6th December 2021 began a new chapter of the Father Muller College Of Allied Health Sciences with the chair of the Dean which lay vacant with Dr Antony Sylvan DSouza being installed as the Dean of the Father Muller Medical College on 4 December 2021 being entrusted to Dr Urban John Arnold D’Souza. This has been a momentous occasion for the FMCOAHS which has got its second Dean. The college is the largest of the constituent colleges of the Father Muller Charitable Institutions with the most number of courses and the number of student intake of over 300 per year.
The ceremonial event took place in the Father Muller Convention Centre citing the pandemic protocol. The welcome address was delivered by the Dean of the Father Muller Medical College Dr Antony Sylvan DSouza. Ushering the season of Christmas he welcomed the dignitaries and the faculty.
The need for transition and smooth functioning needs a capable leader and thus was announced Dr Urban John Arnold D’Souza by Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Director FMCI as the new Dean of FMCOAHS.
The files of his office were handed over by Dr Antony Sylvan DSouza to Dr Urban DSouza in a spirited and jubilant cheer making the office of the Dean functional. This marked a new beginning for Dr Urban who was born on 28th November 1964 in Udyavar Udupi, did his early education at St Francis Xavier School Udyavar, Government High School, Udyavar, and Poorna-Prajna College Udupi. He completed his Masters in Medical Physiology degree from Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, doctorate from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. Earning his MS degree later and bestowed with the Fellow of Royal Society, London in the year 2018. He also achieved a certificate course in Medical Education from John Hopkins, USA.
His vast experience and administrative acumen was the reason the Governing Board of the FMCI sought it befitting to install him to the chair of Dean. His academic & research experience include
1989 to 2002 : Lecturer to Assistant Professor and Assoc. Professor of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore.
2002 to 2004 : Assoc. Prof of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia
2005 to 2007 : Professor of Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
2008 – 2010 : Professor of Physiology, KVG Medical College.
2011 – 2018 : Professor and Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics [Preclinical – Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology], Faculty of Medicine, University Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia.
2018 –June 2021 : Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia.
1st July 2021 till 05 Dec 2021 : Professor of Physiology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore.
He has been accorded many awards in excellence in teaching by the various colleges he tenured in and has many publications with many textbooks to his credit. Having over 32 years of teaching experience with over 50 PhD theses he has guided, being a PhD examiner for universities in Malaysia, Brunei, Kuwait and India.
In his first ever speech Dr Urban quoted saying,”Little pencil in God’s hand….he does colour, sharpen and work throughout my life”, a quote of Mother Teresa. He quipped that he was the oxygen to the haemoglobin of the student body. The trust reposed in him by the Governing body as a Dean of a legacy filled Institutions was much appreciated and a humbling experience for him. Father Muller whose selfless medical practice that began in 1880 has grown to a huge banyan tree. The responsibility of Dean, strives for excellence and the former Dean has sowed the seeds by being the first ever Dean. A camaraderie spirit is required to have a new paradigm in integrated teaching. Holistic growth in academics is most sought-after. The motto of Heal and Comfort is the divine decree the Institution follows with a WE not I. He stressed on Passion, patience, punctuality, progress, perseverance and persistence to be his service motto.
Director FMCI Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho in his presidential address emphasized the fact that the FMCOAHS is a vast and string institution with a huge student intake and the students themselves who study the various allied health related courses were lucky to have Dr Antony as their first Dean and now Dr Urban DSouza. The students should reflect and get a sense of pride looking at the vast experience of their dean and should emulate and strive even better to be stalwarts in their domains. The need of the hour is holistic healing anD team efforts in the medical domain. In these times of change and innovation the paramedical/allied health sciences have taken a centre stage with being highly job oriented and being a part of patients’ treatment. The days that the Doctor alone treats are far over, it’s a group effort from the security personnel to the super specialist, and patients seek holistic care. The reports/scans/ECG/LAB test done by the allied health worker aid in diagnosis and treatment. Thus this field has seen an influx of students who eagerly wait for seats in our institution.teaching and learning should go hand-in-hand, wishing the new Dean the cooperation of the Management.
Fr Ajith B Menezes, Administrator of FMMC & FMCOAHS and the chairman behind the whole ceremonial event looked into every minute details of the event. Dr Shailaja Katti, Associate professor Biochemistry and course coordinator, proposed the vote of thanks. Ms Ashmita Patrao, Assistant professor Physiotherapy compeered the programme.
Administrators and Assistant Administrators of FMCI, Spiritual Animators, Faculty of FMMC and FMCOAHS were present during the installation ceremony. The event marks a new future for the Medical and Allied Health College of the Father Muller Charitable Institutions which caters to medical health professionals to the nation and beyond.
The FMCOAHS caters to varied academic courses Physiotherapy (BPT/MPT); Hospital Administration (BHA/MHA); BSc in Medical Imaging Technology, Radio-Therapy, Medical Laboratory Technology, Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology, Renal Dialysis Technology; MSc in Medical Laboratory Technology and Radiation Physics.
