Thiruvananthapuram [Keralam]: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday urged newly graduated doctors to combine scientific and technological excellence with human compassion, stressing that advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and digital healthcare must complement, rather than replace, the human role of a doctor.
Addressing the 15th Graduation Day Ceremony of Sree Uthradom Thirunal (SUT) Academy of Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram as the Chief Guest, V-P Radhakrishnan highlighted the institution’s contribution to healthcare and medical education in Keralam.
“The true strength of a medical institute lies in the quality of education it provides, the doctors it produces, the research it undertakes and the patients it serves,” the Vice-President said.
He noted that the graduating doctors were entering the healthcare sector at a time of rapid technological transformation, with artificial intelligence, robotics, digital health, advanced imaging and precision medicine reshaping medical practice.
In this context, he said the inauguration of robotic surgery and computer-aided diagnosis facilities at the institute was significant and reflected the need to keep medical education and healthcare aligned with technological progress.
At the same time, V-P Radhakrishnan cautioned that technology should not displace the human dimension of medicine.
“Technology can assist a doctor, but it cannot replace the human aspects of a doctor,” he said. “A machine can analyse. A robot can assist. An algorithm can identify patterns. But a patient still needs a doctor who can listen, understand, reassure and take responsibility.”
The Vice President urged the graduating doctors to uphold the trust represented by the white coat through accurate diagnosis, honest communication, compassionate treatment and ethical decision-making. He emphasised that scientific excellence and human compassion must always go hand in hand.
Access to higher education central to Viksit Bharat vision
V-P Radhakrishnan said India was moving confidently towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Prime Minister had emphasised that the vision could be realised only when every State, district and village develops, making access to higher education a central component of the national development agenda.
Highlighting the expansion of medical education over the past 12 years, the Vice President said that while there was earlier only one AIIMS in New Delhi, 12 new AIIMS had since been established.
He also pointed to the increasing participation of women in higher education. Sharing his experience of attending convocations across the country, he said he had observed a welcome trend of more women receiving degrees and medals than men.
At the SUT Academy ceremony, 60 women and 32 men received undergraduate degrees, while five women and two men received postgraduate degrees.
Three principles for young doctors
V-P Radhakrishnan gave the graduating doctors three guiding principles for their professional lives: “Knowledge in their minds, Compassion in their hearts, Integrity in their conduct.”
He urged the young doctors to remain confident while staying humble, ambitious while remaining ethical, technologically advanced while retaining compassion, and successful while staying connected with society.
He also called upon the graduates to “always say No to drugs.”
Concluding his address, the Vice President wished the graduates a successful, meaningful and fulfilling professional journey. “May you always remember that the greatest privilege of being a doctor is the opportunity to make a difference in another human being’s life,” he said. He also wished SUT Academy of Medical Sciences continued growth as a centre of excellence in medical education, healthcare, research and innovation.
The ceremony was attended by Governor of Tamil Nadu and Keralam Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar; Keralam Minister for Labour, Animal Husbandry and Women and Child Development Bindhu Krishna; Chairman of SUT Academy of Medical Sciences A. C. Shanmugam; Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Health Sciences Mohanan Kunnummal; faculty members, staff, graduating students and their families.
[ DD News ]