‘Medical training standards should be uncompromised’

Established in 1996 by Maharashtra politician Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil, the Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pimpri (Pune) is one of India's most prominent private medical education institutes. College dean Rekha Arcot speaks to Musab Qazi about research activities, fee regulation at private colleges and disability norms, while addressing some of the allegations against the institute and herself. Edited excerpts:

- Musab Qazi

Q. How has DY Patil Medical College progressed since becoming a deemed university?

A. Since being conferred deemed university status in 2003, Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth has demonstrated remarkable progress, now encompassing 15 constituent institutions across disciplines such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, ayurveda, physiotherapy, homeopathy, biotechnology, optometry, management, design, allied health sciences and more. This multidimensional growth has been marked by a commitment to academic excellence, research and holistic student development.

Our medical college emphasises student-led research. Faculty members include globally-ranked researchers, leading clinicians and dedicated educators, who mentor students to achieve both academic and clinical distinction. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, we provide super-speciality and fellowship programmes in areas such as IVF, interventional radiology, cardiac anaesthesia and medical microbiology. Students also gain exposure through internships in research labs.

Q. What have been your priorities since you became the dean?

A. With over three decades in academia across reputed universities, my focus has been on enhancing the foundational strengths of the institution - medical education, clinical service and research. This means creating an academic environment that supports rigorous learning, fosters innovation and ensures quality healthcare delivery.

We have initiated academic forums like Ignite 2025, which encourage dialogue and knowledge-sharing among undergraduate students. In parallel, continuous upgrades to teaching tools, simulation-based training and interdisciplinary exposure ensure that both faculty and students remain current with evolving standards in medical science.