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KUMAR, Dr Raman: WONCA Executive YDM representative 2013-16

India

Young Doctors' Movement representative on WONCA Executive 2013-16

Dr Raman Kumar holds a longstanding interest in making a contribution to primary care and has been actively involved with development of academic family medicine in India. Raman belongs to the first generation of residency trained family physicians in India. Immediately after completing residency training he along with his young colleagues founded the Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI). AFPI has quickly emerged as a strong vocal proponent for academic family medicine in India. At AFPI, with a the team of young colleagues Raman as credited with organizing 1st National Conference on Family and Primary Care in India, which attracted international family medicine leaders as well as all major stake holders in health sector in India.

Raman completed high school from his home town Chhapra, a small place in the Indian state of Bihar. He was the topper of his school in the exit board examination and was also judged the best the best all round student. During schooling he pursued various interests including sports, music and debates. He learnt to play Indian classical music on Hawaiian guitar and also earned a diploma in this subject.

After schooling, he secured admission in the MBBS course at Patliputra Medical College Dhanbad (now in the state of Jharkhand) through a state level competitive entrance examination. As a medical student, he was inclined and interested in understanding systemic problems in healthcare and medical education system. He was also interested in national health programs and doing community work. Immediately after completion of MBBS, he contemplated pursuing a career in public health. Soon he came to know about a three year full time course in Family Medicine (the ‘Diploma of National Board’). The concept was new but it suited his temperament and aspiration to become a respected and useful doctor for his community at his hometown. At the training institute, he was the first resident to join family medicine and he was able to clear the prestigious and tough board examination in the first attempt.

Raman is also one of the founding members and currently chair of the Spice Route Movement. It was at the Kathmandu WONCA South Asia region conference, in 2010, that the Spice Route Movement (junior doctor group for South Asia) was inaugurated by Prof Richard Roberts then WONCA president. Raman represented the Spice Route at the preconference of young doctors at the WONCA World Conference, in Prague in 2013. He is also the South Asian representative for “FM 360” the evolving international exchange program. Raman actively participates in affairs of the WONCA Working Party on Research and WONCA Special Interest Group on Point of Care Testing.

Raman is also the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (www.jfmpc.com). He is Presently he is presently working as medical officer at ILBS Hospital an autonomous institution of Government of Delhi. He is happily married to Alka, who is a biotechnology professional. He also has been conferred with several awards and recognitions which include Healthcare Leadership Award 2012 India and Montegut Global Scholar Award 2013 by American Board of Family Medicine.

Raman has a passion for developing strong family medicine and believes in team work. He eagerly looks forward to work with medical students, trainees, residents and young doctors across the globe.