Dr George Cheriyan, the Corporate CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the American Mission Hospital, Bahrain was honoured at a special event held on Thursday, 10 August, at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

CMC’s Director Dr Vikram Mathews presented him with a citation and an award at this ceremony where Dr George Cheriyan also delivered the 12th Dr. Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration.

During his oration, to a large in-person and online audience, Dr George Cheriyan gave the origins, challenges, and the future of healthcare, with special reference to mission hospitals in India and Bahrain.

Dr Cheriyan stressed that “disease will never be completely eliminated, but through science, data, and technology, we will be able to identify it earlier, understand its progression, intervene proactively, and help patients more effectively”. He said mission hospitals must embrace the emerging technologies and increase access to affordable healthcare. 

120 years ago, both, the Christian Medical College Vellore in India and the American Mission Hospital in Bahrain were established by the missionaries of the same Reformed Church in America (RCA).

The annual oration is held by the Christian Medical College Vellore (CMC) and the Vellore CMC Foundation to perpetuate the legacy of the founder of CMC, Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder. 

The earlier orators and awardees include the former President of India, the late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the chair of Infosys Foundation Mrs Sudha Murthy, the Director of the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health, U.S.A., Dr. Roger Glass, and the Billionaire-Philanthropist and Founder and Chair of Azim Premji Foundation, Mr. Azim Premji of Wipro.

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