Brilliant in academics, Dr Abhay Kumar, went on to do medicine from King George Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, fulfilling his father’s dream. He gained experience in various hospitals including in Delhi, only to return to his hometown to serve the future of Bihar i.e., Children! He rose in eminence as a paediatrician for his pivotal role in transforming the specialty in a state, which hardly had a modern well-equipped facility for treating the very young. A member of Indian Medical Association, he passionately continues to contribute immensely to his field of expertise.
-BY DINESH ANAND
Dr Abhay Kumar, the son of a retired Indian postal services employee, Mr Satish Chandra Rai, was born in March 1981 in Basudeopur village of Begusarai district of Bihar. From a young age, his father instilled the spirit of service to mankind in his son by becoming a doctor. Throughout, Dr Kumar, was an outstanding student clearing matriculation from Collegiate Inter College, Begusarai in 1995, and intermediate from the reputed GD College of Begusarai in 1997, with flying colours. He did an encore in the All India Pre Medical Test (PMT), got admission in King George Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow. He moved to Uttar Pradesh where he competed his medicine in 2008, interned at the same institution and got his MD degree in Paediatrics in 2015 from KGMU itself.
Fondly recalling his days in KGMU, Dr Abhay Kumar, shares, “This is one of India’s best medical colleges and is ranked in the top five. As a resident doctor, I had the opportunity to serve the patients here for 3 years. It is noteworthy that in 1817, Maharaja of Vizianagram expressed his desire to establish a medical college in Lucknow and donated three lakh rupees for the purpose. The Prince of Wales started work on this medical college on 26 December 1905. The first batch of MBBS with 31 students was enrolled in 1911, and in later years students from foreign countries also started seeking admission here. If we have a look at the glorious history of 115 years of KGMU, we find that there is an echo of Georgian names all over the world.”
In 2015, Dr Kumar moved from Lucknow to Delhi and on the request of Maharshi Valmiki Hospital management, joined this state-of-the-art hospital as a senior resident, serving there till 2017. As advanced treatments evolved and fame rose, in the year 2018, he started Ram Jyoti Children Hospital, a single specialty state-of-the-art hospital at Begusarai NH 31. Later, this initiative proved to be a milestone in the medical field of Bihar, which is attracting patients for its ultramodern facilities such as incubators for premature new born babies. Recently, the hospital added to its many achievements a spectacular medical feat when Dr. Kumar saved 400 gram baby by very good NICU care! The locals laud Dr Kumar for his selfless service by running a free OPD once a week for the needy.
Member of National Medical Commission (NMC), Past National President of Indian Medical Association and recipient of Dr. B. C. Roy National Award, Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh says, “The land of Begusarai has a big identity in itself. It has given birth to Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and has introduced the world with many great personalities. I am familiar with the working style of Dr. Abhay Kumar. He is as humble as he is honest towards his profession. Seeing the way Dr. Abhay has lived up to people’s expectations in the last few years I can say with confidence that he will be successful in creating a distinct identity for himself in the medical sphere of Bihar.” This speaks volumes about a humble boy’s journey of excellence in the medical world!
