Amritsar Medical and Dental Alumni Association of North America (AMDAANA)

AMDAANA was founded on October 27, 1979 with two major objectives:

• To develop camaraderie and networking amongst alumni of Government Medical and Dental Colleges, Amritsar, Punjab India, residing in North America.
• To enrich education, and through education, patient care at our almamater.

All alumni of these colleges residing in North America are potential members. There is a mailing list of over 800 with over 250 life members.

AMDAANA has initiated a concerted effort to help its alma maters since the year 2003. A task force named AMDAANA Task Force for liaison with Government Medical and Dental Colleges, Amritsar India (AMDAANA TF II) has been formed to develop this initiative. It has been named AMDAANA Amritsar Project with a primary mission to enhance education and patient care at these institutions.

Amritsar Project Update as on 14th July, 2007

Major Objective: Enhancing Education and Patient Care at GMC Amritsar

Tasks accomplished through June 2007: AMDAANA has spent $155,545 (INR Rs.69 lacs) so far and completed following projects in GMC Amritsar.

• AMDAANA Office in Amritsar: A part time employee, computer, printer-cum- scanner with computer desk and chair and internet connection. It is envisioned that AMDAANA Office will soon move to the GMCA and become Office of Alumni Affairs.
• Annual CME Meeting: An annual CME meeting with joint faculty from AMDAANA, GMCA and else where in India. There have been 2-3 day annual CME meeting, accredited by the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio for past 3 years and includes a panel discussion with students. 22-30 AMDAANians (graduates of GMCA in North America) have attended this meeting each year.
• Visiting Professors from AMDAANA: AMDAANians visiting Amritsar will spend some time at GMCA. They will give grand rounds style lectures, interact with students, PGs and faculty in small group/individual settings with the eventual aim of expanding it to 3-5 day visits.
• Lecture Theater Renovation: Installed Computers and LCD Projectors and Sound Systems in all 6 Lecture Theaters with additional lighting. Further commitment is to install additional air conditioning units.
• Portable Equipment: Provided 2 Laptops and 2 additional electronic projectors.
• E- Project: Installed Desktop Computer, Laser Printer-Scanner-Copier, with a lockable Computer Desk and a Swivel Chair in post-graduate office for each Department, twenty department have availed the facility.
• Laboratory Equipment: Installed Semiautomatic Analyzer for chemistry, including electrolyte analyzer.
• Orthopedics Operating Room: Provided a C-Arm (X-Ray Machine) with compatible operating table and a number of powered surgical instruments for Orthopedics Department.
• Common Rooms: Furnished two Common/Reading Rooms with 29” TVs with proper lockable cabinet, DVD Player, Table Tennis table, Carom Board with game-table, Padded Chairs, Coffee Table, and Air-Conditioner.
• ICU: Upgraded ICU: Provided all equipment, except Ventilators for 6-station ICU.
• IT Center in Library: Installed 6 computers and a heavy duty laser printer-scanner in the IT Center in the library.

Other Alumni Groups

Besides AMDAANA in USA, UK has an alumni association named ADA. Government Medical College Amritsar has formed a local alumni association called Amritsar Medical College Alumni Association (AMCAA) and many cities like Delhi and Chandigarh have an alumni association named AMCOL. There are plans to develop a worldwide GMCA alumni network.

AMDAANA web page URL: http://www.amdaana.org/default.aspx