Foreign linkages beckon MAMC

The chief of service and programme director, Department of Otolaryngology/ head and neck surgery, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, United States (US) Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, recently visited Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in the Capital to meet the dean of the institute Dr A K Agarwal and other senior faculty members to explore the possibility of collaboration in various areas including the US Indian Political Action Committee''s (USINPAC) programme on Head and Neck Cancer.
Dr Sinha said: "The incidence of head and neck cancer are very high in South Asia and especially in India due to high tobacco consumption. We would like to include India in the programme, which would help us in early detection and prevention of the cancer as well as incorporate newer treatment methodologies, to improve the quality of life and increase the chances of survival of those suffering from it." For this Dr Sinha is holding talks with Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata and Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment in Mumbai besides MAMC in the Capital.
"If the programme is set-up, it will foster faculty-exchange among MAMC and USC which would lead to better exchange of ideas and one can even hope for students-exchange in near future," he said. Dr Agarwal feels that sharing faculty, junior doctors, students and curriculum will be of benefit to both the institutions. He said: "We get advanced stages of cancer in our hospitals, which can be good case-studies for the doctors of UCS and on the other hand, our students will be exposed to the latest medical practices and we would be able to improvise our surgical tactics."