In 2017, Dr. Venu Kondle, now the Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and I met to discuss formation of a new University and a Medical School. Our plans included achieving WASC accreditation for the University and LCME accreditation for the School of Medicine in the United States. Our dream also included building similar institutions throughout the world. From the get-go, we decided to begin with a global outlook because in the last few decades, there has been an unprecedented increase in interactions of people, economies and culture across the continents. Availability of electronic tools provides opportunities to harmonize medical education throughout the world, albeit customized to local environment but of high international standards. This ambitious dream is founded on our mission of making a positive impact on humanity through dedication to education, research and healthcare services.

The first question in any new initiative is why.  Other questions such as what, how, how much cost, where and when are important also but if one cannot give a strong reason, such questions are pointless. Therefore, let me tackle the “why” question for the Global Health Science University.

The urge to spur innovation and creativity by forming a University has existed for thousands of years. For millennia, Universities have been the drivers of cultural and economic transformation of humanity. Perhaps the oldest known University to undertake such responsibility was Taxila (or Takshashila) in ancient India (600 BCE to 500 CE). When the world had only 100 million people (0.01% of current population), Taxila educated 10,500 students annually including those from Babylon, Greece, Syria, and China. Experienced masters taught medicine, surgery, religion, languages, grammar, philosophy, archery, politics, astronomy, accounts, commerce, documentation, performing arts, and complex mathematical calculations. Taxila and Nalanda Universities were destroyed by invaders but they changed much of the world. Universities in Bologna (established in 1,088 CE), Oxford (1,096 CE), Salamanca (1,134 CE), Paris (1,160 CE), and Cambridge (1,209 CE) are examples of some of the oldest Universities, currently in existence, which produced popes, saints, artists, Nobel laureates, and prime ministers, who shaped humanity. Innovation and economic growth spurred by modern Universities in areas such as the Silicon Valley, Boston and the Research Triangle are further examples of the impact of institutions of higher education.

Innovation and creativity give us new hopes for the future. This is why we form the Global Health Science University. How else can one secure continuing development and evolution of humanity?

An often-cited justification for organizing a medical or health professions school is to address predicted shortages of healthcare work force. GHSU’s institutions will address such shortages. However, our vision is not limited to be a workforce-factory. We believe a University and its colleges must have a vision for the future that extends far beyond production of licensed professionals. We must shape the future.

Therefore, as University’s first President, I will outline our vision, beginning with discussion of the unmet needs created by workforce shortages; our immediate concern.  In the future communications, I will also discuss our vision for training new kinds of physicians and health professionals. Our graduates will harness benefits of forthcoming revolutions in genetics, nanotechnology, cybernetic engineering and artificial intelligence. We will accelerate the impact of science and technology on longevity and quality of life. And, at the same time, ensure that our graduates learn ethics, and have compassionate approach to care for people who seek their help.

As a designer of the new organization, I would like to articulate our mission, vision for 2020 and for 2030, and beyond. Our values will shape our vision.

As we recruit talented faculty, with their help, these concepts, guiding principles, and our vision will undoubtedly evolve. In these pages, I wish to chart the initial course for the Global Health Science University and its School of Medicine. Hope you will join me.

Vipul Mankad, M.D.
President and Founding Dean
Global Health Science University and School of Medicine
January 11, 2018