As you may know, my main role over the past few months was to work with the team in cochin based in the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. It has been a rewarding and challenging time - and a time of real upheaval and change. My thanks to the warm welcome I was offered. My involvement has included support and training for the 2 year Diploma students, clinical teaching, setting and assessing assignments, arranging examinations (the first OSCE for ?Kerala) and offering management support and mentoring. Can I pay tribute to the
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work done by Prof Rajagopal and Dr Gayathri Palat in the development of this service and wish
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them well as they move on to other roles? Best wishes too to this years Diploma graduates as they move on (Biju, Biju and Sunil). The picture shows a social gathering. It was a real pleasure to work with the students and team and learn from them. They have made a real impact in AIMS with innovative practice and sound clinical work. I look forward to seeing some published work such as the experience with 'allow natural death' orders. We shared much over these months and laughed together many a time. Dr Charu Singh with the backing of Dr Sangeev Vasudevan will be leading the department now and I wish them all the best. I have been invited back as an external examiner for the Diploma exam in January 2007 so will get an opportunity to see the students again - even if not at their most relaxed!!