Lt Gen MD Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, inaugurates the Department of AI in Healthcare at Kasturba Medical College in Manipal.
Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, a constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has launched the Department of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare.
Inaugurating the department, Lt Gen MD Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, said the future of healthcare is inextricably linked with technology.
“This department is not just a new academic unit; it is a statement of our commitment to leading healthcare revolution. It will require a collective, interdisciplinary effort to position MAHE as nation’s pioneer in translating AI research into real-world clinical practice,” he said.
Sharath K Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE, said MAHE envisions a 360-degree implementation of AI across healthcare spectrum.
“This goes beyond diagnostics and treatment to fundamentally reshape medical education itself, fostering AI literacy in all our student community,” he said.
Anil K Bhat, Dean, KMC Manipal and Senior Advisor for the department, said Department of AI in Healthcare will advance research, education, and clinical applications by building interdisciplinary expertise by uniting medicine, engineering, and data science. It will translate AI research into real-world solutions for diagnosis, treatment, education, and public health; and train the next generation of healthcare-AI leaders in areas such as predictive analytics, medical imaging, personalised medicine, and decision support systems, he said.
The department aims to introduce MSc and Integrated MSc-PhD programmes in AI, alongside courses to upskill its faculty and students. “We will actively foster collaborative research and innovation projects with external partners and industry. Our ultimate focus will be on initiatives with direct societal impact, driving meaningful reforms in patient care and medical education,” he said.
Published on August 29, 2025
