Mangaluru: A solemn condolence meeting was held at the Father Muller Knowledge Centre AV Hall to honour the life and monumental legacy of Dr Kundapura Sudhakar Shetty, the founding pillar of the Department of Psychiatry at Father Muller Charitable Institutions. The gathering brought together the management, faculty members, students, and family to remember a visionary doctor whose work transformed mental healthcare in the region.
A lifetime devoted to mental healthcare
Dr K. S. Shetty was the first psychiatrist to join Father Muller Charitable Institutions following the establishment of the Psychiatry Ward in 1966. He served the institution with unwavering dedication for nearly 40 years as a full-time faculty member, followed by another 12 years as a consultant, making his association with Father Muller span more than five decades.
During a period when psychiatry was still heavily stigmatised, Dr Shetty played a pioneering role in integrating mental healthcare into a general hospital setting. His work helped normalise psychiatric treatment and ensured that mental health received the same dignity and attention as physical health.
Leadership reflections on an institutional architect
Rev. Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, paid tribute to Dr Shetty’s pivotal role in the institution’s growth. He noted that Dr Shetty was instrumental not only in establishing psychiatry services at Father Muller but also in securing Charitable Institution status for Father Muller Medical College.
Rev. Fr Lobo highlighted Dr Shetty’s bold and forward-thinking decision to introduce a psychiatry ward within a general hospital framework—an approach that was considered revolutionary at the time. This step, he said, bridged the long-standing divide between mental and physical healthcare and set new standards for compassionate, integrated medical practice.
Personal memories from the family
Adding a deeply personal dimension to the remembrance, Mr Prathyush Shetty, grandson of the late Dr Shetty and Executive Director of First Neuro Hospital, shared intimate family memories. He recalled accompanying his grandfather on ward rounds as a child and witnessing his tireless dedication to patients.
He moved the audience by recounting that even as late as 2018, Dr Shetty continued to consult patients, charging a symbolic fee of just ₹10. This, he said, reflected his grandfather’s lifelong belief that medical service should prioritise compassion and accessibility over financial gain.
Tributes from colleagues and students
The programme was facilitated by Dr Vaishnavi Ballal, Senior Resident in the Department of Psychiatry, who coordinated the condolence meeting. Dr Prithi Jain, Professor in the Department of Anaesthesiology, reflected on Dr Shetty’s clinical acumen, professional discipline, and ethical work culture, recalling their interactions across various clinical settings.
Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, delivered a heartfelt tribute to her mentor and predecessor. She described Dr Shetty as a “legend” whose rounds were marked by grace, discipline, and deep respect for nursing staff and colleagues alike. She emphasised that his life and work remain a benchmark for excellence that every medical professional should aspire to emulate.
A lasting legacy
The condolence meeting concluded with a floral tribute by all those present, symbolising collective gratitude and respect for a life dedicated to healing minds and uplifting human dignity.
Dr Kundapura Sudhakar Shetty’s legacy continues to live on through the countless patients he cared for, the professionals he mentored, and the ethical foundations he laid for psychiatric care at Father Muller. His contribution stands as a defining chapter in the institution’s history and in the broader journey of mental healthcare in coastal Karnataka.
