored by Chalasani Nagaratnamma memorial endowment fund in cardiology, Kodali Sugunamma memorial fund in Maternal and Fetal medicine and Kanuru health and educational endowment in Pediatrics.

The Professor Ethirajulu memorial Gold Medal in Orthopedics, sponsored by GMCANA, began to be awarded in September 1996.

The Xerox machine that we purchased for the library is still functioning being maintained by funds generated locally. The library books that we made available over the years are being utilized by the students and postgraduates. Dr. Subbarao met with the librarian as well as several undergraduate and postgraduate students, who thanked GMCANA profusely for its contributions to the library and assured him that the donations are being well utilized. 

Dr. Subbarao also notes that, contrary to earlier reports, the GMC buildings and gardens are spruced up and or being maintained well. However, he also notes that the laboratory and clinical equipment and teaching aids are woefully deficient in many areas and need significant improvements. GMCANA Executive Committee would be discussing his report and recommendations shortly.

Special officer to be appointed to help improve GMC and GGH:

Sri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Member of Parliament from Guntur was in US recently. He met with several members of the Executive committee of GMCANA and presented them with requests from the various departments of GGH to upgrade the facilities. After a serie s of candid discussions during which we expressed our skepticism of the institutional leaders' readiness in proper utilization of any aid sent, we agreed on accomplishing some necessary intermediate steps. Sri Sambasiva Rao worked with the hospital authorities in help setting up a local committee to help maintain the facilities in Guntur. Dr. Chowdary Jampala requested the Chief Minster of AP, Sri Nara Chandrabau Nayudu to appoint a special officer with the specific mission of coordinating the enhancement of educational facilities at GMC and GGH. We are pleased to report that, according to a note from Sri Sambasiva Rao dated December 14, the Chief Minister has ordered the appointment of an Officer on Special Duty for this purpose. We feel that this can go a long way in coordinating our efforts with the College and Hospital.

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Alumni News: April 1997

Greetings!

A Happy Ugaadi to all of you. We hope that this New Year will bring happiness and prosperity to you and your near and dear. We regret that it has been quite some time since this newsletter made its last appearance. However, we promise that we will publish this newsletter at least two times a year from now on. Nothing would please us more than being able to fill our newsletter with news of our members and their families. So, please send any information of interest to our editor.

Executive Committee decisions:

At the Executive Committee Meeting of 8/11/96, the following decisions were taken:

• 1) The short-term goals for the upcoming year are to improve communications, enhance membership, and form a liaison group to work with the Guntur Medical College administration.
• 2) There will be no membership fees for the member-in-training category (alumni not completing residency training).
• 3) A survey of the membership will be conducted regarding their preferences for the next biannual meeting (1998) time and location. Decisions about the next meeting will be based on our members' needs and convenience. If other AP medical college alumni want to join us at that time and place, we will continue to welcome them.
• 4) An Executive Committee meeting and a General Body meeting will be held during the TANA Conference at Anaheim Convention Center in July 1997.
• 5) Our association newsletter Alumni News will be published at least two times a year; and three times a year if feasible. Efforts will be made to establish an internet presence for our association.
• 6) Association's financial status is reviewed. Our life membership trust fund has 94,000 dollars in fixed deposits. Our operating expenses fund has 40,000 dollars and the Alumni building fund has 128,000 dollars.
• 7) A grant of $1,000 will be awarded to Dr. Nayudamma to support his pediatric surgery program at Guntur Medical College.
• 8) Appointments to various committees (as listed above) have been approved.

Book Donation Project:

At the last general body meeting, several members have pledged donations to buy text books for the Guntur Medical College library. In November 1996, Dr. Kanuru Sriharidas ('60), Chairperson, Charitable Foundation Committee, has personally arranged for the delivery of textbooks worth Rs. 150,000 to the library. It is our impression that the library can use more books and journals. Members wishing to donate to this project can contact Dr. Kanuru Sriharidas at 205-383-4332.

Membership Recruitment Drive:

• The enrollment of new members has slowed down considerably. It is our goal that every GMC alumnus in North America join our association. Life Membership in the association can be had by paying one time dues of $250. Biannual membership is $100. There is no membership fee for members in training. Life membership funds are kept in a fixed deposit account and only the interest is used for operating expenses. Dr. Yalavarthi Ramaraja Bhushanudu ('67), Past President of GMCANA and current Chairman of the Membership Committee, is heading an all-out effort to increase our membership and to update the addresses of all members.

• If you know of an alumnus who is not receiving our newsletter now, please send us his/her name and address to Dr. Ramaraja Yalavarthi, 1720 Giddington Court, New Lenox, IL 60451; e-mail rajayalavarthi@mem.po.com; or Fax to 815-485-1198.

• Dr. Ramaraja Bhushanudu is also requesting one member from each batch to act as an organizer and contact person for other members from that batch to facilitate this membership drive. If you are interested or if you can suggest possible candidates, please contact him at the address given above. The association depends on all of us for this vital effort is to succeed.

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