Auto driver’s daughter to receive most medals at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences convocation in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Spandhana I, a former bachelor of physiotherapy student from Padmashree Institute of Physiotherapy, remembers her class 12 days. It was Covid times. She wanted to do something in the medical field, but her parents were adamant that she should not.

“They were scared to send me to the medical field. But I was persistent. I managed to get into a physiotherapy course along with a close friend,” she said. She is currently pursuing her master's in physiotherapy and neuroscience in Ramaiah Medical College.Spandhana will now walk out as the winner of the highest number of gold medals at the 28th annual convocation of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The convocation will be held on June 16 at the Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad International Conventional Centre, GKVK campus.Originally from Nagarbhavi, her father Indresh M is an auto driver and mother Girija B runs a provisional store. Her elder sister is a software engineer. “The scope of physiotherapy has gone up as people are also aware of its advantages,” she said.Spandhana did not attend separate coaching for CET, but secured a rank in the 200s through her lectures in RNS Vidyaniketan.Medicine is purpose-driven career: MBBS graduateThe second in line is Dr Prajwal Kashyap, who completed his MBBS from Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute.

He will receive two gold medals and two cash prizes. “I feel medicine is a purpose-driven career. In spite of so many hardships like long working hours, at the end of the day, when you make a difference in a person’s life, you know it was worth it,” he said. Prajwal is currently preparing for his NEET PG and hopes to get into general medicine.Dentistry was plan B but now in love with itBrinda MK, a dental student at SJM Dental College and Hospital, Chitradurga, recalled how BDS was plan B after MBBS, but she has fallen in love with the profession over the years.

“The satisfaction that we get after treating a patient and relieving their pain is great,” she said. She is awaiting counselling for MDS.A total of 103 students shared 115 gold medals and of these, 82 are girls and 19 boys.The university has a record pass percentage of 89.22%, a jump from 87.49% in 2025 and 82.43% in 2024. Dr Bhagavan BC, vice-chancellor, attributed it to the changes in the examination, teaching and curriculum.

“We have upgraded the curriculum for the current developments in the medical field and have implemented competency-based education (CBE),” he said.BOX:No. of candidatesTotal: 72,741 Undergraduate: 62,419 Postgraduate: 9,761PhD: 71Super speciality: 211Postgraduate diploma: 8Fellowships: 256Certificate courses: 15Pass percentages of some courses:MBBS: 89.47%BDS: 82.82%Nursing: 91.12%BAMS: 78.84%BHMS: 95.7%BNYS: 98.67%