Delegate: Dr. D.C. Mathangi
Affiliations: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research
Short Bio: About SRI RAMACHANDRA
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) was established by Sri Ramachandra Educational and Health Trust in the year 1985 as a private not-for-profit self-financing institution and dedicated to serve the society as a centre of excellence with emphasis on medical education, research and health care. Over three decades, the institute has transformed into a full-fledged Deemed to be University with 11 Constituent Colleges offering 114 UG and PG programs in health care sciences.
The university is spread over 150 acres, with a refreshingly green campus. The university is awarded with several national and international accreditations, few of which are below.
- Graded by UGC as Category I University in June 2018 for maintaining consistently high academic standards, among the 11 deemed Universities that have been granted such status in the whole of India.
- Accredited by NAAC (cycle-2) with “A” Grade (CGPA of 3.62 on a 4-point scale).
- The University has achieved the distinction of being placed at the 40th rank among all Universities in India by the MHRD NIRF Ranking 2018.
- Ranked 3rd among category of Technical Institutions by MHRD SWACHHTA RANKING 2017 of Higher Educational Institutions, for maintaining a clean, hygienic and green campus.
Dr.D.C.Mathangi,
Professor and Head, Dept of Mind Body Medicine & Lifestyle Sciences
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai
Dr.Mathangi has teaching and research experience spanning the last 20+ years in Medical institutions in Chennai. She is a doctorate in Medical Physiology with additional qualifications like MBA in Hospital Management, PG diploma in Bioinformatics, PG diploma in Bioethics, etc. She has been a mentor through the various hats she has adorned, as Anti ragging nodal officer, convener of students counseling centre, ECFMG institution co-ordinator and Research coordinator.
Her research thrust has been on stress and sleep with quality publications and significant citations including US Navy and Army, WHO, ILO, etc. She is a member in the editorial board of scientific journals and also a peer reviewer for international journals of repute.
Dr. Mathangi has won several awards including the Young scientist award, Young woman scientist award from the Government of Tamil Nadu, Visiting Scientist award and Raine Visiting Professorship award from University of Western Australia, to mention a few. She is among the few trained in the Leadership Program for Academicians at IISER Kolkata and Harvard University by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Govt. of India.
She has been active in the area of assessment and accreditation by NAAC, UGC and MCI and served as IQAC coordinator for 10 years at Chettinad Academy of Research and Education. She has serves as NAAC Peer Team member as well.
Activity: Food, Physical activity, Stress control and Sleep are identified as the four pillars of health. There is an increased awareness about importance of food, physical activity and stress control worldwide, but there is a dearth of awareness regarding the importance of sleep on health among general population. SRIHER used a multi-pronged approach targeting Schools & College students, health care professionals and staff, through awareness programs, panel discussions, e-poster contests, KAP studies on sleep and sleep hygiene, use of social media to promote sleep hygiene. Through these programs we reached over 300 school students, 350 college students, and 200 delegates for the awareness program. These programs were organized by Departments of Physiology, Mind-Body Medicine & Lifestyle Sciences and Psychiatry.
- Awareness Program:
– Program to create awareness on the importance of sleep and sleep hygiene were conducted in two schools situated in semi urban areas at Government High School, Banuvampet, Vayalanallor and Smt.Sarojini Varadappan Higher Secondary School, Poonamallee. Lectures were given by Prof.Priscilla Johnson, HoD Physiology, Prof.Mathangi, HoD, MBM & LS and Ms.Lavanya, Demonstrator, Physiology. Over 300 students participated actively in these programs. Posters on sleep hygiene were distributed to the school heads for display in the school notice boards. (Visit Dates : 17th & 19th February 2020) - E-Poster contest:
– Students and faculty of SRIHER actively participated in the e-poster contest on the theme Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet. Winners of the e-poster contest were given prizes and certificates - Knowledge Awareness and Practice studies (KAP studies):
– Short research on sleep hygiene and sleep practice among adolescents and early adults are being done through validated questionnaires. Healthcare workers are more exposed to night duties hence more prone for poor sleep hygiene. Hence, sleep hygiene of dental and paramedical wings of SRIHER such as Physiotherapy, Nursing, Pharmacy, Allied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Sports Sciences, Public Health and Nutrition were assessed using PSQI and addressed about the importance of nocturnal sleep for a healthy life.
