The Big Question: What are you doing for others??
-Martin Luther King
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day”. This must have been the saying that was carved into every stone and heart that built this great tabernacle, also known to us as A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences.
A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, the piece de resistance, The Crowning Glory of Nitte Education trust, now Nitte University, celebrates 30 years of supreme and unparalleled existence. As the first professional institution of the Nitte Education Trust founded by the late Justice K.S Hegde in 1985, the institution has been a vibrant temple of knowledge churning bright minds right from its modest beginnings and has made giant strides over the years becoming the premier institute it is today, having unprecedented name and fame in the country under the able leadership of his son, the dynamic Sri Nitte Vinaya Hegde, the President of the Nitte Education Trust and presently the Chancellor of the NITTE University. With compassion being a cornerstone to serve and a commitment to society, the Nitte University has established 15 Rural satellite centres spread over an area of 150 kms radius from the institution catering to 333 villages covering more than 16 lakh population. These centres were conceptualized and nurtured by the Founder Dean and Former President of The Dental Council of India, Prof. Dr. N. Sridhar Shetty who visualised a concept to provide accessible, affordable and quality oral health care to rural population. These centres are “The Precious Jewels in the Crown” of ABSMIDS.
What started as an idea, lead to the establishment of a large scale project “Institutionalized Approach – Total Health Care for Rural and Semi-Urban Population at the Door Step- Free of Cost” which is being implemented through its large chain of Fifteen Rural Satellite Centres with the A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences being the “Nucleus hospital”. The satellite centres are established in Sringeri (Chickmagalur district); Madikeri (Coorg district); Nitte, Bailoor, Mundkur, Hejamadikodi, Marnakatte, Dabbekatte, Nada (Udupi district); Subrahmanya, Thalipadi, Farangipete, Bengre, Konaje (Dakshina Kannada district); Bellikoth (Kasargod district of Kerala state). With 1-2 dental surgeons dedicated to each center, one administrative officer from the local community and well equipped dental clinics, the centers have been established as a public private partnership with involvement of the local community. Comprehensive and multispecialty oral care services are provided to the patients free of cost. Till date, more than 10 lakhs of patients have received treatment worth Rs. 3 Billion free of cost at the centres since 1991 (Sringeri, being the first centre established in that year). Today, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences stands as the largest provider (Nationally and Internationally) of quality Oral Health Care free of cost to the rural masses and has become a “Role Model” for other dental colleges in the country to emulate. The programme is so well appreciated and lauded by the regulatory body i.e The Dental Council of India that it has made it mandatory for all dental colleges in the country to have at least 3 rural centres and post interns for a period of 3 months to sensitize the graduating dentists on rural problems and health issues. Apart from the Rural satellite centres, more than 1600 free dental awareness and treatment camps have been conducted benefitting more than 5 lakh population.
Another path breaking top notch programme, first of its kind internationally, is the Single Day denture camp pioneered by the eminent Prosthodontist Prof. Dr. N. Sridhar Shetty termed as “Hiriyarige hiriyathana seve” (which means, Most revered treatment for the elderly). More than 2000 dentures have been delivered successfully to elderly patients in about 60 single day denture camps.
The aims, aspirations and dreams of this Institute did not stop there. Various other programmes such as the “N-Brite school dental health programme” and the “N-Spec” programme for the differently abled are being conducted in various schools in and around Mangalore and provide incremental dental care to the beneficiaries. The Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Craniofacial Sciences in collaboration with the Smile Train International Foundation delivers comprehensive care for about 1000 Cleft lip and palate patients every year which has improved the quality of life of many patients and their families. All through these years, The Smile Train has indeed brought smile, onto innocent faces and light, into families.
Excellence at par:
The Institution takes immense pride in imparting quality education in the field of Dental Sciences since the past 30 years. The institution offers undergraduate (BDS), postgraduate (MDS) and PhD. programs in various specialties of dentistry. About 2400 graduates and 1200 post graduates have emerged with flying colours and are true diplomats of this wonderful Institution; being well placed in India and abroad. Year after year, the students have brought laurels to the institution by securing ranks and Gold medals under the Mangalore University (initial affiliation) and the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The Institution feels proud of its association with various International Universities such as Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany) for the certificate program in Oral Implantology; Okayama University Dental School (Japan) and Universite de Toulouse-Paul Sabatier (France) for biomedical research and student exchange programs. Excellence is just a relative term and the Institution takes pride in being the Flag bearer as the Nitte University was bestowed with the Deemed University status in 2008.
After 3 decades nothing has changed yet a lot has changed. The same old strong values, ethics and morals with a wonderful blend of modern outlook, facilities and ideas, A.B.S.M.I.D.S is leaving the mark of yet another footprint in the sands of time in the form of DAZZLE 30. The celebrations are as 30 unique programmes of community service meld with various competitions in schools and colleges.
What the great visionary Justice K. S. Hegde dared to dream, his son Sri Nitte Vinaya Hegde with his unstinting support has shaped the lives of many rural people. As the Institution celebrates its Pearl anniversary in this landmark year, may it shine even brighter and reach out to many unreached underprivileged and continue to excel far and wide under the able stewardship of the dynamic Principal and Dean, Prof. Dr. U. S. Krishna Nayak, touching many souls and lives and creating many many smiles through its well appreciated social service thus keeping the Noble Soul of Late Justice K. S. Hegde alive. As the 30th year dawns, there are more hopes and higher dreams for the future and history has proven, A.B.S.M.I.D.S is one such institution that never leaves a dream unfulfilled.
