The University of South Bohemia had the honour of welcoming an exceptional guest - Professor Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, a Nepalese physician, academic and visionary whose life story is an inspiration not only for professionals but also for the general public.
Dr. Ram is the founder of Dhulikhel Hospital, which provides healthcare to more than 700,000 patients every year. During his career, he has also served as the Rector of Kathmandu University, where for two terms he made significant contributions to the development of education and health services in Nepal. For his services, he was awarded Nepal's highest civilian honour and an honorary doctorate from the King of Thailand.
During his visit to České Budějovice, Dr. Ram visited the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia, where he met with students and teachers. On Monday, November 25, 2024, he conducted a lecture session on "Dhulikhel Hospital: Challenges and Opportunities of Healthcare in Nepal". He also met personally with University Rector Pavel Kozák and visited the České Budějovice Regional Hospital, where he held talks with Director Michal Šnork and toured selected departments.
Dr. Ram studied medicine in Vienna and began his career as a surgeon in Austria. In 1996, he decided to return to Nepal, where he founded Dhulikhel Hospital with the aim of making quality healthcare accessible to people from remote and disadvantaged areas. Under his leadership, the hospital has grown into a modern tertiary health care facility with 18 outreach centers across Nepal. The hospital played a key role in relief efforts after the devastating earthquake in 2015.
During his tenure at Kathmandu University, Dr. Ram has promoted innovative approaches to education and community projects, including the establishment of a law school. As the CEO of Dhulikhel Hospital, he signed an agreement with the United Nations in July 2024 to share his experiences in transforming healthcare in Nepal.
The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia has been cooperating with Dhulikhel Hospital since 2015. Thanks to this partnership, 35 students have already gone to Nepal for internships. Successful cooperation is also ongoing with Kathmandu University, for example through the Erasmus+ KA107 - International Credit Mobility in 2020-2023 project.
Meeting Dr. Ram was an extraordinary opportunity for the University of South Bohemia to be inspired by the story of a man who turned the dream of affordable healthcare into a reality for thousands of people.
You can learn more about his life journey and his mission to help in the video here.
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