IIHMR University

Dr. Daya Krishan Mangal, Doctorate in Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine), University of Rajasthan; Fellow of Indian Public Health Association. Presently, he is the Dean of Research, IIHMR University. He has served as a teacher in Rajasthan's medical colleges in different capacities for more than 25 years and worked as Community Health Consultant, Government of Libya, & Dy. Director IEC Bureau, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Rajasthan, in the past. During his illustrious career of more than 35 years in public health, Dr. Mangal has made significant contributions at policy and program levels in health system strengthening, health communication, health training and research.

Being the Dean of Research, how do you plan activities and programs to enhance the skills of the students?

“The planned curriculum with the involvement of various practical activities”

There is an adequately based curriculum for students to enrich their proficiency with every coming session of study. The Board of Education, the Academic council themselves approve the selected core curriculum for the college and students of every stream. The current curriculum for students has a course on research methods and computer software such as basic and advanced Excel, SPSS, and other statistical software. The students get practical experience and hands-on learning through family posting, where they learn data collection, data management, data analysis, data interpretation, and report writing skills.

What are the unique features of the Research Department of IIHMR?

“Dedication towards the enrichment of research-based activities for the students”

The University stipulates its focus on research, and it is the only the post-graduation and research University. We are dedicated to the quality of research work, and for this, we have a dedicated research management unit (RMU). The RMU has dedicated staff, a well-equipped research lab for advanced computing, and has a resource of large databases and access to online resources. The University has several research centers (Center for health policy systems research, center for health economics and financing, center for injury research, center for gender and ethics) for focused research on these subject areas.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the University and the students are?

“Diverse responsibilities are associated with diverse roles in the institution”

The roles incorporate tracking various research opportunities for the students of medicine as well as management. The Dean research monitors the progress of research activities and reports to the Board of Management through the President. The Dean research oversees all the research in the University and ensures high quality. As the position of Dean suggests, I am accountable to all the financial and technical departments for different grants. For quality, the University has a Standard Operating Procedure in place, and the Dean research ensures that the Research SoPs are adhered to in letter and spirit. The Dean plans and creates opportunities for the students to participate in ongoing research activities of the University.

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What are the types of projects/internships that the students are working on?

“Practical assessments for a better understanding of the concepts and work-life”

All the final year students must gather experience through an internship for at least one trimester of their course duration. The internship is usually done at the same organization where the student has received a placement. Every student writes a research synopsis under the Mentor's guidance, the synopsis is reviewed by a committee and approved. The students also are required to write dissertations and reports about their learning and experience at the firm during their internship period. The faculty and research specialists examine the dissertations for the student’s prospects.

What are the major challenges in the field of research for, both, students and professionals?

“The challenges created due to a lack of awareness”

  • The low priority is provided to research-based education.
  • The funding to research activities is less than one percent and therefore the opportunities for the same are very limited.
  • The demand for good quality research and evidence lacks in the health sector, which may be one reason for the low availability of funds for research in India in the health sector. 
  • The involvement of students in research is limited because the emphasis is on credit-based teaching, and the curriculum does not permit the active participation of the students in research activities.

What is the future scope for research candidates from your institution?

“The growing prospect of the medical and pharmacy sector”

With the significant expansion of the Medical sector for various reasons, there is an excellent growth option for the students at our institution. Competent researchers have gained pharmaceutical opportunities in the sector. The National Health Policy has committed to increasing the funding for research in the country. Recently as separate initiatives for enhancing and fostering research in the country will boost the research initiatives and creating new avenues for the researchers that pass out every year for the University.

What is your approach to making a healthy environment for your students?

“The open communication to create mutual understanding among the faculty and students”

The IIHMR University has a beautiful green campus and recently awarded as the best university campus on cleanliness. We are conscious of our responsibility for improving the environment. We have a solar plant; we recycle waste and adopt best practices to dispose of solid and liquid waste. The university canteen has modern cooking arrangements and follows high standards of hygiene. The university building is designed using locally available building material that makes it an energy-efficient and environment-friendly place for promoting learning.

Please share the importance of research in today’s world?

“Creation of awareness and responsibility towards various upcoming events”

Scientific research has become the only ray of hope for all the citizens across the World during this pandemic of Corona Virus. The research now has created a lot of awareness to form policies and initiate health programs. This evolving evidence has facilitated the effective implementation of prevention containment measures against the pandemic of COVID. The best example is finding a recent multi-country Solidarity trail on the empirical treatment used (Remdesivir, HCQ, Convalescent plasma lopinair/retinovir, and interferon) management of the pandemic. The trail has conclusively proved that none of the medicines used as repurposed drugs has any advantage in reducing the hospitalization days or mortality. Thus, systematic research is essential to establish the utility and effectiveness of any intervention.

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What goals do you have for your department for the next 5 years?

“To be the prime achiever of research-based activities and placements”

The research department's utmost goal is to enhance research activities and make it a reliable and credible center for health systems and health research and research-related field in India and Globally. The University has been working in almost all states of the country and would like to expand its research coverage to South-East Asian and African countries.

What suggestions would you like to give to the current aspiring youth?

“Be attentive and concentrated on what you desire to become”

Attention is the key to success for Education. Follow the experience path by dealing with great internship programs and training. IT should be done with utmost sincerity and rigor. In the real world, the degree is essential. More important is the research skills and the confidence that they will acquire through sincere learning during their academic studies at the University.