Bhubaneswar: The Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Campus-2, located at Phulnakhara on NH-16, welcomed its first batch of 150 MBBS students on Monday. This marks the second medical college under the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University, adding another milestone to the institution’s expanding educational footprint.
During the inauguration ceremony, students from across the country were greeted with warm wishes and encouragement. The university’s Founder President, Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak, in a message read out at the event, congratulated the incoming students, encouraging them to learn and study with purpose. “You’ll not only need to treat and heal patients but also be a source of hope and comfort for those in pain,” his message emphasized.
Prof. (Dr.) Nayak assured the students that the institution would fully support their academic pursuits, noting that the new campus, which boasts a 700-bed hospital, exceeds National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines by having 30% more faculty than required.
The Phulnakhara ceremony was attended by senior university officials, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Prasanjeet Mohanty, and Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, Campus-2, Prof. (Dr.) Arakhita Swain, among others. Addressing the students, Prof. Nanda highlighted SOA’s impressive rankings, including being ranked 14th in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and 21st among medical colleges.
Earlier in the day, a separate inauguration program was held at IMS and SUM Hospital, Campus-1, in Kalinga Nagar, where 250 new MBBS students, forming the institute’s 18th batch, were inducted.
Prof. (Dr.) Gangadhar Sahoo, former Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, spoke about the importance of becoming compassionate doctors, urging the students to embody qualities of empathy, discipline, and good behavior. “To become good doctors, you need to be good human beings first,” he told the students.
With SOA emerging as a research-centric university, supported by 20 dedicated research centers aligned with national priorities, the new batch of students at both campuses embark on their medical journey with strong institutional backing.
The inauguration ceremonies were graced by university leaders, including Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean of Students’ Welfare, and Prof. Rajesh Kumar Lenka, Medical Superintendent at Campus-2, among others. The events signified a fresh chapter for both students and faculty at SOA, committed to nurturing the next generation of medical professionals.
