Kerala doctor earns MD degree alongside son on 60th birthday; studied own authored textbook

New Delhi: A father and son who both share a passion for letters and learning have achieved a historic milestone by graduating with their medical postgraduate degrees together. Following his ‘shashtipoorthi’ (sixtieth birthday), poet JKS Veettoor alias Dr Jeemon K Sam earned his MD in Physiology from Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, while his son Dr Prince secured his MD in Community Medicine from Pushpagiri Medical College, Thiruvalla.

Adding to the prestige of the achievement, Dr Jeemon's course syllabus included his own textbook, ‘Essence of Human Physiology’.

Re-entering academic life at the age of 57 after clearing the entrance examination, Dr Jeemon and his son completed their studies during the same period – a rare feat in the medical field.

When Dr Prince was pursuing his MBBS at Kolenchery Medical College, his father served as his Physiology lecturer. Dr Jeemon benefited from the decision taken in 2022 to raise the upper age limit for writing the MD entrance examination from 45 years. Securing a high rank in the entrance test, he enrolled for his MD in Thiruvananthapuram in 2023.

He had previously completed his MBBS from Alappuzha Medical College between 1988 and 1993, while Dr Prince earned his MBBS from Kolenchery.

Hailing from Veettoor near Muvattupuzha, Dr Jeemon has authored 16 books under the pen name JKS Veettoor, including eight poetry collections, four short story collections, and a ‘Mahakavya’ (epic poem). He has received numerous awards, and his poems have been included in school textbooks.

“It was a matter of great curiosity for the professors when they taught my own textbook to me. The joy of earning an MD alongside my son is beyond words,” said Dr Jeemon K Sam, noting that his decades of practical teaching experience made answering application-based exam questions easier.

“I grew up under the shadow of my father's invincible willpower. Being able to receive my degree alongside him is the greatest award of my life,” said Dr Prince K Sam.