SRM Medical College bets on AI, interdisciplinary learning to make students tech-savvy, research-driven: Dean

SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, is expanding its focus on interdisciplinary learning, AI-integrated healthcare education and research-driven medical training. Dr Jayanthi R, dean (medical), speaks to Careers360 about the institution’s leveraging its multidisciplinary university ecosystem to expose medical students to areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, data science and translational research alongside conventional clinical education. SRM Medical College is also encouraging undergraduate students to participate in funded research, community health programmes and healthcare innovation initiatives. Edited excerpts:

SRM Medical College operates within a large multidisciplinary university ecosystem. How does this environment benefit medical students in terms of interdisciplinary learning and exposure?

Our multi-stream university gives medical students a unique edge by immersing them in a collaborative ecosystem that blends disciplines under techno-science. This early exposure sparks innovation through partnerships in AI, data science, biomedical engineering, and more, creating an ideal learning environment that prepares them for the future of medicine

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What kind of research grants, institutional funding or industry partnerships are currently active at SRM Medical College?

At SRM, early research integration is a norm and our UG education edutainment 1.0 initiative incorporates research training by reducing rote learning and encouraging inquiry based learning. Throughout their undergraduate course, they are guided in paper publication and projects.

There are abundant research grants from various scientific organisations, like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) .

Our management which is keen to promote research amongst the students and faculty is generous in granting institutional funding by way of Chancellor’s research grants. Being a multidisciplinary university of repute, industry partnerships are active across all disciplines, including the medical college.

India is seeing growing discussions around preventive healthcare and public health preparedness. Has there been any changes in the way community medicine or public health training is approached at SRM?

In our SRM, preventive healthcare and public health preparedness form a key focus area for medical students and through our Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health. Students actively participate in outreach programs, including the Family Adoption Program and Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), where they engage with communities in adoptive villages to deliver essential public health services

Many medical students today are exploring careers beyond traditional clinical practice, including healthcare entrepreneurship, medical technology and research. Does SRM actively support such pathways?

To enhance our medical students’ global relevance and expose them to healthcare entrepreneurship opportunities, we provide comprehensive awareness through in-house and external agencies.

The recent Illuminova 26 — an undergraduate student-driven research expo themed “AI in Healthcare” — highlighted their potential in harnessing AI for hospital settings, including outpatient departments, operation theatres, laboratories, emergency rooms, and medical education. These innovative AI-assisted models, along with others, are now being evaluated for advanced research and as incubator projects.

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There has been increasing focus nationally on ethical medical practice and doctor patient communication. Are there dedicated training modules or initiatives around these aspects at SRM?

Yes, our curriculum includes dedicated AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics and Communication) modules introduced under the NMC competency-based medical education framework . These sessions focus on doctor-patient communication, empathy, informed consent, confidentiality, professionalism, ethical decision-making, and patient-centered care. Training is usually conducted through role-plays, case discussions, reflective exercises, simulated patient interactions, and small-group learning.

The emphasis is not only on clinical competence but also on developing compassionate and ethical medical practices Going beyond, at SRM, value added courses are offered in UHV- Universal Human Values.

Looking ahead, what changes does SRM believe will define the next decade of medical education in India?

We believe the future of medical education in India will move beyond traditional lecture-based learning toward technology-enabled, competency-driven, and patient-centered training. Key changes are expected to include greater integration of artificial intelligence, simulation-based learning, digital health, interdisciplinary collaboration, and data-driven clinical decision-making.

Overall, we envision a future where medical graduates are not only clinically knowledgeable, but also technologically adaptable, ethically grounded, research-oriented, and capable of working in increasingly digital and interdisciplinary healthcare environments.