Our College

Vellore Christian Medical College & Hospital, known simply as "CMC", is one of those unique organizations that you fall in love with at first sight. At its heart is the story of the founder, Ida S. Scudder, and the thousands of dedicated men and women who have followed her at CMC in India.

The story of Ida Scudder's visionary mission begins in the late 1800's when she was a young American girl reluctantly visiting her medical missionary father, John Scudder, at his post in Tamil Nadu, South India. One fateful night, Ida was asked to help three women from different families struggling in difficult childbirth. Custom prevented their husbands from accepting the help of a male doctor for them and being without training at that time, Ida herself could do nothing. The next morning she was shocked to learn that each of the three women had died. She believed that it was a calling and a challenge set before her by God to begin a ministry dedicated to the health needs of the people of India, particularly women and children. Consequently, Ida went back to America, entered medical training (practically unheard of for women at that time) and, in 1899, was one of the first women graduates of the Cornell Medical College.

Shortly thereafter, she returned to India and opened a one-bed clinic in Vellore in 1900. Two years later, in 1902, she built a 40-bed hospital, the forerunner of today's 1700-bed medical center. In 1909, she started the School of Nursing, and in 1918, her fondest dream came true with the opening of a medical school for women. (Men were admitted in 1947). With the training of these women as doctors and nurses, Indian women would now begin to have access to health care professionals. This was the beginning of the vision of Ida S. Scudder which continues to grow to this day.

In addition to the care of women, Ida Scudder saw the need for bringing health care to the poor, the disabled, and the neglected of India. She traveled regularly to outlying villages, bringing medical care to the doorstep of poor villagers, many of whom had never seen a real doctor or nurse, starting CMC's first "roadside" dispensary in 1916. Over the years, these roadside dispensaries have developed into extensive rural health and development programs that have become internationally acclaimed in the Community Health field. These dispensaries have attracted members of the medical community from around the world, from young medical students to nurses to highly skilled surgeons, to study and contribute their skills.

The 100 years since Ida Scudder opened the first small clinic have seen remarkable growth. Here is an example of the daily activity that goes on there today: 2,000 outpatients per day, 1,000 inpatients, 43 operations, 22 clinics, and 16 births. Ten Bible Classes are held each day and 380 patients are visited by a Chaplain. In addition, there is the work of CHAD, CONCH, and RUSHA, which go out to the villages and rural areas bringing methods of disease prevention, health care and community empowerment to tens of thousands more. Started with one woman and her vision, CMC employs over 4300 people today.

But, the story of CMC is not merely growth, high tech surgery, and medical degrees. It is the story of people sharing their time and talents in a loving and caring manner. Throughout its history CMC has taken up each new task in response to Christ's command. In the words of Ida Scudder, ";we thank God for the way He has led us in the past and look forward to an even greater future."