This is a story of a man who lived his life for his institution. A story of a teacher, a clinician, a colleague, a visionary leader, and moreover a true human being who spent 40 odd years, battling hard for Dr. VMMC and Hospital.
While speed of modernization and pace of life have kept us physically detached, we are held together by a common thread which is Dr. VMMC. This page is a quick glimpse on one of our teachers whom most of us are proud of, DR S.V. Ghate.
Early days:
A clever energetic lad, Sunil Ghate made into medical scheme at Dr. VMMC and steered his way through to finish MD Pediatrics in 1983. He had seen suffering in small huts in his village near Barshi (Dist. Solapur). Political apathy, economic instability, and social divide in an already neglected region of Maharashtra State hurt Dr. Ghate. He realized how disease makes it worse, especially for children. After post-graduation, he jumped into full-time public service and dedicated himself to help heal sick kids.
The Hospital:
Within two years of service in 1985, Dr. Ghate was urged to take up the position of acting Head of the Dept. of Pediatrics. 8 years later, appreciating his service, he formally became an MPSC selected Professor and Head of the Department. He has been a post-graduate teacher for MD pediatrics since year 1988 and helped students through their training and research.
With no state funds available to upgrade government hospitals, many newborns died for want of ventilators. In the year 1999, a brand new Neonatal ICU was set up with private donations from his very own practicing students. This was followed by a Pediatric ICU a year later. Recently, he was instrumental in starting a PhD course in Pediatrics. Dr. Ghate has mentored numerous specialist pediatricians during the last 25 years. Even today, they bow before his knowledge and humility.
The College:
Dr. Ghate has been always called to rescue the college administration from complex judicial and administrative issues. He was quite young to be chosen as deputy dean in year 2000 and acting Dean in 2004. Hand-picked by the Maharashtra government, he successfully initiated ten postgraduate medical degree courses at GMC Latur. He accomplished a fairly complex task of making court approved post-graduate registration rosters for the university. He was later appointed Dean of Medical Faculty for Shivaji University from 2004 to 2006 and worked as a PG committee chairman at our college for 15 long years. Having worked with MCI and numerous other investigative, teaching, and administrative committees there is hardly anyone to match his experience in the region.
The Students:
‘Success is not by chance, it comes with regular hard work’. This is the essence of Dr. Ghate’s ideology. Leading by example, he shows what hard work implies. Along with teaching clinical skills, he nurtured the spirit of togetherness, harmony and leadership amongst students and medics. Being close to students across all cadres (UGs, Interns, and PGs), Dr. Ghate served as a rector of PG hostel for around 20 yrs. One could go and ring his bell any day and at all times, 24 by 7, 365 days a year. Nicknamed ‘a perpetual machine’, he has answers for all problems, big and small. He is renowned as an honest, selfless, and reliable person to fall back on when in need. While sharing ideas and providing support for annual social gatherings, and various cultural events, he mixed with them to be one of them. All past students of VMMC had a massive get together in 1997. No wonder they chose him as the President for the meet.
To be as knowledgeable, charismatic, and important while at the same time be nice and humble, one needs to be like Dr. Ghate. However, it is easier said than done. His love for this institute made him decline the position of Dean, GMC Miraj in year 2012. Hats off to his spirited family that stands strong besides him.
We still remember him in his neatly clad favorite half sleeve safari suit walking confidently towards the college for maybe another college council meeting.
If any of his past students saw him from a distance, he would certainly park his luxury car far behind and choose to walk with him a few steps.
This is the power of knowledge and simplicity.
