Madras Medical College (MMC) is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

medical college A medical association or medical college is a trade association that brings together practitioners of a particular geographical area (a country, region, province). In common-law countries, they are often grouped by medical specialties ( cardiolog ...

located in

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. Established in 1835, it is one of the oldest medical colleges in India, as well as in Asia.

History

The Government General Hospital was established on 16 November 1647 to treat soldiers of the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

. Madras Medical College was established on 2 February 1835. Mary Scharlieb graduated from Madras Medical College in 1878. In 1996, when the metropolis of

Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...

was renamed as Chennai, the name of the college also changed to Chennai Medical College. It was later re-renamed back to the Madras Medical College since the college was known worldwide by the older name. The foundation stone for the new building of the college was laid by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, on 28 February 2010. In January 2011, the hospital was renamed as

Rajiv Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi (20 August 1944 – 21 May 1991) was an Indian statesman and pilot who served as the prime minister of India from 1984 to 1989. He took office after the Assassination of Indira Gandhi, assassination of his mother, then–prime ...

Government General Hospital.

Red Fort building

A red-brick heritage structure known as the "Red Fort" stands to the east of the MMC buildings. Built in 1897, it has been classified as a Grade I heritage building by the Justice E. Padmanabhan Committee on heritage structures. It housed the anatomy department for several decades, which was partially moved to the new campus of the MMC at the erstwhile Central Prison campus in 2013. In December 2017, the PWD started the restoration of the heritage structure at a cost of 19.7 million. Once restored, the structure will be converted to a museum, with the ground floor showcasing the history of MMC and the first-floor showcasing specimens for comparative anatomy.

New campus

A new campus with a six-storeyed building for Madras Medical College was built on land covering on the erstwhile central prison premises in 2010 and was completed in 2012. The campus has nearly 1,250 students and 400 faculty and staff members. The campus was built at a cost of 566.3 million and started functioning in 2013. The old MMC buildings presently house the college of pharmacy, school of nursing and also accommodate students of the recently added courses of audiology, speech learning and pathology, radiotherapy and radio diagnosis.

Affiliation

Since 1857, the college has been affiliated to the

University of Madras The University of Madras is a public university, public State university (India), state university in Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1857, it is one of the oldest and most prominent universities in India, incorporated by an ...

and all degrees of

Health Sciences The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to health sciences: Health sciences – those sciences that focus on health, or health care, as core parts of their subject matter. Health sciences relate to multiple a ...

were awarded by the same until 1988 when the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University Act, 1987 received the assent of the president of India. This affiliating university started functioning from July 1988 and is governed by the said Act. The college was declared as an independent university called the Madras Medical College and Research Institute (MMC & RI). Later the status as an independent university was withdrawn shortly afterwards and the college was affiliated back to the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, dropping the suffix: "Research Institute" in 2000.

Affiliated institutions

* Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Park Town, Chennai – 600003 * Tamil Nadu Government Dental College, Park Town, Chennai - 600003 * College of Pharmacy, Park Town, Chennai - 600003 * Barnard Institute of Radiology, Park Town, Chennai - 600003 * Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600010 * Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children (IOG & GH WC),

Egmore Egmore is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India. Situated on the northern banks of the Coovum River, Egmore is an important residential area as well as a commercial and transportation hub. The Egmore Railway Station was the main terminus of the ...

, Chennai - 600008 * Institute of Social Obstetrics and Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children, Triplicane, Chennai-5 * Institute of Child Health and Government Hospital for Children (ICH & HC),

, Chennai - 600008 * Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Chennai (RIOGOH),

, Chennai - 600008 * Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K.K. Nagar, Chennai - 600083 * Institute of Thoracic Medicine and Chest Diseases, Chetpet, Chennai - 600031 * National Institute of Aging, Guindy, Chennai -600032 * Government Peripheral Hospital, Periyar Nagar,

* Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH), Tondiarpet, Chennai - 600081

Rankings

The College was ranked 10th and 78th in India by the

National Institutional Ranking Framework National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a ranking methodology released annually by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to rank institutions of higher education in India. The framework was approved by the former Ministr ...

(NIRF) in the medical and pharmacy ranking respectively in 2024.

Cultural events

Madras Medical college hosts inter-college cultural extravaganza known as "REVIVALS" and the annual inter-medical sports meet known as "ENCIERRO". Apart from this, it also hosts annual intra college cultural event known by the name " KALAIOMA". GENESIS is the intercollegiate academic conference conducted for undergraduate medical students since 2005. The 17th event of genesis will be held in the month of September 2023.

Administration

The college and hospital are funded and managed by the state

government of Tamil Nadu The Government of Tamil Nadu () is the administrative body responsible for the governance of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai is the capital of the state and houses the state executive, legislature and head of judiciary. Under the Const ...

. The head of the institution is the dean followed by the

vice-principal In larger school systems, a head teacher principal is often assisted by someone known as a vice-principal, deputy principal, or assistant/associate principal. Unlike the principal, the vice-principal does not have quite the decision-making author ...

