CMC, Vellore

CMC Vellore traces its origins to the extraordinary vision of Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder (1870 to 1960). Moved by the preventable deaths of three young women who were unable to receive medical care because they refused treatment from a male physician, she dedicated her life to transforming healthcare for women in India. Returning to Vellore after completing her medical education in the United States, she established a one bed clinic in 1900, laying the foundation for an institution that would transform healthcare, education and medical research for generations to come.

For more than a century, CMC Vellore has remained at the forefront of medical innovation, achieving numerous national and international milestones that have shaped modern healthcare in India. Among its landmark achievements are India’s first successful open heart surgery, India’s first successful kidney transplant, India’s first Department of Nephrology, South Asia’s first Department of Neurological Sciences and the world’s first reconstructive surgery for patients affected by leprosy. These pioneering accomplishments reflect CMC’s enduring commitment to advancing medical science and improving patient care

Recognised as one of India’s premier academic medical institutions, CMC Vellore is internationally respected for excellence in organ transplantation, structural and interventional cardiology, neurosciences, hematology, oncology, paediatric cardiology and numerous other specialised disciplines.

The institution is equally distinguished for its highly competitive programmes in medicine, nursing and allied health sciences, producing generations of healthcare professionals who serve with distinction across the world. Research remains central to CMC’s mission, with internationally recognised contributions in clinical research, translational medicine, public health and global collaborations that continue to advance healthcare in India and beyond.

Alongside its academic and scientific achievements, CMC is widely admired for delivering compassionate, patient centred healthcare while remaining committed to equitable access and affordability. Its pioneering Community Health and Development programme has become a model for community based healthcare, reflecting the institution’s belief that excellence in medicine must always be accompanied by service to society.