Dr Thomas to leave for Kerala to enjoy post-retirement life

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 2

After a stint of five decades at CMC, Ludhiana, Dr Abraham G Thomas retired on Saturday.

The CMC Ludhiana Society members, faculty, staff and prominent citizens of the city bade farewell to Dr Thomas here on Monday.

Dr Thomas has led a pioneering work in the field of microsurgery and plastic surgery. He was also listed for pioneering the replant of the face, by American College of Surgeons in 100-year review of the college.

As a director, he completed his term of 10 years at the CMC. He was given three years’ extension due to his commendable work in his field.

He has received as many as 25 prestigious awards, including Parman Patra by the Government of Punjab for distinguished service in 1990; Dr BC Roy National Award in medicine in the field of specialities in 2000; Punjab State Award for services from the Chief Minister, Punjab, on Republic Day in 2014, among others.

At a time when Punjab was unearthing Green Revolution, the incidences of avulsions due to threshing machines were also increasing manifold. Dr Thomas didn’t realise he was making a history, when he replanted the face of Sandeep Kaur, who got her scalp ripped off when her braid caught in the machine. Her panic-stricken parents brought her face in two pieces to the doctors.

Sharing his further plans with The Tribune, Dr Thomas said: “I will be going back to my hometown in Kerala and relish the time post retirement. I am too tired to do anything for now. I just want to spend time with my sons, grandchildren and family members. Besides, I would like to venture into other things that I have liked apart from my work. Last 10 years being a director have been phenomenal. We have made a lot of changes and I am quite happy with my stint.”

Dr William Bhatti is new Director CMC

Dr William Bhatti, professor and head of paediatric surgery, took charge as the new Director after serving six long years as Deputy Director and Medical Superintendent at the CMC. Dr Bhatti said: “My vision will be to be a ‘service provider of choice’ by improving patient satisfaction and quality improvement. This can be achieved by offering comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective and accessible healthcare, irrespective of patients’ paying capacity. We don’t want to just exist; we want to make a positive difference in an individual’s life, for all those who come to us either for treatment or for training.”

I will be going back to my hometown in Kerala and relishing the time post retirement. I am too tired to do anything for now. I just want to spend time with my sons, grandchildren and family members. Besides, I would like to venture into other things that I have liked apart from my work. — Dr Abraham g thomas, Ex-CMC Director