. * Dean of institution: Dr. K.Shantharaman * Vice-Principal: Dr. M. Kavitha

Notable people

Alumni

* Ayyathan Gopalan - First Indian Superintendent of Calicut lunatic asylum (Kuthiravattom mental hospital), Chief Surgeon, Medical Professor, Social reformer of Kerala (Founder of Sugunavardhini movement, Depressed Classes Mission and leader and Propagandist of Brahmosamaj in Kerala). * Ayyathan Janaki Ammal - First female doctor and Surgeon of Kerala, First Malayali Lady doctor and Surgeon. *

Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari (25 December 1880 – 10 May 1936) was an Indian nationalist and political leader, and former president of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League during the Indian Independence Movement. He was one of the found ...

, surgeon and

President of the Indian National Congress The national president of the Indian National Congress is the chief executive of the Indian National Congress (INC), one of the principal political parties in India. Constitutionally, the president is elected by an electoral college composed of ...

(1927) *

Padmanabhan Palpu Padmanabhan Palpu (2 November 1863 – 25 January 1950) was a physician from the Kingdom of Travancore who served as a chief medical officer of Mysore State. He led social activism for the Ezhava community in Kerala and a led a movement for ...

, physician from the Kingdom of Travancore who served as a chief medical officer of Mysore State. * S. S. Badrinath, ophthalmologist, founder of Sankara Nethralaya * C.O. Karunakaran, bacteriologist and founder of Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram * V. Mohan, diabetologist and

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

recipient * Guruswami Mudaliar, a noted professor at MMC and doctor in Madras * G. M. Yahya, Former Dean of Thanjavur Medical College. * Arjunan Rajasekaran, urologist and a recipient of the

and Dr. B. C. Roy Award * JS Rajkumar, founder Lifeline group of hospitals, Chennai. Advanced laparoscopic surgeon, former president Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) TN& P chapter * Kadiyala Ramachandra, professor of medicine and Padma Shri recipient * Anbumani Ramadoss, former Union health minister * Natesan Rangabashyam, Gastroenterologist and

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...

recipient * Muthulakshmi Reddi, one of the first female doctors in India *

Yellapragada Subbarow Yellapragada Subba Rao (12 January 18958 August 1948) was an Indian American biochemist who discovered the function of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as an energy source in the cell, developed methotrexate for the treatment of cancer and led th ...

, known for the synthesis of the first ever chemotherapeutic drug

aminopterin Aminopterin (or 4-aminopteroic acid), the 4–amino derivative of folic acid, is an antineoplastic drug with immunosuppressive properties often used in chemotherapy. Aminopterin is a synthetic derivative of pterin. Aminopterin works as an enzyme ...

, and subsequently

methotrexate Methotrexate, formerly known as amethopterin, is a chemotherapy agent and immunosuppressive drug, immune-system suppressant. It is used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and ectopic pregnancy, ectopic pregnancies. Types of cancers it is u ...

. He is also known for the synthesis of

folic acid Folate, also known as vitamin B9 and folacin, is one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body, is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and ...

and diethylcarbamazine and the purification of

adenosine triphosphate Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleoside triphosphate that provides energy to drive and support many processes in living cell (biology), cells, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and chemical synthesis. Found in all known ...

and

creatine Creatine ( or ) is an organic compound with the nominal formula . It exists in various tautomers in solutions (among which are neutral form and various zwitterionic forms). Creatine is found in vertebrates, where it facilitates recycling of ...

. * Tamilisai Soundararajan, former Governor of Telangana. *

C. U. Velmurugendran C. U. Velmurugendran was an Indian neurologist, medical writer and the chairman and head of the Department of Neurology at the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai. He was an honorary professor at the Sri Venkateswara ...

, Neurologist and

recipient * Abraham Verghese, physician, teacher, author and recipient of the U.S.

National Humanities Medal The National Humanities Medal is an American award that annually recognizes several individuals, groups, or institutions for work that has "deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities, broadened our citizens' engagement with the humani ...

* Raman Viswanathan, chest physician and Padma Bhushan recipient * Sivapatham Vittal, endocrine surgeon and a recipient of the

and Dr. B. C. Roy Award * P. K. R. Warrier, cardiothoracic surgeon, author and social activist * Madanur Ahmed Ali, Indian surgical gastroenterologist from Chennai * V. Maitreyan, Member of Parliament (Rajyasabha)

Faculty

* Subramanian Kalyanaraman, neurosurgeon, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate * T. S. Kanaka, Asia's first female neurosurgeon

Classes and year of entry

References

28. and Yale medical school : The 17th century siblings ! https://drsvenkatesan.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=30886&action=edit

External links

* {{authority control Educational institutions established in 1835 Medical colleges in Tamil Nadu Universities and colleges in Chennai 1835 establishments in India Academic institutions formerly affiliated with the University of Madras