Message from the Vice Chancellor 

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students of Santosh Deemed to be University,

It is with immense gratitude and enthusiasm that I take up the responsibility of serving as your Vice Chancellor. Santosh University stands as a beacon of excellence in medical, dental, and allied health sciences education, and I am both humbled and excited to contribute to its continued success.

Together, we have the unique opportunity to redefine what it means to be a part of a thriving academic community. I firmly believe that teamwork and collaboration are the cornerstones of meaningful progress. As educators, healthcare professionals, and students, let us unite our strengths to create a culture where interdisciplinary learning and innovation flourish. By breaking silos and embracing collaboration, we can harness the collective brilliance within our university.

My vision for our university focuses on fostering a system that thrives on academic and research excellence. We will encourage innovations that address real-world healthcare challenges and empower our students with 21st-century skills, through transformative learning experiences. With this in mind, I invite each of you to explore new ideas, collaborate across disciplines, and challenge conventional boundaries to create impactful outcomes for society.

Together, let us aim not just to meet standards, but to set them. Let us make Santosh University as a hub of knowledge, innovation, and service, where every individual can realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to the world.

I look forward to working closely with all of you to build a vibrant, forward-thinking academic ecosystem. Let us move ahead, hand in hand, toward a future of excellence and shared success.

Profile:
Prof. V. N. Mahalakshmi is currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, UP, located in the Delhi NCR region.

Her distinguished academic career began with MBBS from Kilpauk Medical College, where she earned two gold medals and nine distinctions. Subsequently, she cleared the USMLE with outstanding scores of 98% and 95%. She pursued her MS in General Surgery at JIPMER, achieving an All India Open General Rank of 2, and later completed her MCh. in Paediatric Surgery at Madras Medical College, securing Open General Rank 1 and University Rank 1. Her academic journey includes a WHO Certificate Program in Hospital Management, an FRCS in General Surgery from Glasgow, and participation in the prestigious Harvard Macy Program on Leading Innovations in Healthcare and Education. She also completed the Advanced Course in Medical Education by the NMC and is currently pursuing the FAIMER program on Leadership in Interprofessional Education. Prof. Mahalakshmi has further enhanced her expertise through certifications in assessment in health professions education (University of Dundee/AAME), iSIM training on simulation-based education (University of Miami), and various other academic leadership programs.

Prof. Mahalakshmi has amassed a wealth of professional experience. She began her career as a Senior Resident in Surgery and later Paediatric Surgery at JIPMER, Puducherry. She joined MGMCRI, Pondicherry, as an Assistant Professor in Paediatric Surgery and progressively rose to the rank of Professor and HoD. She took on leadership roles as Controller of Examinations at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, and Vice Principal of Curriculum at MGMCRIand later as the Dean of Health Professions Education at AVMC, Pondicherry, and Dean of Faculty, Interdisciplinary Studies, VMRF-DU. She also served as the Co-chair of the Medical Education Unit (MEU) and Director of the Simulation Centre at AVMC.

Currently, Prof. Mahalakshmi represents India in the Asia Pacific Consortium for Standardized Patients and serves on national-level expert committees for the inclusion of palliative care in the MBBS curriculum and the development of a Certified Simulation Technician Program under RGUHS. She is also an Executive Member of the National Healthcare Skill Development Council, the Simulation Society of India, and MEU India. In addition, she is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Medical Education at KMC, Manipal, MAHE University and a Professor of Eminence in Health Professions Education at Bharat University, Chennai. Prof. Mahalakshmi actively contributes as a national faculty member for JeevaRaksha and Pedistarscourses and is a resource person for numerous faculty development programs (FDPs) and workshops.

Prof. Mahalakshmi’s contributions to institution-building are substantial. She has been instrumental in introducing seven interdisciplinary programs, including a PG Diploma in Simulation Technology Operations and a Master’s in Health Professions Education. She spearheaded the establishment of the AVMC Skills Lab and Simulation Centre, recognized as an AHA International Training Centre and JeevaRaksha Training Site. She played a pivotal role in the development of integrated modular curricula, structured skills training, and competency-based learning for undergraduate and postgraduate students. She also facilitated the seamless transition to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic and pioneered the use of Standardized Patients, OSCEs, humanities, gamification, and healthcare informatics in the medical curriculum.

Her leadership in Quality initiatives include accreditation activities such as contributions to NMC, UGC, NAAC, and NIRF processes, as well as the design and commissioning of innovative learning spaces such as MEU, skills lab and lecture halls. She organized impactful training programs, including the First Responders’ Training Program, which trained over 3,300 Public and Police personnel in CPR and first aid.  She has been the resource person for more than 200 FDPs on medical education, simulation, and quality assurance. She coordinated the Forefront of Future Frontiers webinar series, hosting 108 consecutive weekly episodes, and mentored the Scientifique Society of AVMC in conducting regular monthly programs and annual orations.

Prof. Mahalakshmi’s accomplishments have been widely recognized. She received the Exemplary Leadership Award from JeevaRaksha, seven best paper awards at national and international conferences, and the Best Teacher Award from Government Villupuram Medical College. She has also been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Lions Club and Rotary Club and the Women Achiever Award from VMRF. Her scholarly contributions include 15 publications, 12 monographs and book chapters, and 12 IPR copyrights.

Her areas of expertise span outcome-based education, assessment, simulation, interprofessional education, crisis resource management, and accreditation. She is known for her unrelenting optimism, strong leadership skills, and ability to translate pedagogy into practice, making significant contributions to academic excellence and institutional growth.