Department of Endocrinology of Madurai Medical college and Government Rajaji Hospital was started way back in 1982 by Prof. Dr. K. Kannan MD., DM (Endo). After completing his DM Endocrinology super specialty medical degree at Institute of National importance Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, he started the Endocrinology department at Madurai. Radio Immunoassay (RIA) is the first assay used to estimate thyroid levels was started first in Tamilnadu by Prof. Dr. K. Kannan with the approval from Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai as per the mandatory regulations. That was the beginning of all the hormonal estimation before the availability of laboratory setup elsewhere.

                  After the super annuation of Prof. K. Kannan, Prof. Dr. K. Kamaraj MD (2003-2008), subsequently Prof. Dr. J.Sangumani MD, (2008-2018) was the Professor and Head of Department of Endocrinology. During this period faculties worked were Prof Arthur J Asirvatham MD,D.Diab, Dr Jerald Majella MD, Dr Anguvijayam MD, Dr Somasundaram MD, Dr Girithar Babu MD.  

                   Currently Prof. Dr. S. Sridhar MD., DM (Endo), is the Professor and Head of the Department of Endocrinology. After completing his DM Endocrinology in 2012 at PGIMER, Chandigarh, he joined as Assistant Professor here. Subsequently Associate Professor and later promoted as Professor and Head since 2019 onwards. During this period, DM Endocrinology Superspecialty degree course was started first in Tamilnadu Government Medical Colleges, in the year 2019, with annual intake of two seats by erstwhile MCI and approved by NMC currently selected through NEET SS. Till now 5 batches have joined and three batches completed DM Endocrinology course at Madurai Medical College. The present other faculties of Department of Endocrinology are Prof.Dr.E.Subbiah MD, D.Diab, Associate Professor, Dr K.S.Raghavan MD, D.Diab and Dr S.Palanivel MD,DM Assistant professor.

The list of DM Endocrinology post graduates joined DM at Madurai Medical College are

SPECIALTY CLINIC run by department of Endocrinology as per the following schedule.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

The aim and objectives for the DM (Endocrinology) course should comprehensively cover all aspects of Endocrinology and Metabolism during a period of three years of study. The student will acquire an exposure in training in the clinical, laboratory, research, outreach and epidemiological perspectives of endocrine disorders, and will acquire adequate skills to treat patients with these disorders on acquiring the degree of DM in Endocrinology.

THEORY SYLLABUS:

All aspects of endocrinology and metabolism will be covered in detail in terms of basic science, clinical knowledge and laboratory-based concepts. Theoretical aspects of medical research and ethics in clinical practice will also be incorporated.

A three years training period designed to meet the minimum requirements for training in Endocrinology prior to certification.

Course and Curriculum of DM Endocrinology & Metabolism:

1. Basic Sciences as related to Clinical Endocrinology:

   1. Hormone receptors / receptor biology

   2. Genetics in Endocrinology

   3. Molecular biology

   4. Hormonal assays

2. Disorder of growth and sexual differentiation

3. Endocrine disorders in childhood and adolescence

4. Diabetes Mellitus

5. Hypothalamo – pituitary disorders

6. Thyroid disorders

7. Reproductive disorders and problems of menopause

8. Bone and mineral metabolism

9. Adreno-cortical and adreno-medullary disorders

10. Metabolic disorders (lipids, carbohydrates and protein metabolism related disorders, including inborn errors of metabolism).

 CLINICAL TRAINING:

The ethos of clinical training will focus on developing a candidate who has the ability to:-

1. Handle any patient with an endocrine or metabolic disorder as an individual.

2. Ability to function and develop multidisciplinary teams to function with:

3. Endocrine surgeons and nuclear medicine specialists in handling related clinical problems.

4. Work with the vascular surgeons, PMR physicians, orthotists and physiotherapists in driving the aspects of diabetes related foot care and a foot related clinic.

5. Developing a laboratory facility which can handle the hormonal and molecular aspects of endocrinology.

6. Personality development of the candidate to practice compassionate care in the assessment of their patients coupled with technology.

