Dr. William Cutting and his family members at the historic CSI Campbell Mission Hospital in Jammalamadugu, Kadapa district, which he visited after more than 60 years, where he served as a doctor from 1961 to 1973. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Dr. William Cutting and his family members at the historic CSI Campbell Mission Hospital in Jammalamadugu, Kadapa district, which he visited after more than 60 years, where he served as a doctor from 1961 to 1973. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The 130-year-old CSI Campbell Hospital, one of the first missionary medical institutions founded by the British, came alive with activity as it welcomed back its renowned pediatrician, Dr. William Cutting who served the people of Jammalamadugu and surrounding villages from 1961 to 1973.
Now 93-year-old Dr. Cutting — fondly called Cutting Dora (The Master) — returned to the hospital where he began his career as a young doctor in 1961. He quickly won the affection of parents who brought their children for treatment, and his name became synonymous with care and compassion in the region.
The historic hospital, founded in 1896 by the Irish medical missionary Dr. By Thomas Vincent Campbell under the auspices of the London Missionary Society, it was a landmark in Rayalaseema for a long time. Dr. Campbell and his wife Dr. Florence Gertrude set the standard in healthcare, first through mobile clinics before setting up modern facilities.
On Friday, Dr. Cutting to Campbell Hospital accompanied by his son Dr. Colin Cutting, urologist, his daughter Katrina Allen, head nurse, son-in-law Peter Allen and granddaughter Beth Cutting. The hospital staff gave them a warm welcome and in the evening a gala event was held in honor of Dr. Cutting for his outstanding service.
Dr. Cutting is credited with developing Campbell Hospital’s “Pathway to Health” chart, a simple but ingenious tool for tracking a child’s growth. Originally designed to combat malnutrition at the local level, this chart attracted worldwide attention in the 1960s and 1970s and was eventually adopted by the World Health Organization and UNICEF as the gold standard. He left Jammalamadugu in 1973 to serve international health bodies and later lead HIV research in Uganda.
“I went back to see where it all started,” said Dr. Cutting as he walked through the hospital wards. Overwhelmed by the love she showed him and his family, he recalled, “I came to Jammalamadugu as a young man in 1961. With the encouragement of Dr. Ratnaraj, I further trained in Vellore and served as a paediatrician for 12 years. Now I have returned with my family to visit the hospital where I began my medical career.”
Hospital Superintendent Augustine Raju noted that the protocols set by Dr. Cutting remains the basis of neonatal care today. Former Air Force officer Maram Reddy Yohan recalled how Dr. Cutting and Dr. Somerville transformed rural healthcare in the Jammalamadugu area in the 1960s and 1970s. News of his arrival drew villagers to the hospital, including residents of S. Uppalapadu, who fondly remembered bringing their children to him decades ago.
Incidentally, late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy was born in the same hospital and also served as a doctor shortly after graduation before starting his own medical institution in Pulivendula.
Published – 14 Feb 2026 21:21 IST