Medical Education Unit
Medical Education Unit
Established in 2011, the Medical Education Unit (MEU) at Sri Muthukumaran Medical College Hospital & Research Institute (SMMCHRI) is dedicated to fostering educational excellence and innovation. As an integral part of the institution and functioning as an NMC Nodal Centre for Faculty Development under the support of Sri Ramachandra Medical College, the MEU conducts critical programs such as Revised Basic Course Workshops (RBCW), Attitudes, Ethics and Communication (AETCOM) training, and Curriculum Implementation Support Programmes (CISP) for MBBS Phase I and II faculties. It consists of a committed team of faculty with advanced qualifications like Advanced Course in Medical Education (ACME) and Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Health Professions Education, focused on enhancing teaching quality and curriculum delivery aligned with Competency- Based Medical Education (CBME) introduced nationally from 2019.
About MEU
Mandated by the Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations, all medical colleges must establish MEUs to innovate and improve medical education by enabling faculty to utilize modern educational technologies and methodologies. SMMCHRI’s MEU was founded with this vision, staffed by devoted educators expertly trained in medical education technologies and pedagogy, including ACME and M.Phil. graduates. The unit collaborates closely with the NMC Nodal Centre for Faculty Development at Sri Ramachandra Medical College, ensuring adherence to national curricular reforms and faculty training programs.
Objectives
The MEU aims to:
- Facilitate ongoing faculty development through periodic Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) and workshops, fostering progressive teaching techniques as per NMC guidelines.
- Oversee curriculum planning, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement through the Curriculum Committee, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate educational activities.
- Keep faculty abreast of emerging trends and best practices in medical education.
- Promote medical education research to enhance teaching and learning methodologies.
- Liaise with regional and nodal centres of the National Medical Commission to facilitate smooth implementation of curricular updates.
Functioning
The MEU convenes at least ten scheduled meetings annually, with additional sessions as needed, particularly to address issues arising with the Competency-Based curriculum roll- out. Meetings follow a structured agenda with documented minutes and coordinated follow-up actions.
Curricular Support and Faculty Development
To promote curricular excellence and align with NMC reforms, the MEU organizes regular, periodic Revised Basic Course Workshops, AETCOM training, and Curriculum Implementation Support Programmes for faculty, ensuring smooth transition and effective delivery of the CBME curriculum. The unit also conducts focused, need-based Faculty Development Programs annually and encourages faculty participation in external conferences and continuing medical education (CME) activities. Orientation programs for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students emphasize foundational knowledge, professional roles, and institutional expectations.
Faculty Strength & Academic Achievements
MEU is staffed by several faculty with advanced qualifications in medical education, including Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz (Master of Philosophy in Health Professions Education), Dr. R. Sukumar, Dr. Mehandi V. Mahajan, Dr. J. Selvakumar, and Dr. J. Nithyalakshmi, who have completed the Advanced Course in Medical Education (ACME). Other members are actively pursuing similar qualifications, collectively fostering a culture of educational excellence.
Research & Scholarship of teaching
The MEU actively engages in medical education research, with several completed and ongoing projects presented at national forums as e-posters or dissertations. These efforts contribute to evidence-based improvements in teaching and curriculum design, enhancing the institution’s academic environment.
FACULTY
Medical Education Unit of SMMCH & RI
| S.No | MEU Member’s Name | Designation & Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. R. Jayanthi | Dean & Chairperson , MEU |
| 2 | Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz | Professor, Physiology & Coordinator, MEU |
| 3 | Dr. J. Nithyalakshmi | Professor, Microbiology & Member, MEU |
| 4 | Dr. S. Sampathkumari | Professor & HOD, Obstetrics And Gynecology & Member, MEU |
| 5 | Dr. Jai Vinod Kumar | Associate Professor,General Surgery & Member, MEU |
| 6 | Dr. V. Raju | Professor, Paediatrics & Member, MEU |
| 7 | Dr. S. Muthukumar | Professor, Physiology, Member, MEU & Treasurer – MEU |
| 8 | Dr. Navya C. N. | Professor, Anaesthesiology & Member, MEU |
| 9 | Dr. Saranya Chithra Cheruvu | Assistant Professor, Otorhinolaryngology & Member, MEU |
| 10 | Dr. Abinayaah Suresh | Associate Professor, Otorhinolaryngology & Member, MEU |
| 11 | Dr. Prabhu A.N | Associate Professor, Orthopedics & Member, MEU |
Curriculum Committee of SMMCH & RI
| S.No | Curriculum Committee Member’s Name | Designation & Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. R. Jayanthi | Dean & Chairperson , MEU |
| 2 | Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz | MEU Coordinator & Professor, Department of Physiology |
| 3 | Dr. J. Selvakumar | Professor, Department of Physiology (Pre-clinical Speciality) |
| 4 | Dr. P. Durairajan | Professor & HOD, Department of Pharmacology (Para- Clinical Speciality) |
| 5 | Dr. Umesh G | Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry (Medical Speciality) |
| 6 | Dr. Uganath Subash B | Professor, Department of Orthopedics(Surgical Speciality) |
| 7 | Dr. V. U. Karthikeyan | Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, (Medical Speciality) |
| 8 | Dr. Timsi Jain | Professor & HOD , Department of Community Medicine (Medical Speciality/Community Medicine) |
FACILITIES
The Medical Education Unit (MEU) of Sri Muthukumaran Medical College Hospital & Research Institute (SMMCHRI), located on the third floor of the Medical College Block, boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to accommodate around 30 participants comfortably in a workshop setting, aligned with current NMC standards. The MEU features a spacious plenary hall with a seating capacity of 40-50, equipped with modern audio-visual aids including high-speed internet-enabled multimedia PCs, digital scanners, printers, multiple multimedia LCD projectors, wireless microphones, laptops, and interactive whiteboards. It also offers four partitioned workshop rooms equipped with flip charts and boards for group activities, a dedicated office space for documentation, and seamless access to a vast digital library containing e-books, journals, and research databases. These facilities are augmented by contemporary learning technologies, including virtual collaboration tools and e-learning platforms, ensuring an engaging, professional, and innovative academic environment for faculty development and educational workshops.
