Friends of St. Johns Medical College – Through the Years
George Varghese, MD
Batch of 1963
George Varghese, MD
Batch of 1963
Professor Emeritus
Rehabilitation Medicine
The University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, KS
First group of Johnites came to United States in 1971. They were from 1963 and 64 batches. Like any foreign medical graduates, for the next few years they went through internship, residency, and in some cases speciality fellowships and then on to jobs. They went through the struggles of buying a house, raising young families all without the support of extended family. Even then, they kept in touch with their Alma Mater. Fr. Percival Fernandez, the then director was exceptional in keeping touch with them. It was no wonder that when he asked for donations for building a Silver Jubilee Memorial Auditorium, many alumni responded. In addition, several alumni sent money for projects such as poor patients fund, equipment for various departments, support of clinical research, faculty travel from St. John’s and one generous donor set up three student scholarships.
Dr. Ephrem Thoppil from the 1964 batch took the initiative to set up a Tax-exempt organization for the benefit St. Johns Medical College. He, with help from Drs. Willie Gomes, Marian Kamath, and George Varghese set up a 501(c) organization and registered it in the year 2002 in the state of Wisconsin. They called it “Friends of St. John’s Medical College”.
First Major fund-raising effort was under the Leadership of Dr. Marian Kamath and New York area alumni to support rebuilding of a hospital in Andaman Islands destroyed by the Tsunami of 2004. A sum of $ 91,000.00 was raised and sent to Andaman Islands through C.B.C.I. (Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the parent organization of St. John’s Medical College). This was the beginning of many more fund-raising drives. Dr. Thoppil managed the funds until December 2005 when he became disabled following an accident. When Dr. Thoppil became disabled, Dr. George Varghese took the control of finances. With the help of Drs. Gomes and Kamath continuity was assured.
During that time, multiple donations were made to St. John’s through FOSJMC. Most of them were individual Johnites sending money for their favorite projects through FOSJMC. Some of these include refurbishing of three hospital rooms in Honor Dr. Monteiro, the first Dean of S. Johns, Research support, and equipment for departments. They included an endowment towards “Pioneers Award for excellence in Teaching”, H.J Mehta Oration, support of E.N.T Dep’t, Isaac Memorial Hockey tournament, Poor patients fund in honor of Noel Fernandez, Palmaneer tube well project etc.
In 2009. C.B.C.I decided to build a Learning Center consisting of library, classrooms, and auditoriums. Request was made to FOSJMC to focus on raising funds for this purpose and FOSJMC Board agreed. With fund raising event in New York and support from individual donors, a successful fund raising was initiated. US Johnite alumni through several large and small donations during this period raised close to 1 million dollars. However, CBCI, was forced to change plans of building the Learning Center due to the urgent need to expand classroom space when number of yearly undergraduate admissions was increased from 60 students every year to 150 per year. About two third of the funds was used for classrooms. The rest was set aside for a simulation Center. A plaque has been instituted by St. John’s National academy of Health Sciences, acknowledging the donors. Some of the money remain in CBCI Indian account which is co-managed by the FOSJMC board and used towards scholarships as well as other student related needs.
There have been several donations given outside of FOSJMC. For example, Dr. Salim Yusuf assisted immensely to set up a large Research Fund and Dr. Brian Pereira helped in a significant way to renovate the dining hall at St. John’s. There are several North American Johnites who used their Indian resources to assist St. John’s.
More recently, large amounts have been raised to fund scholarships, ICU beds to support critical care, renovation of library, student hostels and the new Geriatric Centre at St. John’s Medical College hospital.
In summary, North American Johnites have been very generous to our Alma Mater. And sure, will continue to be that way. FOSJMC’s focus now is to set up scholarships for financially needy as well as well as to attract high quality students to St. John’s. I always felt that Johnites are one big family and St. John’s is in our hearts all the time. A generous donation is one way to show our appreciation for the high quality of education we all received.
First Major fund-raising effort was under the Leadership of Dr. Marian Kamath and New York area alumni to support rebuilding of a hospital in Andaman Islands destroyed by the Tsunami of 2004. A sum of $ 91,000.00 was raised and sent to Andaman Islands through C.B.C.I. (Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the parent organization of St. John’s Medical College). This was the beginning of many more fund-raising drives. Dr. Thoppil managed the funds until December 2005 when he became disabled following an accident. When Dr. Thoppil became disabled, Dr. George Varghese took the control of finances. With the help of Drs. Gomes and Kamath continuity was assured.
During that time, multiple donations were made to St. John’s through FOSJMC. Most of them were individual Johnites sending money for their favorite projects through FOSJMC. Some of these include refurbishing of three hospital rooms in Honor Dr. Monteiro, the first Dean of S. Johns, Research support, and equipment for departments. They included an endowment towards “Pioneers Award for excellence in Teaching”, H.J Mehta Oration, support of E.N.T Dep’t, Isaac Memorial Hockey tournament, Poor patients fund in honor of Noel Fernandez, Palmaneer tube well project etc.
In 2009. C.B.C.I decided to build a Learning Center consisting of library, classrooms, and auditoriums. Request was made to FOSJMC to focus on raising funds for this purpose and FOSJMC Board agreed. With fund raising event in New York and support from individual donors, a successful fund raising was initiated. US Johnite alumni through several large and small donations during this period raised close to 1 million dollars. However, CBCI, was forced to change plans of building the Learning Center due to the urgent need to expand classroom space when number of yearly undergraduate admissions was increased from 60 students every year to 150 per year. About two third of the funds was used for classrooms. The rest was set aside for a simulation Center. A plaque has been instituted by St. John’s National academy of Health Sciences, acknowledging the donors. Some of the money remain in CBCI Indian account which is co-managed by the FOSJMC board and used towards scholarships as well as other student related needs.
There have been several donations given outside of FOSJMC. For example, Dr. Salim Yusuf assisted immensely to set up a large Research Fund and Dr. Brian Pereira helped in a significant way to renovate the dining hall at St. John’s. There are several North American Johnites who used their Indian resources to assist St. John’s.
More recently, large amounts have been raised to fund scholarships, ICU beds to support critical care, renovation of library, student hostels and the new Geriatric Centre at St. John’s Medical College hospital.
In summary, North American Johnites have been very generous to our Alma Mater. And sure, will continue to be that way. FOSJMC’s focus now is to set up scholarships for financially needy as well as well as to attract high quality students to St. John’s. I always felt that Johnites are one big family and St. John’s is in our hearts all the time. A generous donation is one way to show our appreciation for the high quality of education we all received.
Mission
To Support St John’s National Academy of health sciences, Bengaluru, India in its pursuit for excellence in medical education, service to the needy and clinical research.
Vision
Our goal is to build an endowment through active fundraising from North American benefactors including North American Johnite alumni, friends and well wishers
Our Values
FOSJMC Board of Directors & leadership are guided by these core values & Principles
> To ensure that we work with utmost integrity & professionalism in all that we do to promote our mission
> Our efforts and actions inspire our donors, well-wishers, recipients, and all involved to strive for betterment of the needy
> To be inclusive
> To be accountable in all aspects of the organization’s activities
> Our efforts and actions inspire our donors, well-wishers, recipients, and all involved to strive for betterment of the needy
> To be inclusive
> To be accountable in all aspects of the organization’s activities