MBBS days are often the most treasured in any doctor’s life, filled with classrooms, lectures, and hospital rounds. For me, however, the most unforgettable memory came from something that happened outside the classroom.
I was in my final year of MBBS at the Institute of Medicine in Kathmandu. More than eleven years have passed since then. Life has carried me far from my homeland, and I am now in Florida, training in Neonatology. Yet, every September, as World Heart Day approaches, my mind returns to that experience. It was an extraordinary eleven days—testing our limits and showing us what young students could accomplish when guided with vision and purpose. I had never planned to write about it, but the memory has stayed with me, shaping how I see medicine and my own journey within it.
During my MBBS years, my father was once admitted with chest discomfort and treated by Dr. Om Murti Anil at the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center (MCVTC). Initially, angiography was considered, but later deferred when ECG changes were attributed to low potassium levels. Fortunately, his condition improved gradually.
One afternoon during those hospital days, Dr. Anil spoke to me about a free heart camp he was planning and invited me to join. The offer came as an unexpected yet pleasant surprise—especially from someone whose work had already inspired so many young doctors and medical students like me.
What surprised me most was his commitment to such an initiative despite his demanding schedule. At the time, he was coordinating the newly launched DM cardiology program at the Institute of Medicine, teaching DM residents, and managing the cath lab as its sole interventionalist. Alongside his patient care, these responsibilities left him extremely occupied. To hear him talk about organizing a large-scale camp was remarkable, and I immediately decided to participate.
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The recently published WHO–MoHP STEPS Survey 2013, which revealed alarmingly high cardiovascular risk trends, had caught his attention. He wanted to study how urban lifestyles were influencing these risk factors among young adults.
Once I agreed, Dr. Anil gave me two responsibilities: first, to recruit interested volunteers from the Institute of Medicine, and second, to help draft the research proposal for ethical approval. Recruitment spread quickly—from just a handful of friends to more than 200 volunteers, including students of medicine, pharmacy, public health, and nursing, along with local supporters.
The research proposal, modeled on the WHO STEPS protocol, aimed to cover over 5,000 participants—surpassing the 4,200 in the previous survey—making it the largest study of its kind at the time. With Dr. Anil’s guidance, we grew confident in ensuring that the methodology was scientifically rigorous.
I vividly recall the moment the research proposal received approval. The announcement, made during one of our volunteer training sessions, sent a wave of excitement through the room. Weeks of preparation now had official validation, and we were ready to move forward.
Volunteers were trained in every aspect—registration, vital signs measurement, history-taking, blood collection, ECG recording, counseling, and data management. Multiple sessions ensured that the workflow was smooth and aligned with the research protocol.
On the opening day, we arrived early only to find hundreds already waiting in line. The camp began with health check-ups, followed by an inaugural program attended by Dr. Arun Sayami, Dr. Arjun Karki, WHO representative Dr. Lin Aung, and actor Haribansh Acharya. About 300 participants were screened that first day. Each station—registration, vitals, history-taking, blood collection, ECG, and counseling—functioned as an integrated part of the research effort.
Among the busiest units was the ECG section, where nine machines ran simultaneously under the supervision of Dr. Anil’s wife, Manisha Baidar. Volunteers adhered to the structured workflow, while hundreds of blood samples were drawn for sugar and lipid profiles. On the final day alone, nearly 1,400 people were screened. By the end of the eleven-day camp, a total of 6,859 individuals had been served—far beyond expectations.
Afterward, data analysis was led by Om Murti Nikhil, then a second-year MBBS student and now a physician at Janakpur Provincial Hospital. With little time before World Heart Day, he and the team prepared charts and a presentation summarizing the findings.
The results were unveiled on the eve of World Heart Day in the presence of dignitaries including Health Minister Khajraj Adhikari, WHO’s Nepal representative, NHRC Chairperson Dr. Bhagwan Koirala, and the media. Findings were disseminated widely through newspapers, television, and policy channels, emphasizing the importance of early detection, preventive care, and public engagement in addressing cardiovascular disease.
On World Heart Day itself, a special program was held at the President’s House, where President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav congratulated the volunteers and delivered a message on cardiovascular health.
Looking back, nearly 7,000 participants received services worth about Rs 2,500 each—totalling nearly Rs 15 million. The actual expenses of around Rs 6 million for investigations, logistics, and resources were personally managed and funded by Dr. Om Murti Anil, with some support from close friends.
Now, as I train in neonatology thousands of miles away, the memory remains vivid. What began as a health camp became an education in itself—teaching lessons in research, leadership, and collective service at a time when resources were scarce but purpose was strong.
I share this memory not only to preserve an important chapter from my student life but also to highlight a larger truth: when doctors step beyond their routine roles and extend care into communities with dedication and vision, remarkable things become possible. This heart camp remains a testament to the power of early detection, prevention, and collective participation in shaping healthier societies.
The author is a Neonatology Fellow at the University of Florida, USA.
