DVL

Established in the Year: 1930

• Department of Dermatology, Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Madras was initially looked after by Lt. Col. J.M Skinner (IMS) as early as 1930.
• He was succeeded by Dr.S.Thambiah as lecturer in dermatology from 1933 to 1945.
• Dr.S.Thambiah was succeeded by Dr.R.Subramanaian who made significant contribution to leprosy.
• In 1946, Lt.Col. Dr.J.Eapen joined the department as lecturer in dermatology.
• In 1960 Dr.J.Eapen was succeeded by Dr.A.S.Thambiah, MRCP(Edinburgh), who became the first professor in 1961.
• Dr. A.S. Thambiah modelled the department after the Institute of Dermatology, St. Johns Hospital, London, with a good clinical Dermatology section, sound Histopathology service, good and comprehensive Dermatomycology wing inclusive of culture and mycopathology, and Occupational diseases and Contact Dermatitis section.
• Dr.S. Thambiah’s prize for dermatological medicine was instituted in 1951.
• In 1964, the Madras University under the guidance of Sir A.L. Mudaliar appointed an expert committee of 3 persons comprising of Prof. Banerjee, Prof. Behl & Prof. A.S.Thambiah to draw the syllabus for the course for Diploma in Dermatology of 1 year and M.D.in Dermatology for 2 years after the Diploma. The D.D Course was instituted in October 1965 and M.D Course in July 1967.
• MCI approved the syllabus & examinations for D.D & M.D ( Dermatology)
• Subsequently in 2002, MD Dermatology and Dip. Dermatology courses were converted to 10 MD (DVL) seats and 20 DDVL seats, following which since 2003 Resident have been admitted as per this norm.
• Twenty DD DVL seats were upgraded to MD DVL seats in 2019, with the net result of 30 MD DVL seats allocated to Madras Medical College since 2019.

History of Mycology Section

• Prof A.S.Thambiah started the Mycology section during the year 1960, as a replica of the Mycology section in St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, London, UK.
• Initially from the inception in 1960 to 1962, potassium hydroxide wet mount examination of fungi was carried out.
• Mycology cultures pertaining to research studies and for diagnosis of deep mycoses are being done since 1963.
• One post of Medical Mycologist was created in April 1965 and mycology work has been carried out in the mycology section since then.
• Mycopathology work has been carried out since 1974.
• A separate mycology out- patient section was started in 1972 and has been functioning since then.
• A new post of Reader in Dermatology (Mycology) and Dermatologist, Madras Medical College was created in November 1986 in recognition of the quality of service rendered to the patients with mycoses, especially deep mycoses and volume of the research work done in the field of medical mycology. This section was initially headed by Prof.A.Kamalam, fondly revered as “Mother of Mycology” by her disciples, followed by Prof G.Sentamilselvi and Prof C.Janaki.
• Our Mycology section is the referral centre for patients suspected to have deep mycoses, hailing from TamilNadu , Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh

History of Institute of Venereology

• 1928 – Started as a Venereal Disease Clinic
• 1952 – Upgraded the department with WHO, Central & State Government Assistance
• 1954 – PG course – Diploma in Venereology – started
• 1956 – VD department redesignated as Institute of Venereology. WHO recognized this institute as teaching and training center for the whole of India and South East Asia
• 1961 – Central VD Reference laboratory established for inter laboratory evaluation of VDRL
• 1966 – PG course MD in Venereology – started
• Outreach programme for the control of STD was initiated with grant from ICMR & WHO
• 2003 – MD and Diploma in Venereology – the course is combined as MD and Diploma Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy
• 4th- 5th Nov 2003 - State level STD medical officer’s conference
• 10th Nov 2003--Fourth International Conference on AIDS
• 6th- 8th Oct 2006- 30th National Conference of IASSTD&AIDS was conducted at Chennai.