The Higher Education Review

Thanks to the shifting preferences of people towards natural treatment and healing, Ayurveda is becoming increasingly popular in India as well as abroad. Not just the general public, but the growing appreciation for this traditional medical system, especially post-Covid, has also led to an increase in the demand for efficient practitioners, in turn foregrounding the broad scope of Ayurveda education.

Today, there are various Ayurveda colleges in India that provide courses like BAMS, but only a few are successful in epitomizing commitment and leveraging a perfect combination of academics, clinical experience, research opportunities, and career support. Headquarted in Ambatedka, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital stands at the forefront of such educational abodes dedicated to Ayurveda.

Bearing the name of commendable educationist, social reformer, visionary, and its Founder, Kurunji Venkatramana Gowda, KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital has consistently brought unmatched quality and value-added systems to the landscape, staying true to its overarching mission.

What started as a college with 60 students in 1996 has now grown into a prominent organization with 500 UG students and 102 PG students. Sponsored by the Academy of Liberal Education, the college is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and provides BAMS (UG) and MD (PG) programs in a wide range of specialties, including Panchakarma, Shalyatantra, and Kayachikitsa.

Its entire curriculum is regulated by the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM) and the Department of Ayush, New Delhi. Along with training the students in comprehensive care, the college has adopted the latest education policies and digital technologies, evident in its air-conditioned labs, classrooms, and the library. Additionally, the students can also access its convenient residential facilities, which eliminate their usual travel hassles.

The Strengths
One of the major parameters that sets KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital apart is its pedagogy, in which ancient wisdom and modern scientific practices are blended.

All the theoretical and practical sessions are helmed by skilled faculty, who are veterans or practicing doctors possessing their own research publications, and are supervised by thoughtful leader and principal, Dr. Leeladhar D.V. He ensures to onboard only those members who share the mindset of becoming a good teacher and producing good doctors.

“We have 66 permanent faculty members and have a very low teacher turnover rate. In fact, as a principal, I work with my former teachers, who work here,” claims Dr. Leeladhar, Principal. Dr. Leeladhar believes that every student has the potential to excel, regardless of the learning pace, and ensures that the teachers set a strategy to accommodate different learning speeds, be it through segregation of students into groups or optional additional classes.

The principal, coupled with the staff, also coax the students to think beyond just Ayurveda practice and use their BAMS degree as a stepping stone to pursue other professions in public service, including administrators or politicians, to reinforce the significance of Ayurveda in society.

Promoting the same, Dr. Leeladhar also regularly arranges guest lectures from Ayurvedic doctors, who serve in the government sector but are instrumental in propagating Ayurveda. He also wishes to place at least 50 percent of the postgraduate students abroad and at least 20 percent of others as stakeholders, industrialists, or entrepreneurs in healthcare.

The first-hand experience and exposure offered to the students in the KVG hospital of either practicing or witnessing the expertise of their professors as doctors further motivate them to achieve satisfaction in the field.

The 172-bedded hospital comprises all major specialty doctors and state-of-the-art technologies and runs hand-in-hand with the college, benefiting both the students and the patients. The patients are primarily evaluated through Ayurveda, but are prescribed allopathic medicine only if necessary.

The hospital abides by the verse, ‘Swasthasya Swasthya samrakshanam, aaturasya vikaraprasamanam’, based on which they can analyze patients’ psychological, physiological, and pathological status and clean the body before treating the diseases, including habitual and occupational illnesses.

Likewise, the students are also trained to understand the patients thoroughly before delivering care, in turn boosting a patient’s confidence in the doctors and the system.

Emphasizing Research
KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital places equal emphasis on scientific research programs and has multiple ongoing projects in its repository. The students and staff secure approval and government grants to support at least 5-10 research projects every year. Its own GMP-certified government-licensed pharmacy adds an additional advantage and produces over 200 to 220 Ayurvedic medicines annually, which accounts for 90 percent of medicines used in its hospital.

“We have developed 22 proprietary medicines with our own unique combinations in addition to producing other classical medicines like Dashamoolarishta and Chyavanprash. These formulations undergo stringent trials by a research center in Bangalore before receiving approval,” shares Dr. K V Chidananda, President, Academy of Liberal Education. In addition, the college operates other specialty clinics, including neurology, dermatology, and Prasuti and Striroga, propelling its BAMS graduates to provide services confidently and effectively. Dr. Leeladhar is also in discussion with his management to establish dedicated neurology and oncology hospitals within the campus in the future. Considering the growing cases of cancer, he seeks to enable the patients’ families to prevent the disease by teaching them to alter their lifestyle through Ayurveda.

The various departments at KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital are Dept. of Samhitha & Siddantha, Dept. of Rachana Shareera, Dept. of Kriya Shareera, Dept. of Dravyaguna Vignana, Dept. of Rasashastra & Bhai-Shajya Kalpana, Dept. of Roganidana & Vikruthi Vigyana, Dept. of Swasthavritha & Yoga, Dept. of Agada Tantra & Vyavahara Ayurveda, Dept. of Prasoothi Tantra & Stree Roga, Dept. of Koumarabhrithya (Balaroga), Dept. of Kayachikitsa, Dept. of Shalya Tantra, Dept. of Shalakya Tantra, and Dept. of Panchakarma. Moving forward, KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital is planning to further its legacy through establishing a hospital using its serene and strategic location of western ghats as the backdrop in 10 acres.

The avenue will be designed to leverage a high-end Ayurvedic experience prioritizing natural living, Ayurveda-based food, and nature. “Our plan includes 30 cottages with their own massage and treatment facilities and walking trails with only medicinal plants on both sides. The central area will feature doctor accommodations, OPD centers, yoga halls, a swimming pool, and a meditation center,” describes Dr. Leeladhar. This will also add a feather to KVG Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital and its proactive pursuit for advancing Ayurveda and global healthcare.