History

The recorded onset of medical education in Visakhapatnam can be traced back to the last millennium in the year 1902, when the Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medical School was set up in the Old Post Office area supported by Maharaja Goday Narayana Gajapati Rao and Maharani Lady Goday Chittijanakiammah.

Some years later, the Medical School was presumably shifted to the site of the present Anatomy Block. There were 50 students in the first batch who were trained for the Licentiate Certificate Standard A.

The school building was then commissioned as Medical College, Vizagapatnam and started operations on 1 July 1923, with a strength of 32 students. The college was opened informally on 7 July 1923, by Captain Frederick Jasper Anderson, IMS, officiating as Principal who was also the Professor of Anatomy and Surgery. The Medical College was formally opened on 19 July 1923, by the Honorable Diwan Bahadur Rajah Panuganti Ramarayaningar, MA, Minister for Local Self Government Department, the then Chief Minister of Madras State and minister for health.

Emblem

Andhra Medical College emblem was designed by Dr F. J. Anderson, the first Principal of the College.

The deep blue background of the emblem reflects the serene Bay of Bengal on whose shores the Andhra Medical College stands. It suggests the depth of the knowledge imparted by the college.

The 'red cross' is the accepted sign of ambulance service and stands for the motto of the medical profession viz. providing medical service to the suffering.

The 'trident' (Trisoolam) is a sceptre of power held by Neptune, the Lord of the seas. It is the invocation to the Lord of the seas to guard the great Andhra Medical College.

The 'serpent' in the emblem stands for knowledge and wisdom. The serpent winding around the trident signifies that the power of the College arises out of knowledge and wisdom.

The 'dolphin' in the emblem, which reminds us of the Dolphin's Nose hill nearby, denotes permanence of Andhra Medical College.

The 'sheaf of wheat' denotes prosperity.

'Ne Quid Nimis', the motto of Andhra Medical College means Let there be nothing in excess. We know even a medicinal therapy must not be given in excess; thus we solemnly resolve to show moderation in all things and prevent any imbalance in the functions of College's Alma Mater.

Principals

• Lt.Col.F.J.Anderson, Professor of Surgery (1923- )
• Lt.Col.F.C.Frazer, Professor of Surgery (1927 - 1928)
• Dr.T.S.Tirumurti, Professor of Pathology (1930)
• Major J.W.Ebden, Professor of Surgery (1933)
• Major F.M.Collins, Professor of Surgery (1937 - 1938)
• Major J.F.Shepherd, Professor of Surgery (1939 - 1941)
• Major F.A.B.Shepherd, Professor of Surgery (1941 - 1945)
• Dr.T.Bhaskara Menon, Professor of Pathology (1945 - 1948)
• Dr.N.G.Pandalai, Professor of Bacteriology (1948 - 1951)
• Dr.M.V.Ramana Murthy, Professor of Surgery (1951)
• Dr.T.K.Raman, Professor of Medicine (1951 - 1953)
• Dr.M.D.Anantachari, Professor of Medicine (1953 - 1954)
• Dr.D.Govinda Reddy, Professor of Pathology (1954 - 1956)
• Dr.S.Venkateswarlu, Professor of Radiology (1956)
• Dr.G.V.Satyanarayana Murty, Professor of Medicine (1956 - 1959)
• Dr.K.Ramesh Pai, Professor of Surgery (1960)
• Dr.P.Narasimha Rao, Professor of ENT (1960 - 1964)
• Dr.V.S.Raghunathan, Professor of Medicine (1964 - 1966)
• Dr.P. Brahmayya Sastry, Professor of Physiology (1964 - 1966)
• Dr.M.Y.Ansari, Professor of Pharmacology (1965 - 1966)
• Dr.D.Raghavendra Rao, Professor of Thoracic Surgery (1969 - 1971)
• Dr.B.Shanmukheswara Rao, Professor of Surgery (1971 - 1973)
• Dr.R.Satyabhama Reddy, Professor of Gynecology (1969 - 1974)
• Dr.L. Suryanarayana, Professor of Surgery (1974 - 1975)
• Dr.K.Kameswari Devi, Professor of Gynecology (1975 - 1976)
• Dr.E.N.B.Sharma, Professor of Surgery (1975 - 1976)
• Dr.K.Sanjeeva Rao, Professor of Anatomy (1976 - 1981)
• Dr.C.Sita Devi, Professor of Biochemistry (1981 - 1984)
• Dr.V.S.Dhanraj, Professor of Anasthesia (1986 - 1987)
• Dr.G.Nirmala, Professor of Pharmacology (1986 -1992)
• Dr.P.A.Jayakar, Professor of Bacteriology (1995 - 1996)
• Dr.K.Surya Rao, Professor of Medicine (1997)
• Dr.R.Venkata Ramana, Professor of Surgery (1996 - 1997)
• Dr.V.Pranava Murty, Professor of Medicine (1994 - 2001)
• Dr.K.Venugopala Rao, Professor of Pediatric Surgery (2000 - 2001)
• Dr.K.Raghavaprasad, Professor of SPM (2002 - 2003)
• Dr.A.Prakasa Rao, Professor of ENT (1999 - 2000)
• Dr.R.Ahikrishna, Professor of Ophthalmology (1998 - 1999)
• Dr.K.Veerabhadraiah, Professor of Surgery (1987 - 1988)
• Dr.K.Akkalanaidu, Professor of ENT (1999)
• Dr.Sasiprabha, Professor of Gynecology (2001 - 2002)
• Dr.Ch.Gnaneswar, Professor of Medicine (2002 - 2003)
• Dr.Ronanki Narayana Rao, Professor of Medicine (2003 - 2006)
• Dr.C.V.Rao, Professor of Plastic Surgery (2006 - 2008)
• Dr.G. Bhagya Rao, Professor of Psychiatry (2008 - )

