Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, a constituent institution of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has taken a pioneering step in Indian medical education with the establishment of the Department of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare—the first such initiative by a medical college in the country.
The launch ceremony, held at the Dr. TMA Pai Auditorium, was attended by MAHE leaders, faculty, and students, underscoring the institution’s commitment to integrating technology with medicine.
The department was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh VSM (Retd), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, who emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to make MAHE a national leader in healthcare AI. “The future of healthcare is inseparably linked with technology. This department is not just an academic unit—it is our commitment to leading the healthcare revolution,” he said.
Dr. Sharath K Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE, presented an ambitious roadmap, envisioning AI integration across diagnostics, treatment, education, and patient care. He stressed the importance of responsible innovation and ensuring human oversight in AI applications.
Dr. Anil K. Bhat, Dean, KMC Manipal, outlined the mission of the new department:
Drive interdisciplinary research combining medicine, engineering, and data science.
Translate AI research into real-world healthcare solutions.
Train the next generation of AI-enabled healthcare professionals in predictive analytics, imaging, personalized medicine, and decision-support systems.
He further announced plans to introduce MSc and Integrated MSc–PhD programs in AI, alongside specialized training for faculty and students, and to foster collaborative projects with industry and global partners.
The department will be co-led by Dr. Rachana and Dr. Preethi Shetty, with contributions from KMC Manipal, Manipal Institute of Technology, Information & Data Sciences, Public Health, and guidance from MAHE leadership.
This landmark initiative positions KMC Manipal as a trailblazer in AI-driven medical education, preparing future healthcare professionals to address the evolving challenges of 21st-century medicine.