– Students identified with sleep disturbance are being counseled to consult the sleep physician of SRIHER. At the end of participation in this study, participants are shared with the poster on 10 commandments of sleep hygiene - Effective Use of Social Media to promote sleep hygiene and importance of sleep:
– Social Media Handle of SRIHER publicized widely on the facebook & Instagram Handle of the institute on the importance of sleep and sleep hygiene practice.
– Posters were specially designed by the communications team of the university.
– Posters shared by the World Sleep Society were also displayed on these social media handles
– Staff and students of Mind Body Medicine & Lifestyle Sciences used the sleep hygiene poster as their WhatsApp status which garnered wider reach and appreciation from the viewers for the useful share on importance of sleep - World Sleep Day Celebrations:
– On 13th of March, the awareness program on Sleep was conducted in SRIHER with theme ‘Better sleep, Better life, Better planet’. A total of 235 delegates participated in the event and got enlightened about the importance of sleep
– The celebrations included display of the posters in strategic locations of the university on the importance of sleep.
– A Panel discussion was conducted with specialists from Physiology, Mind-body medicine, Psychiatry, General Medicine, Chest Medicine and Dentistry. Experts discussed on various aspects of sleep starting from why we sleep, importance of sleep, circadian rhythm, jet lag, night shift, memory and cognition, sleep apnea, etc. The session gave clarity to the delegates and impressed on them on the importance of sleep.
– As ‘Prevention is better than cure’, Dr. Manimegalai, Lecturer in Yoga made a presentation on use of ‘Yoga for sleep’ and students of Mind Body and Lifestyle Sciences demonstrated the various yoga postures. - Entire program was conducted with the overwhelming support of the management, Vice Chancellor, Dean and other administrative heads of the institution.
Location: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Porur, Chennai, India
Date of Activity: 17th & 19th February & 13th March 2020
Submitted By: Dr. D.C. Mathangi
Awareness Program
Government High School, Banuvampet, Vayalanallor and Smt. Sarojini Varadappan Higher Secondary School, Poonamallee (Visit Dates: 17th & 19th February 2020)
E-Poster Contest
Effective Use of Social Media to promote sleep hygiene and importance of sleep
World Sleep Day Celebrations
On the 13th of March, the awareness program on Sleep was conducted in SRIHER with theme ‘Better sleep, Better life, Better planet’. A total of 235 delegates participated in the event and were enlightened about the importance of sleep
Inaugural Ceremony & Delegates of the World Sleep Day program
Dr. Sathianathan, Professor & Head, Psychiatry, welcomed the gathering and briefed the significance of the program
Dr. P.V. Vijaraghavan, Vice Chancellor, SRIHER, addressing the gathering
Dr. Ananthan, Dean, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, addressing the gathering on the importance of sleep
Dr. Vijayalakshmi Thanasekaraan, Advisor-SRCWA and Senior Consultant in Pulmonology, addressing the gathering on the importance of sleep apnea and its identification, especially to the vehicle drivers
Dr. D.C. Mathangi, Professor & Head, Mind Body Medicine & Lifestyle Sciences, delivering the brief report on the activities done in commemoration of World Sleep Day
Dr. Priscilla Johnson, Prof. & Head, Physiology, delivered the Vote of Thanks
Dr. K.V. Somasundaram, Professor of Eminence and Academic Advisor distributing the prizes for E-Poster winners
Panel Discussion on importance and impact of sleep by experts: Dr. Priscilla Johnson-HoD, Physiology; Dr. Sathianathan-HoD, Psychiatry; Dr. Preetam Arthur, Professor, General Medicine; Dr. Dhanasekaran, Professor of Chest Medicine; Dr. Sridevi, Professor of Orthodondics; Moderator: Dr. D.C. Mathangi-HoD, MBM & LS
Dr. Manimegalai, Lecturer in Yoga, impressed upon the audience on the benefits of yoga on the quality of sleep through her lecture and demonstration of the same by students of Mind Body & Lifestyle Sciences