EVENTS CONDUCTED/ACTIVITIES
| S.No | Date | Academic Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.05.2025 to 22.05.2025 (1 days) | CRMI Induction Program |
| 2 | 11.04.2025 | ICMR Research Methodology |
| 3 | 24.03.2025 to 25.03.2025 (1 days) | PG Orientation Program |
| 4 | 30.01.2025 | FDP “Teach Smart” |
| 5 | 10.01.2024 to 11.01.2024 (1 days) | Postgraduate Orientation Programme (2023 batch) |
| 6 | 02.03.2024 to 04.09.2024 | Second Induction Program |
| 7 | 19.05.2024 to 21.05.2024 | CRMI |
| 8 | 18.09.2024 to 20.09.2024 | Basic Course in Medical Education |
| 9 | 17.10.2024 to 29.10.2024 | UG Foundaton Courses |
| 10 | 11.09.2023 to 20.09.2023 | UG Foundaton Courses |
| 11 | 04.01.2023 to 06.01.2023 (2 days) | Postgraduate Orientation Programme (2022 batch) |
| 12 | 24.11.2022 to 01.12.2022 | UG Foundaton Courses |
| 13 | 18.05.2022 to 21.05.2022 (5 days) | Postgraduate Orientation Programme (2021 batch) |
| 14 | 07.04.2022 to 13.04.2022 | UG Foundaton Courses |
| 15 | 02.02.2021 to 08.02.2021 (7 days) | I M.B.B.S Orientation Programme (2019-2020 batch) |
| 16 | 02.02.2021 to 10.07.2021 | UG Foundaton Courses |
| 17 | 11.10.2021 to 13.10.2021 (3 days) | Revised Basic Course Workshop in Medical Education Technologies & AETCOM conducted by the MEU of SMMCH & RI under supervision of the NMC Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. |
| 18 | 25.11.2021 to 27.11.2021 (3 days) | Revised Basic Course Workshop in Medical Education Technologies & AETCOM conducted by the MEU of SMMCH & RI under supervision of the NMC Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. |
| 19 | 29.09.2020 to 30.09.2020 (2 days) | Curriculum Implementation Support Programme II (CISP II) Online conducted by the MEU of SMMCH & RI under supervision of the NMC Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. |
| 20 | 04.11.2020 to 07.11.2020 | Postgraduate Orientation Programme (2020 batch) |
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
| S.No | Degree/Diploma/ Course | Name of faculty and details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M.Phil. in Health Professions Education | Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz, Professor of Physiology, SMMCH & RI has been awarded the degree of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil,) in Health Professions Education from Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry in November 2021. |
| 2 | Advance Course in Medical Education |
Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz, Professor of Physiology, SMMCH & RI (2014 batch) received the completion certificate of the project based Advance Course in Medical Education in August 2017 from the National Medical Commission (NMC) Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. Dr. R. Sukumar , Professor & HOD of General Medicine , SMMCH & RI (2015 A batch) received the completion certificate of the project based Advance Course in Medical Education in March 2018 from the National Medical Commission (NMC) Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. Dr. Mehandi V. Mahajan, Professor & HOD of Anatomy, SMMCH & RI (2015 B batch) received the completion certificate of the project based Advance Course in Medical Education in March 2018 from the National Medical Commission (NMC) Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. Dr. J. Selvakumar, Associate Professor of Physiology, SMMCH & RI (2017 B batch) received the completion certificate of the project based Advance Course in Medical Education in November 2019 from the National Medical Commission (NMC) Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. Dr. J. Nithyalakshmi, Professor of Microbiology, SMMCH & RI (2018 B batch) received the completion certificate of the project based Advance Course in Medical Education in November 2021 from the National Medical Commission (NMC) Nodal Centre for Faculty Development, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. |
RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING
| S.No | Name of the faculty | Medical Education Research Project/Dissertation/Poster/Paper Presentation | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz, Professor of Physiology, SMMCH & RI | Educational Research Project for Master of Philosophy (M.Phil,) in Health Professions Education Dissertation | An Online Course on the basics of Scientific Paper Writing |
| 2 | Dr. Suzanne Maria D’cruz, Professor of Physiology, SMMCH & RI | E-Poster presented during Advance Course in Medical Education | Learning Approaches of Medical Students before and after Clinical Posting in a Medical College in South India |
| 3 | Dr. R. Sukumar , Professor & HOD of General Medicine , SMMCH & RI | E-Poster presented during Advance Course in Medical Education | Effectiveness of a Structured Clinical Skills Training Programme in General Medicine for Final year MBBS students |
| 4 | Dr. Mehandi V. Mahajan, Professor & HOD of Anatomy, SMMCH & RI | E-Poster presented during Advance Course in Medical Education | A Study of Students Perception about E-learning |
| 5 | Dr. J. Selvakumar, Associate Professor of Physiology, SMMCH & RI | E-Poster presented during Advance Course in Medical Education | Effectiveness of Teaching-Learning method – Simple demonstration in a group versus demonstration under supervision individually of intravenous cannula insertion in a mannequin in final MBBS students |
| 6 | Dr. J. Nithyalakshmi, Professor of Microbiology, SMMCH & RI | E-Poster presented during Advance Course in Medical Education | Medical students performance and perception of Flipped teaching method in learning Practical Microbiology |