UNMC hosts two Indian doctors

UNMC currently hosts two doctors from India through a partnership with the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Vineet Vietla, M.B.B.S., a surgical oncology trainee, and Viswanath Patnala, M.B.B.S., a recent medical school graduate, will be in Omaha through February to observe the clinical, educational and research efforts at UNMC. Both are graduates of Osmania Medical College in Andhra Pradesh.

Viswanath Patnala, M.B.B.S., and Vineet Vietla, M.B.B.S., physicians from the state of Andhra Pradesh, are in the midst of an observership at UNMC as part of a partnership between the medical center and the Indian state.

“By being here, they get a chance to see the UNMC health care system which is at the cutting edge of medicine,” said Chandra Are, M.D., surgical oncologist and associate program director of general surgery residency and the lead architect in the establishment of the partnership between UNMC and India.

As part of the partnership, UNMC’s Paul Kolkman, M.D., a fourth year general surgery resident, currently is in India for a six-month surgical rotation.

Dr. Are has set up a structured curriculum for the Indian visitors that gives them optimal exposure to the clinical, educational and research efforts underway at UNMC.

The surgical technology at the medical center impressed Dr. Patnala, who said he also learned techniques regarding end-of-life and palliative care from UNMC physicians that he will apply in his work in India.

The Indian visitors also were interested in the research opportunities available for physicians, which is a rarity in India where heavy patient loads and lack of funds preclude clinicians from conducting any type of research.

At least six more physicians and students from India already are in line to do a similar observerships in the various departments at UNMC in the coming months, Dr. Are said.