In an important step that will allow Indian doctors access to the best of global healthcare knowledge and expertise, Aster Medcity today inked a momentous MOU with the Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), an iconic American institution with a rich tradition dating back to 1824. The MOU embraces a range of collaborative processes opening up tremendous opportunity to equip healthcare professionals through learning, research and imbibing best global practices for the benefit of the patients. Aster Medcity and the Thomas Jefferson University will initiate this relationship with the Multi-Organ Transplant programme.
Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said, “The Aster Multi-Organ Transplant programme has already made a mark in a short period since the first liver transplant at Aster Medcity in November 2015. We now embark upon an exciting new stage of our journey with this collaboration with the Thomas Jefferson University. We look forward to our partnership adding a new dimension to Aster Multi-Organ Transplant program with access to global best practices in the field of organ transplants enhancing the quality of care.”
The Thomas Jefferson University is the largest free-standing health sciences university in Philadelphia with the flagship Sidney Kimmel Medical College known as one of the largest private medical colleges in USA. The University also has colleges for Health Professions like Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The University is known for its innovations with the Jefferson College of Population Health being the first such designated college in the USA. The Transplant Institute at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College is being designated an Aetna Institute of Excellence™ Transplant Facility for liver and kidney transplants and an Independence Blue Cross Blue Distinction Center for Transplants® for liver transplants. It performs hundreds of single organ transplant procedures and scores of dual organ transplants annually with a survival rate that surpasses the national US average.
Dr. Cataldo Doria, the Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplant Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Director, Jefferson Transplant Institute and Director, Division of Transplantation specialises in multi-organ transplant surgery. Dr. Doria is a pioneer in performing robotic assisted liver resection and has innovated several procedures including a ‘bloodless’ technique to perform liver resections. Speaking at the signing of the MOU, he said, “We are glad to have this opportunity to associate with one of India’s premiere healthcare institutions. In a short time, Aster Medcity has shown its expertise in multi-organ transplant. We look forward to interacting and collaborating with Aster’s team of transplant surgeons who have performed landmark surgeries in their careers including the first split liver transplant, first simultaneous pancreas kidney transplant and first simultaneous liver kidney transplant.”
The MOU will also extend to other areas including Knowledge Transfer through organising symposia, conferences and short courses; Training and Education through Institutional exchange programs, joint study groups and joint publications; Validation of protocols used in treatment regimens including various parameters like diagnosis, treatment and support infrastructure; and Clinical Research.
Dr. Azad Moopen added, “While the collaboration in the initial stage is with our Multi-Organ Transplant program, we will soon be extending this to the Bone Marrow Transplant unit. Over a period of time, we will extend the collaboration to encompass the other institutions of our group.”
“The signing of this MOU will facilitate bi directional learning with joint collaborative models that will benefit patient communities in both the countries . We will be leveraging on this relationship to ensure that our key personnel are deployed within the TJU system for advanced training such that on their return back to Kochi our patients will be given the benefit of a clinical and support team that has been trained in one of the finest centers in the world”, said Dr. Harish Pillai, CEO – Aster Medcity and Cluster Head, Kerala – Aster DM Healthcare.
The MOU was signed in the presence of delegates from the Thomas Jefferson University including Mr. John Ekarius, EVP & Chief of Staff; Ms. Janice Marini, Vice President for University Affairs; Dr. Cataldo Doria, Professor of Transplant Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Director, Jefferson Transplant Institute and Director, Division of Transplantation and Dr. Richard J. Derman, Director, Global Health Research .
