A Short History

The Department of Pediatrics came into being as a distinct entity only in the year 1968, a good 75 years after the hospital was established, a surprising fact considering that the hospital was started primarily for taking care of women and children! Dr. Hilda Koilpillai MRCP was the first pediatrician to head the department and she was responsible for laying a sound foundation to it. Being trained in pediatrics at London, Dr. Koilpillai also brought with her the rich experience in tropical pediatrics that she had gained while working at the Polio Center at London. Apart from the clinical services, she took tremendous interest in academics resulting in the department being one of the most active participants in the clinical meetings that were held every Saturday in those days. The Pediatric Case presentations were always well attended and some of these were even published in the Journal of the Christian Medical Association of India. The department also presented papers at the IMA conferences held in those days. The doctors of the department were also involved in community pediatrics in the urban slums of Bangalore and the semi urban center at Hoskote. The doctors also lent a helping hand in controlling an epidemic of Viral Encephalitis at CSI Hospital at Chikballapur. In all these she was ably assisted by Dr. David, who had qualified from CMC Vellore. The department also gave training to interns who used to flock to the hospital from other medical colleges. Consulting Pediatricians like Dr. Thimmarayappa also visited the department lending their expertise to the patient-care. The Pediatric Ward was then situated in the upper floor of the old building.

Dr. Vasant Kamath joined the department in the year 1974 after Dr. Koilpillai left and he developed the department further. Within the resources available, the department was reorganized and newer procedures instituted. Exchange Blood Transfusions for newborn babies were conducted for the first time, something very few of the hospitals in Bangalore could boast of during those days. A Neonatal Unit with incubators was also established.

The department grew further under the stewardship of pediatricians including Dr. David, Dr. Sheila Thomas, Dr. Sathyanarayana, Dr. Malathi Yeshwanth, Dr. Kohli and Dr. Srinath. Dr. Srinath would be remembered for the record number of exchange transfusions conducted during his tenure and for bringing back the pediatric ward to the present building in C floor. Dr. Srinath was assisted by Dr. Christi D Savio and Dr. Sesha Prasad who had both joined the institution in 1984.

The arrival of Dr. Victoria Mathews, a USA Board qualified pediatrician, in the year 1987 was a milestone in the history of the department as she was the first Head of the Department of Pediatrics to stay in the hospital campus and take care of pediatric emergencies round the clock. She was also responsible for reviving the department, which had slumped due to lack of senior pediatricians around this time. The foundation for a Level II Neonatal Nursery with qualified staff nurses and additional incubators and phototherapy units was also established during her time. Another landmark during her time was the shifting of the Pediatric Ward to the ground floor where the present School of Nursing is situated. The department could also boast of a full-time resident MCh qualified Pediatric Surgeon in the person of Dr. Vinodh Shah at this time who conducted many pediatric surgical procedures including neonatal surgeries.

The year 1990 saw the arrival of Dr. Vasant Kamath again, this time as a part-time senior consultant pediatrician. Under his guidance the Neonatal Services and General Pediatrics were further consolidated with the addition of more incubators and other equipment. Dr. Savio remained as full time Assistant Pediatrician in the campus. Dr. Jose Mathew joined as assistant in the year 1991 to fill in the gap left by Dr. Savio (who had gone away to Vellore for his MD) and helped to steer the department admirably under the guidance of Dr.Kamath. He was followed by Dr. Kavitha and Dr. Ravi Shankar as assistants.

The year 1993 saw two full-time resident assistant pediatricians joining the institution. The first was Dr. Christi Dominic Savio who came back after obtaining MD in pediatrics at Vellore. The second was Dr. Roy Abraham DNB, DCH a graduate and postgraduate of St. John’s Medical College. This resulted in the strengthening of round the clock emergency pediatric service since both the pediatricians stayed at the hospital campus. Dr. Hemalatha was the part-time pediatric surgeon at this time who revived pediatric surgery in the hospital.

Pediatric Surgery received a big boost with the arrival in 1995 of Dr. Ashok Rijhwani, MCH from CMC Vellore, as a part time but always-available pediatric surgeon. A daily OPD in pediatric surgery was established with his arrival. Apart from pediatric and neonatal surgeries, Dr. Rijhwani also performs bronchoscopies for the removal of foreign bodies from the airways, a facility available in very few hospitals in Bangalore.
The department was strengthened by the addition of a third full-time assistant pediatrician in the person of Dr. Amudha in 1995.

28th February 1996 was another landmark in the history of the department for on this day the Pediatric Ward was once again shifted to the spacious C floor. The department could now boast of an ICU with central oxygen and suction and other monitoring equipment and also a separate ward for Pediatric Surgery and outborn Neonates and an isolation ward for infective cases.

Dr. Maria Lewin DNB, DCH joined as Assistant Pediatrician in 1998 to fill in the gap left by Dr. Amudha who went away to Singapore. She worked in the department till May 2004.

The department is now headed by Dr. Christi Dominic Savio, Dr.Roy Abraham being the Associate and Dr.Manas Ranjan Das the Assistant. Dr.Vasant Kamath is the senior consultant pediatrician providing guidance with his vast experience and knowledge.

The doctors are also involved actively in the affairs of the Bangalore branch of the Indian Academy of Pædiatrics (IAP-BPS). Dr. Kamath had been its Treasurer and President, Dr. Savio the secretary for two terms and Dr. Roy Abraham its Executive member for the year 2002. Dr. Savio was the Vice-president of IAP-BPS for the year 2004 and has been in charge its website since 2001

Dr. Maria Lewin left the department in May 2004 and her place has been taken up by Dr. Joshi Anand Kerketta MD, DCH an alumnus of Christian Medical College Vellore.