SINDH MEDICAL COLLEGE (SMC)

Sindh Medical College (SMC), Karachi started functioning, under the Government of Sindh on 7 April, 1973. First batch of about 200 students were admitted to first year MBBS in 1973-74. Professor Dr. Khawaja Moinuddin Ahmed was the Project Director and first Principal of the College. In the beginning, the college was working in the building of pediatric ward of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. This was actually an army barrack, constructed in the year 1865. Later it became part of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in 1959. Now it has been renovated to lodge Dr. Ishrat-Ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences.

Initially, there were only three departments, Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. Later on, a new academic block was constructed to house the departments of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Community Medicine, with all the latest audiovisual teaching facilities, laboratories and museums along with administrative offices.

Since its existence in 1973, 29 batches have graduated from this college.

This college does not have its own affiliated hospital like other public sector medical colleges of the province. However, the students receive their clinical training in three prestigious institutes of the country; Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), National Institute of Child Health (NICH) and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi.

On December 29, 2003 with the advent of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Sindh Medical College became a constituent institute of the University. DUHS under the able guidance of its Vice Chancellor Professor Masood Hameed Khan has taken various measures to improve its standard in every respect.

NEW TEACHING METHODS

Teaching Methodology is constantly under review. Besides usual theory lectures by the regular faculty, clinically oriented sessions by various clinicians are regularly arranged to augment the teaching program.

ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT INTEGRATED TEACHIN

Integrated teaching has been introduced in the first year MBBS Class. Clinicians have been involved in teaching first year MBBS Class. The students are taught basic subjects in the usual manner and this is followed by a clinically oriented teaching session in which clinicians express and explain the clinically important parameters. This has generated great interest among students.

SESSIONS ON CLINICAL SKILLS

Professional Development Centre of SMC has been established for various workshops for the undergraduates. Anatomy teaching is being improved with provision of dead bodies for PROSECTION instead of dissection.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY TEACHING

Students of third year are encouraged to be involved in research. The department of Research & Development has undertaken the task of teaching research methodology to the students. Students are required to submit their research projects in fourth year as part of their Community Medicine practical. Twenty five (25) marks have been allocated for Research in the Annual Examination of fourth year MBBS.

PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

Along-with the standard teaching, problem based learning (PBL) has also been introduced for the students to gain applied knowledge. Students are participating actively in these learning sessions. The teaching staff conducting PBL sessions has undergone training in several workshops held for this purpose.

ELECTIVES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

Students of third, fourth & fifth year have been given the opportunity of doing elective posting in the discipline of their choice (local & abroad). This will expose them to a wider range of learning opportunities and broaden their vision.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Several sport events were organized and SMC students had an opportunity to display their talents in the field of Football, Basketball and Cricket etc.

INTERNET AND DIGITAL LIBRARY

Sindh Medical College (SMC) has also got newly established state of the art digital library having 100 computer stations.

This library was inaugurated few months back by Mr. Noman Saigal, Minister of IT, Sindh Government. In his inaugural speech he also announced provision of laptops on easy installments so that every student can have its own laptop for quick and easy learning.

This library can give access to twenty thousand medical journals with full text and text books, through PERN connectivity of Higher Education Commission (HEC) which has funded this project. This digital library network will be interconnected with DMC and Ojha campus of Dow University.

During the past three years several renovations have been completed which includes Auditorium, Lecture Halls, museum and Laboratories of Physiology and Biochemistry, Boys and Girls common rooms. The renovation and new construction is an ongoing process. The designing of the new Academic Block and another Auditorium is almost complete and soon a new double story building will be constructed.

The newly built college canteen is of high standard and is a great facility for the students and the faculty members. It has two floors, one for girls and one floor for boys. One hundred students can be accommodated at a time.

This campus of Sindh Medical College also houses the newly established Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences offering BDS and MDS courses.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

A professional development centre is also being established at Sindh Medical College for hands on training of the students and the faculty members.

The students of Sindh Medical College will also have the opportunity to utilize KMC sports complex on rotation basis where as the students will be given membership to utilize the facilities of sports complex. Students of Sindh Medical College also had class picnics, organized by the DUHS.