The Higher Education Review

Health and Education are the basic rights of every citizen, and it applies to everyone equally, to all people, everywhere, without distinction. With a vision of the advancement of religious and charitable objects of public nature, Bhojia Charitable Trust for Science Research and Social Welfare (Regd.) was determined to establish institutions for providing Educational and Medical Facilities in various disciplines besides alleviation of poverty, especially in the northern belts of the country.

The Trust came into existence in June 1997 with its Head Office at Chandigarh and with the above-cherished desire in view, the founder Trustees in their first endeavor set up Bhojia Dental College & Hospital in the year 1999 in the state of Himachal Pradesh. With the vision `Health for all', the private unaided/self-financing institution has been successfully running for over two decades showcasing exclusive excellence in the academic field. Successfully emerging as a premium dental college and hospital of the country, the quality of education and clinical exposure provided by Bhojia Dental College & Hospital is at par with the best possible standards.

An Advanced Platform of Learning & Healthcare
Well-equipped with the advanced teaching aids and equipment, Bhojia Dental College & Hospital boasts to be the first and only dental college to be accredited with NAAC in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Ensuring quality in both education and patient treatment, the institute is empaneled with ESI and H. P. Government, which not only allows an abundant inflow of patients, but also enables the students to actively visualize and learn about various disorder saffecting the head and neck region and treat such disorders in

future. Having a total number of 90 full-time and dedicated faculty members, the students are evaluated and monitored on the basis of regular tests and discussion that are performed in the classroom and clinics. "The students are given practical training and demonstration and after clearing viva they start treating patients. A good flow of OPD patients enables them to treat a variety of patients suffering from different disorders and ultimately they become masters of the subject. Our prolifically skilled faculties give lectures and hand-on practical training in the field of dentistry of different specialties. Moreover, they are the pillars for post-graduates in conducting research and innovative practice", says Vikram Bhojia, Secretary, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital.

“Our prolifically skilled faculties give lectures and hand-on practical training in the field of dentistry of different specialties”

Apart from the lush-green campus furnished with the advanced teaching aids, WIFI connectivity and equipment, the college block consists of lecture theatres equipped with audio-visual learning aids. Bhojia Dental College and Hospital provides every type of dental treatment like major surgeries, dentures, ceramic crowns, gum treatment, restorative treatment, OPG, and Orthodontics treatments. Also, the hospital section has a full-fledged community service department with a fully equipped Mobile Dental Van. The college regularly organizes camps at villages and schools covering remote areas as a regular feature. The college also provides basic infrastructure for carrying out the contemporary research activities and have established a research laboratory in 2018 for such activities. The lab is upgraded with latest equipment and materials every year.

Promoting Research, Innovation & Patient Care
Ensuring the overall development of the students, the institute hosts its annual fest on a regular basis, in which students showcase their talent in extra-curricular activities. The institute has also hosted the First Combined Conference cum Fest of all the dental colleges in the

State of Himachal Pradesh in March 2018. It regularly organizes various CDE programs in which stalwarts of dentistry are invited to speak on a topic of interest for the students and faculty members and various hands-on courses are also conducted for practical demonstration of advanced procedures.

"As a part of BDS curriculum the students have to undergo a mandatory one year rotary internship in the hospital. We, don't provide any collaboration with other hospitals as our own institute has provision for internship, but, if a student wants to undergo internship from some other hospital, it can be done with prior approval of the Dental Council of India and the concerned university", avers Vikram.

Bhojia Dental College and Hospital has completed 22 glorious years and it has come a long way in terms of development, research, innovation and patient care. Initially starting the institute with 60 admissions in BDS course, the institute now has additionally MDS in five specialties namely Prosthodontics (Five seats); Orthodontics (Five seats); Conservative Dentistry (Five seats); Pedodontics (Two seats); Peridontics (Two seats); and Oral Pathology with an annual intake capacity of 21 MDS seats. Bhojia Dental College and Hospital has also collaborated with foreign colleges in Canada, Malaysia and Japan where students from the college can visit foreign institutions to enhance their skills.

Highlighting the future plans of the institution, Vikram says, "The college is duly approved and recognized by Dental Council of India, New Delhi, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi and affiliated to H. P. University, Shimla for its various courses. Now, the college will undergo change in affiliation of university from the session 2020-21 after the establishment of medical university in the state of Himachal Pradesh i.e., Atal Medical and Research University. The college and hospital will soon be undergoing NABH accreditation as well to add another feather in its cap".