Alumni Day at SGPGIMS
The alumni meet on December 13, 2023, was a cherished event for our institute, marking the inaugural gathering after the establishment of the SGPGIMS Alumni Association society. With 130 alumni in attendance, including distinguished members like Drs. Gaurav Srivastava and SantoshChaubey from Australia, the evening promised a reunion filled with nostalgia and camaraderie.
Our esteemed guests, Prof. R. K. Dhiman, Director and first alumnus SGPGIMS,Prof. Shaleen Kumar, Dean SGPGIMS, and Prof. Aneesh Srivastava, former Dean and alumnus of SGPGIMS graced the occasion adding prestige and sharing inspiring tales from their days at SGPGIMS. Dr. PreetiDhabadgaoPresident SGPGIMS Alumni Associationand Dr. AnkurBhatnagar,SecretarySGPGIMS Alumni Association, initiated the evening, inviting all the dignitaries to contribute to the vision and legacy of our alma mater. Dr. Bhatnagarfurther summarized the progress on membership drive and plan ahead for the association.
The evening started with vibrant cultural performances by Munal, a society dedicated to perform cultural programs, colorful dance performances and melodious songs, adding a festive atmosphere to the event. Following the cultural program, a hilarious skit by Mr. SandeepYadav and PreetiChauhan "DukhiyariAurat," filled the air with laughter and joy, reminding everyone of lighter moments shared during the academic pursuits.
Our own alumni took center stage, showcasing their musical talents and inspiring us with their performances. Dr. Soumyakanta and Mrs. Shashi were among the alumni who delighted the audience with their melodious performances, further enhancing the celebratory atmosphere of the meet. An outstanding father-daughter duo both SGPGIMS alumni, Prof. Aneesh Srivastava and Dr. Anubha Srivastava, left us mesmerized with their stories of inspiration, success and the time spent at SGPGIMS campusencapsulated in a beautiful poem.
The evening was not just for us; it was an opportunity to involve our younger attendees. Special activities like magic shows; tattoo painting and games brought smiles to the faces of all kids, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity within the alumni community.
As the night drew to a close, we departed with a renewed sense of connection and purpose. The alumni meet was more than just a gathering; it was a celebration of shared experiences and achievements. It reminded us of the bonds we forged at SGPGIMS and the responsibility we carry as alumni to support and uplift our alma mater.
In the end, everyone left with hearts full of memories and anticipation for future reunions, knowing that the spirit of SGPGIMS lives on through each of us, wherever life may take us. The program ended with vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Bhatnagar, SecretarySGPGIMS Alumni Association.
SGPGI Alumni Cricket Match
SGPGIMS celebrated the auspicious occasion of Sgpgi Alumni on December 13, 2023.
To blend the old expertise with the young brigade, we, as an alumni association, conducted a cricket match on December 13, 2023, at the SGPGI cricket ground. The cricket match was played between Team Medical Superintendent (MS) 11 and Team Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) 11 in yellow and blue jerseys, respectively. Dr Nikhilesh Kumar, Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery, and Burns captained the MS Team, while Dr Arun Srivastava, Professor of Neurosurgery, led the CMS team. Team CMS won the toss and chose to bat, scoring 149 runs in 15 overs. Team MS scored 140 runs in their allotted overs, and Team CMS won the inaugural alumni cricket match. Our esteemed Guest of Honor, Director Dr. RK Dhiman presented the trophy to the winning team.
Alumni from various parts of the country, such as Odisha, West Bengal, and New Delhi, joined our cricket team to grace this occasion.
Second alumni day was celebrated in the afternoon of 13 th December 2021. Director, Prof RK Dhiman presided over the program along with dean Prof Aneesh Srivastava, both are one of the early alumni of the institute. It was a hybrid meeting and about 100 alumni joined virtually or physically. The program began with Prof Dhiman remembering his days as a DM student in gastroenterology where in addition to the academics the environment was of camaraderie and the institute was one big family. Prof Srivastava while introducing the first speaker, Prof Diwakar Dalela spoke of the life and training in the early days in SGPGI. Prof Mahendra Bhandari mentored both Profs Srivastava and Dalela and not only taught them urology but made them understand the importance of balancing work with family life, which has stood them in good stead. Prof Dalela with his vast experience as a teacher and practitioner gave tips about good professional conduct, an important lesson for upcoming doctors. Prof Madan Godbole introduced his protege Dr Naibedya Chattopadhyay, currently scientist at CDRI. Prof Chattopadhyay strongly advocated that to improve the research standard and output in our country, leaders of science have to be more vocal so that science policies and announcements made are implemented and funding for research as promised is increased. Something which is a norm in the US. Prof Shubha Phadke spoke about her journey of 3 decades of establishing department of Medical Genetics, the first in the country, the ups and downs she has faced. She was fondly introduced by her student and now a friend Prof Ratna Puri from Delhi. Dr Pooja Ramakant succinctly outlined how the SGPGI alumni association can be a two-way street. She was introduced by her teacher Prof Amit Agrawal. The program ended with Prof Preeti Dabadghao outlining the course of action to be taken by the alumni cell to make the association vibrant. We hope to continue and expand this tradition in the coming years.
In the nineties, when our nascent Institute was beginning to acquire some freshly minted Alumni as pass outs, SGPGI Alumni day used to be celebrated on the eve of the Convocation. Three such events had been organised during the tenure of Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, the then Director. Customarily, a luminary would be invited to give a talk and this would be followed by an alumni dinner in the guest house lawns. After a long hiatus our Director Prof. RK Dhiman and Dean Prof. SK Mishra, re initiated and revived the idea, and an Alumni Cell Committee was formed. As one the first activities they organised the Alumni Day on 13th December,2020. The event was conducted primarily in an online manner, and was chaired by the Director along with the Dean and it was moderated by Prof. V K Kapoor. 227 Alumni joined in via zoom link and 176 via live you tube account. There were invited talks by some of our noted Alumni of SGPGI i.e. Dr. Amarender Puri, Gasteroenterology, Dr. Ashutosh Tiwari, Urology, Dr. M Naveed, Medical Genetics and Dr. K Nagaraju, Immunology. All the invited speakers were formally introduced by their respective department chairs i.e. by Prof. VA Saraswat, Prof. Aneesh Shrivastava, Prof. Shubha Phadke and Prof. Amita Agarwal.
The speakers spoke about their professional journey, which began at SGPGI, their achievements and their memorable moments. The illustrious speakers ended on a promising note expressing the desire to remain in touch and to help out the younger generations of Alumni in any manner that they can. These talks were followed by a Heritage walk - a video presentation and a very nostalgic interactive session. Trees were also planted in the name of some senior alumni including the Director.An Alumni park is also planned in the Campus in the coming years.