INTRODUCTION
The Department of Microbiology was started as a combined department with Pathology in the year January 1966. Later in 1967, separate designation was given to the department with Dr. K.V. Subha Rao, as the Head of the Department of Microbiology. Since then, the department is headed by the following.
| 1 | Dr. M.R.Parthasarthy | January 1966 to Sept’ 1967 |
| 2 | Dr K.V. Subba Rao | October 1967 to July 1971 |
| 3 | Dr. S.J. Nagalotimath | July 1971 to September 1974 |
| 4 | Dr. P.V. Ramana Rao | September 1974 to October 1977 |
| 5 | Dr. Aannapurna V. Dhaded | October 1977 to February 1978 |
| 6 | Dr. C.S. Patil | February 1978 to December 2004 |
| 7 | Dr. Sharada .C. Metgud | December 2004 to Feb 2010 |
| 8 | Dr. S.G. Karadesai | February 2010 to 31.8.2012 |
| 9 | Dr. Mahantesh B. Nagamoti | Sept 2012 to Sept 2014 |
| 10 | Dr. Jyoti M Nagamoti | Oct. 2014 to Oct 2016 |
| 11 | Dr. Sumati A. Hogade | Oct 2016 to March 2020 |
| 12 | Dr. Manjula A. Vagarali | March 2020 to Till Date |
The Department is well staffed with 10 M.D qualified teaching staff and 12 non-teaching staff. Out of 10 teaching faculty three have been awarded with Ph.D. degree. The faculty is engaged in diagnostic work along with in teaching the students enrolled in various courses. The courses offered by the department include U.G., P.G. and Ph.D. programs. Department faculty are also involved in teaching the Allied Health Science Courses like Nursing, Dental, IGNOU, Physiotherapy along with undergraduate courses, MBBS and BDS. The department has its own “skill lab” for teaching basics in Clinical microbiology, a unique facility utilized for UG & PG teaching.
DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES:
The department is upgraded with recent diagnostic facilities. The laboratory provides culture sensitivity for bacteria and fungi, serological tests including ANA by indirect immunofluorescence, parasitology investigations, molecular diagnostics. The laboratory is recognized as State reference laboratory for HIV surveillance and diagnosis, under KSAPS and has viral load estimation facility. We have BSF (Bio Safety Level ) 2 Lab for COVID-19 testing since May 2020.
TRAINING OF FACULTY:
The faculty has been trained in various fields of Microbiology two of the faculty members have been awarded “Post Graduate Diploma in Health Professions Education” by University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. One of the faculty members has been awarded FAIMER fellowship, Philadelphia USA. Two have been awarded “Advanced Course in Medical Education”, through MCI recognized Nodal Center. One of the faculty has been certified in CIC (Certification in Infection Control), Two of our faculty have completed step 1 ECLS Workshop. All our faculty have completed Bio-Medical Research Course organized by ICMR.
CME/ CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS:
Faculty members regularly attend the conferences/ CME and Workshops at State, National and also International level and also have contributed significantly to them as resource persons. The department has hosted 2 National Conferences, 2 State Conference and 7 CME’s which were a great success.
The Department conducts and co-ordinates the Training programs of KSAPS on HIV awareness, preventive and diagnostic aspects.. We have conducted National Level four days Workshop on “Quality Management System & Internal Audit”, Six Credit hours by KMC.
PUBLICATIONS:
There are total of 91 Publications from the department 37 in International Journal, 37 National Journal, 17 Regional Journals.
COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS:
The department contributes significantly to various research activities in collaboration with other departments of JNMC/ VKIDS & as well as with other institutions viz. Engineering (Biomedical Eng) Pharmacy, Nursing & Ayurveda, etc.
The department runs projects under grants awarded by Indian Council Medical Research, New Delhi and VGST, Government of Karnataka.
HONOR ACHIEVED BY THE FACULTY:
The faculty members have been honored by awards like Hari Om Alembic & Jhala Award & two of our faculty members have been conferred with Best Teacher Award. The senior faculty members have been taken part in the professional bodies at National & State levels in several capacities like Presidents, Vice presidents, Treasurer, Secretary & executive committee members. Our Senior faculty members have served as LIC inspector, Governing body member, Chairman of Board of Studies and Expert Committee, member of RGUHS & different sub committees of KLE University & other Deemed Universities.
ALUMNI OF THE DEPARTMENT:
Every member of our Alumni is well placed in medical colleges/ research institutes, of repute in India and abroad and are considered respectable authorities of the subject which bring pride to our department and college.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
Departmental faculty members hold various administrative assignments in college and University and involved in Inter departmental and inter college activities at various capacities.
COVID-19:
We are privileged to have covid-19 testing laboratory in the Department of Microbiology KAHER JNMC Belgaum Since 29 June 2020. Team of microbiologists visited NIMHANS Bangalore for training on COVID-19 testing on 14 may 2020. COVID -19 testing Laboratory was established in the department of Microbiology JNMC KAHER Belgaum. As a prerequisite for NABL accreditation, proficiency testing of H1N1 samples was done since it is surrogate of COVID -19. We got 100% results where our results matched 100 % with the of NIMHANS & hence permission to go for NABL Accreditation. accordingly, we applied for NABL accreditation for covid-19 on 20 June. NABL online virtual inspection was done on 22 June from 6 PM till 1 AM on 24 JUNE. NABL Accreditation of Molecular Testing for H1N1, RNA qualitative Real time RT PCR (OPEN SYSTEM) with certificate NO MC 2286 achieved. On 26 June received ICMR approval RNA RT PCR approval was created on 27 June 2020 to process our KLE Hospital samples (Approval is required to generate SRF Id of the Patient). We Started COVID-19 testing on 29 June 2020 onwards till date. The dept. of Microbiology JNMC Belagavi has been awarded a special award for being in the fore front of rendering the most wanted service for establishing; accrediting and executing the COVID testing laboratory. Department of Microbiology received Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of commitment & continued contribution in fight against COVID-19 on 26th Jan 2021. Renewal of NABL Accreditation for Scope expansion for COVID-19 on 14 August 2021. Our dept is participating in [EQAS] External quality assessment for basic bacteriology and serology by CMC VELLORE as well as covid samples by ICMR NEW DELHI where 90-100% results are got. till now we have tested 36,136 total COVID samples for SARS COV 2 (corona virus), 6630 are positive and 29506 are Negative.
Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of Dept. commitment & continued contribution in fight against COVID-19, J. N Medical College, Belagavi, 26th Jan 2021.