One of the two women to have held the position of vice chancellor (VC) at the University of Mumbai (MU) and the first female dean of Lokmanya Tilak Hospital in Sion, Dr. Snehlata Deshmukh, passed away on Monday. She was 85 years old. She leaves behind a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.

Well-known for her contributions to prenatal and neonatal care, she played a key role in the establishment of the pediatric surgery departments at Sion Hospital and KEM Hospital. She is also acknowledged for her literary works, particularly those on pregnancy that attempt to combine contemporary medicine with "garbh sanskar," the traditional prenatal care beliefs and practices.

Deshmukh, who was born in 1938, attended the Indian Education Society's School in Dadar and Ruia College before earning an MS from MU and an MBBS from Seth GS Medical College, which is connected to KEM Hospital. Her father, Dr. Shrikrishna Jogalekar, was a well-known physician and administrator who held dean positions at the hospitals in KEM and Sion.

Deshmukh assisted in founding the pediatric surgery section at KEM Hospital in 1967, working alongside the late Dr. Ramniklal Gandhi. Children admitted to the hospital were operated on in the general surgery department until that point. In 1990, she established this department at Sion Hospital after being appointed dean.

The hospital also established a milk bank for mothers who were unable to nurse their infants under her direction. She also led a campaign to lower the number of babies born in the Dharavi slums with spinal deformities by giving pregnant women there folic acid tablets. She is also acknowledged for having strengthened the Staff and Research Society of the hospital.

In addition to the customary BA, BCom, and BSc degrees, MU started offering specialized programs like the Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) during Deshmukh's stint as VC from 1995 to 2000. Since then, the popularity of many of these courses has surpassed that of the regular curriculum. Additionally, she pioneered the practice of listing mothers' names alongside students' names on graduation certificates.

Later, as a director, Deshmukh joined the Parle Tilak Vidyalaya Association (PTVA), a city-based education organization. She was also a prolific writer, penning books and articles on a variety of subjects for magazines. She was also known for being an engaging and graceful speaker.

She was a severe disciplinarian and a soft-spoken mother figure, as her students and coworkers recall her. "She had a personal connection with everyone, from ministers to common people," stated Dr. Sanjay Oak, a pediatric surgeon in the city who was initially trained by Deshmukh and subsequently worked alongside her as a teacher.

Rajan Velukar, a former MU vice chancellor, recalls Deshmukh's love for reading. "Whenever I visited her there would be a new book on her desk. Our interactions always revolved around the books we read,” he said.

For a number of years, Swapna Trailokya worked with PTVA and Deshmukh. She reported that Deshmukh would frequently give her support and appreciation. Her impact will continue to inspire upcoming generations of medical professionals and educators, according to Sanjay Deshmukh, another former MU VC. "Dr Deshmukh’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare and her innovative approach to medical education and administration have set a high standard for all who follow in her footsteps,” he said.

HER ACHIEVEMENTS

• One of the two female members of the MU VC

• Create pediatric surgical divisions at the Sion and KEM hospitals.

• Groundbreaking books on Pregnancy

• Sion Hospital's milk bank

• Spearheaded an initiative to give pregnant women living in the Dharavi slums folic acid pills.

• Introduced BMS at MU

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)