Departments

Andhra Medical College comprises all the important departments such as Basic Sciences, Para clinical Departments and Clinical Departments including all major super specialties with experienced faculty. There are more than 34 Departments, including Anaesthesiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dental Surgery, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Forensic Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Medicine, Microbiology, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nuclear Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatrics, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry, Radiology, Radiotherapy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Social and Preventive Medicine, Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases and Urology.

Library

Andhra Medical College Central library was established in 1930. By 1987, the library had a collection of 32,000 books and 107 journals. Recently a new independent library building complex was constructed in front of Panagal building (Main building/ Office)and near to the House surgeons & Post graduates men's hostel building. The library has been recently renovated and air conditioned. Round the clock reading room is attached to it. The reading room also has been air conditioned.

Teaching Hospitals

Andhra Medical College is attached with many Government Teaching Hospitals in Visakhapatnam. The students attend their classes in the various departments of the teaching hospitals as per their educational requirements.

These Teaching Hospitals attached with the Andhra Medical College:

King George Hospital was inaugurated by Hon'ble Rajah of Panagal, Chief Minister of Madras on 19 July 1923. It had 192 beds and by 1931-32 increased to 270 beds. These included Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Maternity, Venerology and Infectious Diseases. There were also the Out Patient Department, X-ray Department, Kitchen, Operation Theatre and Lecture Hall. The Gynaecology and Maternity block with 40 beds was constructed in 1928. Construction works of the Ophthalmic Block with 80 beds was completed in 1932. The Out Patient (OP) block and Casualty was constructed in 1940. A Children's ward with 36 beds was constructed nearby in 1943 and later merged with the Gynaec block. A new administrative block and the twin Operation Theatres and special ward was constructed in 1951. The need for expansion of the hospital gave rise to construction of the Bhavanagar Ward, which was later inaugurated by Shri Krishna Kumar Sinhji of Bhavnagar, then Governor of Madras in December, 1949. The 'Rajendra Prasad Ward' was inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, then President of India in August, 1955 and the 'Amrit Kaur Pediatric Block' was inaugurated by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, then Union Minister of Health in January, 1956. The new Cardiology Block with Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) was inaugurated in June, 1986 and subsequently, the first and second floors with the Open Heart Surgery Unit. The 24-hour Clinical laboratory block was renovated in 1992. The Nuclear Medicine block, the first-of- its-kind in the State Government was opened on 8 October 1993. The new 'STD Out Patient block' was inaugurated in November, 2000.

Government Victoria Hospital was originally a private hospital named after Queen Victoria. It was donated by the late Maharajah Sri G.N. Gajapathi Rao, KCIE in 1894. In 1949, the Government of Madras took over its administration. The Hospital has three units with 147 beds and has recently been renovated with new blocks.

Government Hospital For Mental Care an exclusive hospital for mental care was constructed in 1871 to accommodate 94 patients. Later the capacity grew to about 300 patients.

Rani Chandramani Devi Hospital was started in 1965 as per the will of the late Rani of Chemudu, Chandramani Devi who was concerned and moved by the plight of handicapped children in the district. The department was initially operating under private management as a 30-bedded hospital. It was later taken over by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1967. The bed strength was increased to 70 in 1976. A well equipped Operation Theatre was opened in 1977.

Government Hospital for Chest and Communicable Diseases was started in 1961 at Seetammadhara about 3 km from the Andhra Medical College. The department of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases has 240 beds in 4 wards, the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) and Emergency Ward, Mahatma Gandhi Ward for non-tuberculosis lung diseases. The Department of Communicable Diseases is situated opposite the TB Hospital. It has 48 beds in 4 wards. Now this Hospital has been shifted to a spacious place in Waltair opposite the Hospital for Mental Care

Regional Eye Hospital The 75-bedded Ophthalmology department was shifted from King George Hospital to its present site in Seethammadhara near the TB Hospital in 1981. The present new building was completed in 1988. The new 'Regional Eye Hospital' has been fully-functional since 1990. The bed strength has been increased to 200 with two main Operation Theatres.

The ENT Hospital has been shifted to a new building in Waltair near the Hospital for Mental care from King George Hospital

Presently Work is going in Constructing Super Specialty Blocks within King George Hospital.

