Two DNB Trainees of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram, Puttaparthi have secured the National Board of Examinations, Gold Medals for the year 2020. Dr. Yogi Sundar Rao Chaganti topped in the Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgery stream, while Dr. Anuj Dumra came first in the Urology stream. The Urology Gold medal is named after Dr. H S Bhatt, considered a doyen of Urology in India, who had set up the Department of Urology at the SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram. 

This is the first time that the hospital has received two gold medals in the same year. 

Speaking on the occasion the Director of the SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram, Dr Gurumurthy said that the two gold medals in the same year were a testament to the high quality training provided by the hospital. "The SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram has the state-of-the-art equipment along with skilled manpower, which makes it the best place for any student trying to leave a mark in the their respective specialties," Dr. Gurumurthy said. "As the patient care has imbibed principles of health care as affirmed by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the trainees  apart from the technical skills also learn the soft skills of treating the patients with love and compassion. This makes Bhagawan Baba's hospital unique and different from other institutions. Here credit goes to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, which has continued to provide support to the hospital in every way," Dr Gurumurthy said.

Both Dr. Anuj Dumra  and Dr Yogi Chaganti conveyed their gratitude first to their parents to have helped them to reach the place they are today. " In any walk of life the blessings of the parents is of great importance and it is with their efforts and sacrifices that we both are where we are," they said.  

Expressing his happiness at securing the gold medal in the specialty of CTVS, Dr Yogi while thanking Bhagawan Baba for His blessings also gave credit to the robust academic culture of the hospital for his success. "I would like to express my deepest gratitude and obeisance to Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for giving me the opportunity to join in this institute in 2016 session. My performance in the CTVS Final Examination conducted by NBEMS where I have secured the Gold Medal for highest marks is Swami's blessing", he said. "Academic activities such as Seminar presentation, journal clubs along with daily case discussions and OPD reviews, and as the time progressed, the training in the theatre with the Head of Department Dr Neelam Desai, faculty members and other residents helped me to make the cut," he said. "In fact the questions asked in the Final Viva Voce were almost same to the questions discussed in our daily case discussions in the CTVS Conference Room with HoD, faculty members and other residents," he added. "Even during peak covid times when we were all taking care of covid patients the academics continued," he said.

Dr. Anuj from the Urology department mentioned that the reason the trainees passing out of SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram are a cut above the rest is because of the practical training that they received in the Urology department. "Almost from the first day of our joining the DNB trainees are posted to the Operation Theatres to observe and learn and as the time passes, under astute supervision, they gradually learn the ropes of surgery and by the end of the three years the trainees have the experience, which no body in any other institution will ever have. This aspect is unique for Swami's hospital," Dr. Anuj said. "I must say that I never imagined that I would ever get the All India Gold Medal. Bhagawan Baba always says that "you do my work and I take care of everything of yours." This cannot be more apt than in my case. Before covid and during covid all the hospital staff were totally involved in taking care of the patients visiting Swami's hospital be it covid or non-covid patients. Sometimes due to the heavy rush of the patients in the Urology department, we could not even have time for studies, but we provided patient care with all sincerity and devotion and I think this Gold Medal is Swami's return gift to me as well as the hospital," Dr Anuj said.  

Earlier Dr. N.N. Sridharan had received a Gold medal in Urology 2004 and Dr. Amit Chabbra had got the DNB Gold medal in Ophthalmology in 2010.