7. Leadership development.

All the candidates should be involved full-time in the direct care of the patients admitted to the endocrine services as resident staff. This will include taking a complete history, performing a comprehensive examination, ordering appropriate investigations and interpreting results. Additionally, residents will be required to attend outpatient endocrine clinics where consultants will be available for on spot consultations. The residents will be expected to maintain a log book of seminars and journal clubs presented by them, and interesting cases (at least 20) which they have worked up in detail, and procedures performed during their tenure of 3 years.

Clinical / Laboratory Research:

Residents should be provided a 3-month exposure to hormone assays and clinical biochemistry lab in the Department of Endocrinology to provide insight and hands on training in hormone assays and other laboratory techniques.

Training Programme:

I Postings:

1. Inpatient ward: 24 months

II Speciality Clinics:

Students are encouraged to attend special clinics viz.,

1. Foot clinic once a week

2. Adult Young diabetes clinic once a week

3. Transgender clinic once a week

4. Pituitary and adrenal clinic once a week

5. Metabolic bone clinic once a week

6. Thyroid clinic once a week

7.  Obesity and DSD clinic once a week

II. Multi-departmental meetings:

1. Radio diagnosis – Endocrinology 

2. Pathology- Endocrinology 

3. Neurosurgery- Endocrinology

During II year, students are encouraged to undergo special postings for learning new advanced techniques / Procedure / Skills in institutions of higher repute where the requisite facilities are available without affecting the duties of the parent department.

SKILL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

Foundational clinical skills based on internal medicine concepts, and developed further to focus on the historical assessment and clinical examination of the endocrine system

1. In depth theoretical knowledge of the functioning of the endocrine glands and the physiology of the endocrine systems.

2. Ability to understand hormonal assays and setting them up in a laboratory setting.

Training in allied specialities:

Endocrine Radiology:

At least fortnightly meetings with Department of Radiology. These meetings will be conducted to discuss imaging, conventional and CT, MRI, or patients seen in the OPD and in-patient service.

Nuclear Medicine:

The residents will be given training in the principles of scanning of various endocrine organs and interpretation of isotope scans. Additionally, regular weekly conferences should be scheduled with the nuclear medicine department where faculty and the resident staff should discuss interesting scans of the previous week.

Training in Pathology:

It is primarily aimed at providing trainee insight into the area of endocrine-pathology such that the trainee will keep himself updated on emerging methods and trends in endocrine pathology.

Molecular biology courses:

It would be appropriate to provide the resident a one week exposure to molecular techniques as relevant to endocrinology. Procedures such as DNA extraction, PCR, RFLP, Southern blots and chromatography should be explained to the candidates.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY:

Ward / OPD patient management. Peri operative Management

Assisting / performing operative procedures. Long and short topic presentations.

Ward rounds, case presentations and discussions. Combined ward rounds with Medical Gastroenterologist.

Clinico-radiological and clinico-pathological conferences.

Inter-departmental Periodical meeting on relevant topics with Department of Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-chemistry and Microbiology.

Journal club. Research review.

Problem solving sessions.

Weekly Tumour Board discussions with Radiation and Medical Oncologist. Guest and in-house lectures. Conferences, seminars and CME’s.

Participation in workshops, etc.

Teaching undergraduates / postgraduates / paramedical staff. Weekly Surgical audit (patient care review meeting).

Biomedical equipments use and maintenance.

 RESEARCH WORK:

The candidate will be trained in the ability to

• Frame a research question.

• Plan a study to answer the question.

• Collect the relevant information and

• Evaluate appropriately the collected data to draw a conclusion.

The candidate should become conversant with the reporting of these results as a research paper, in journals and as a presentation in conferences.

The activities would consist of:

Planning and organizing relevant animal / clinical studies to be submitted as a dissertation at the end of the course.

Students should compulsorily attend Research Methodology workshop conducted by the University within first six months of D.M. Course.

1)  Prof. Dr.Kannan 1982 – 2001

2)  Prof.Dr.M.Kamaraj  2001-2008

3)  Prof.Dr.J.Sangumani 2008-2019