The wings of AMC

The Institutional Ethics Committee was set up before the Medical Council of India made it mandatory. It regularly meets and evaluates several research projects to grant ethical approval.

The AMC Research Forum was inaugurated by Dr. C.R.R.M.Reddy and aims to promote research activities among the faculty and students of the college. Besides conducting training programs, it conducts an open competition for medical research giving prizes to research papers in various categories. It has successfully helped initiating two annual gold medals for Postgraduate research papers by sponsors.

The Medical Education Cell was set up under the able guidance from Dr. C.Syamalamma and voluntary contributions. It is publishing a quarterly bulletin, Medi-Ed, the Cell conducts Foundation, Orientation and Preparatory courses for new entrants into the MBBS course, House-surgeons and Postgraduates. With handsome donation from a former alumnus Dr.P.Subba Reddy, the Cell was named in memory of his late wife Smt.Pallamreddi Sitamma Memorial Medical Education Cell.

Rasamayi was set up under the stewardship of Dr. Ahikrishna and Dr. V.Pranava Murthy to foster the cultural talent in faculty and students of the college. It has conducted several programs in classical music, light music, dance, painting, photography, and many other art forms.

Prakriti is a forum for social, environmental and other issues. This body attempts to provide a forum to sensitize and discuss non-medical issues and seek appropriate solutions.

AMCOSA

Andhra Medical College Old Student's Association (AMCOSA) was formed by the efforts of Prof. P. Brahmayya Sastry and Dr. C. Vyaghreswarudu. The first AMCOSA day was celebrated on 28 January 1967, which was inaugurated by Lt.Col. Dr. M. V. Ramana Murthy, who was the last Surgeon General of the combined Madras Province.

According to the drafted constitution, the aims of AMCOSA were to gradually bring all the old students of the college under one roof, to promote fraternity and fellowship, to promote good will for its multifaceted development, to propagate the achievements of the teachers and alumni of our college as an inspiration to the younger generation and to come together once a year, to greet each other and relive the student days.

The first goal was to built an office for the association and to provide accommodation to the Alma Mater during their visit to Visakhapatnam. The Government allotted 4000 sq.yds of land in the premises of Alapati Doctors Quarters on a long lease of 99 years (vide G.O.Ms.No.2187H/ dt.3.12.1970). The foundation stone for the AMCOSA Golden Jubilee Guest House was laid on 23 March 1971 by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Kasu Brahmananda Reddy.

Eminent Personalities

Alma Mater of the Andhra Medical College is vast, prestigious and ever-growing. The old students of the Andhra Medical College automatically become members of the Alma Mater of the AMC.

• Lt Col. F.J. Anderson, Principal, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery.
• Dr. Hilda Mary Lazarus, Principal of AMC and Superintendent of KGH.
• Dr. M. G. Kini, Professor of Orthopedics.
• Dr. B. V. Satyanarayana (1927-2005), Professor of Dermatology.
• Dr. V. Ramalingaswami (1921-2001), Eminent Nutrional Scientist and recipient of Padma Bhushan.
• Dr. P. Brahmayya Sastry, Professor of Physiology.
• Dr. C. Vyaghreswarudu, Professor of Orthopaedics.
• Dr. K. N. Rao, former Director of Health amd Medical Sciences.
• Dr. P. Kutumbaiah, Professor of Medicine.
• Dr. M. Gouri Devi, eminent Neurologist and Director of NIMHANS.
• Dr. Koppachi Krishna Murthy
• Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao, Professor Radiology and Director, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences.
• Dr. L. Suryanarayana, Professor of Surgery, Principal of AMC and Vice-Chancellor, NTR University of Health Sciences.
• Dr. C.M. Habibullah, Professor of Gastroenterology and Director of Medical Education.
• Dr. S. Balaparameswara Rao, Professor of Neurosurgery.
• Dr. P. Siva Reddy (1920-2005), Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital.
• Dr. C.R.R.M. Reddy, Professor of Pathology and Director of Medical Education.
• Dr. C. Sita Devi, Professor of Biochemistry and Principal of AMC.
• Dr. P.V. Ramana Rao (1917-2005), Professor of Microbiology and Director of Institute of Preventive Medicine.
• Dr. Daliparthy Venugopal Rao, Eminent Otolaryngologist in New York.
• Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, General Physician, Sangeetha Kalanidhi and recipient of Padma Bhushan.
• Dr. Sonti Dakshina Murthy (1899-1975), Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine.
• Dr. T.K. Ramana
• Dr. Kodanda Ramayya
• Dr. Satyabhama Reddy
• Dr. S. Sreenivasulu Reddy
• Dr. G.V. Satyanarayana Murthy
• Dr. Bhaskara Menon
• Dr. Karhetti Suryanarayana
• Dr. Seetha Rama Rao
• Dr. R. Sasi Prabha, Professor of Gynecology, Principal-AMC;Superintendent-KGH; Director of Medical Education,Andhra Pradesh.
• Dr. Sai Gopal, Professor of Cardiology, Director of Medical Education, Andhra Pradesh.