Inaugural Dr. Bettegowda Scholar

Dr. Dhondup Tashi
​Chief Medical Officer and Primary Care Physician,
Gaden Jangtse Charitable Hospital, Mundgod, Karnataka

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Machik is delighted to announce Dr. Dhondup Tashi, Chief Medical Officer and Primary Care Physician since 2013 at Gaden Jangtse Charitable Hospital in Mundgod, Karnataka, as the inaugural Dr. Bettegowda Scholar for 2023. Through his outstanding dedication to clinical practice in both Indian and Tibetan underserved rural communities, his drive and commitment to advanced training and specialization, and his mentorship and resourcefulness in growing Tibetan medical capacity, Dr. Dhondup Tashi has defined medical leadership in the Tibetan diasporic community, inspiring Tibetan medical practitioners across India and beyond.
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Compassionate Care for Underserved Communities 

Noted for his astute clinical aptitude, Dr. Dhondup Tashi has been steadfast in dedicating his skills and acumen to the needs of underserved communities in rural areas. After serving the role of sole primary physician in a rural Indian community, Dr. Dhondup Tashi was called to serve as the Chief Medical Officer of Gaden Jangtse Charitable Hospital in Mundgod, Karnataka, which serves one of the largest Tibetan settlements across India. At Gajang Hospital, Dr. Dhondup Tashi has led the establishment of the state-of-the-art Gajang Medical  Center which now houses an endoscopy center, ultrasonography and fibroscan center, in addition to the first ever dialysis unit in the Tibetan community for patients with renal failures and the first ever real-time Hepatitis-B PCR laboratory in the Tibetan community.

This Award aligns with my lifelong commitment to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to the underserved community...I am deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in the medical field for both the local Indian and Tibetan community, updating my clinical knowledge and skills, and continuing the promotion of the latest evidence-based practices in rural communities.

While striving to ensure quality medical care for Tibetan communities in Karnataka, Dr. Dhondup Tashi has also played a vital role in convening an array of programs and conferences that foster advanced medical care and public health education in Tibetan communities in India. While his life's calling has taken him to Karnataka, Dr. Dhondup Tashi also continues to serve the high-altitude Tibetan refugee community in Jangthang, Ladakh, where he was raised, through medical camps and public health awareness programs and initiatives. After specializing in family medicine, Dr. Dhondup Tashi completed three years of rural surgery residency and continued with postgraduate trainings in clinical sonography. Dr. Dhondup Tashi's outstanding role as a public health figure for Tibetan communities in India and in the global diaspora during the COVID-19 crisis is a testament to the civic leadership role that he has passionately taken on. 

Congratulations to Dr. Dhondup Tashi la, and sincere appreciation for your outstanding dedication and commitment to the well-being of underserved communities!