The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Mohanasundaram is Dean of Madras Medical College

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Friday, Jun 05, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Mohanasundaram is Dean of Madras Medical College

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The government, on Thursday, appointed J. Mohanasundaram as the Dean of Madras Medical College (MMC), filling the vacancy at the State’s premier tertiary healthcare institution.

Dr. Mohanasundaram, who was born in 1952, has about one-and-a-half years in service at the current superannuation age.

Alumnus of the college

He is an alumnus of the college that he will now head, having stayed in the institution between 1972 - when he came in as a student - and 1991, by which time he was part of the faculty.

He has also served as associate professor of pharmacology at Tirunelveli Medical College and head of the Department of Pharmacology at IRT Perundurai Medical College, and later at Chengalpattu Medical College.

Dr. Mohanasundaram served as deputy director of medical education before being promoted to the position of dean at Chengalpattu Medical College, and then, to Stanley Medical College.

During the last stint at Stanley Medical College, he also officiated as Secretary, Selection Committee in charge of medical admissions for the year 2008-2009.

With the retirement of T.P. Kalaniti as dean of MMC in February end this year, the post became a sort of revolving chair, with as many as three persons occupying the seat until the appointment of Dr. Mohanasundaram. While two persons occupied the post for a month or less, the gaps in between the postings were filled by a college official, holding the post in-charge.

Any person who has been a professor for a minimum of 10 years, with at least a year for retirement can be chosen for the position of a dean in a government medical college.

Panel of professors

Retired Health Department officials suggested that in order to avoid such a situation in the future, a panel of professors could be chosen in advance since the date of superannuation of the dean in any medical college.

In addition, they have also stressed that the age of superannuation be increased from the current cut-off of 58 years.

The Medical Council of India has increased the eligibility criteria for teachers up to 65 years, while at Jipmer, Puducherry, it is 62 years.

Retirement age

With a dearth of administrative officials and teachers in the medical sector, it would be prudent on the part of the government to increase the age of retirement at least to 60 years, a former dean has recommended.

Doctors at MMC hope that a period of stability will follow for at least the next year-and-a-half, a stability, they say, is essential not only for the regular administration of the college and hospital, but also the much-needed development works.

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