BPS Government Medical College wins global medical education award for student leadership initiative

What happened

BPS Government Medical College for Women in Khanpur Kalan, Haryana, has become the first Indian institution to win the prestigious IMU-Ron Harden Innovation in Medical Education (IMU-RHIME) Award.

The international honour was presented at the 19th International Medical Education Conference held at IMU University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr Sumita Sethi, Professor of Ophthalmology at the college, accepted the award on behalf of a academic team that includes Dr Renu Garg and Dr Ruchi Agarwal.

Instituted in 2008, the annual award recognises pioneering practices in medical teaching and training. This marks the first time in its history that the rolling trophy has gone to an Indian institution.

How the NEST programme works

The award was conferred for the college's Network of Student Leaders (NEST) initiative. The programme focuses on developing leadership capabilities among young healthcare professionals and directing those skills towards grassroots health challenges.

Under the NEST framework, medical students undergo targeted leadership training before developing and leading community-based health interventions across the country.

The projects spearheaded by the trainees have targeted pressing social and public health matters, including menstrual hygiene management, cervical cancer awareness, child marriage prevention, and substance abuse mitigation.

Why it matters

The global recognition underscores India's growing stature in medical research, training, and public health delivery. By securing an award previously won by institutions from the United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Pakistan, the Haryana state-run college has highlighted the strength of Indian academic leadership.

Dr Sethi stated on social media that receiving the trophy was a humbling moment, acknowledging the foundational role played by core faculty members Dr Garg and Dr Agarwal. The director of BPS Government Medical College praised the achievement as a benchmark moment for both Haryana's public education infrastructure and the wider Indian medical fraternity.