The Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) Medical Trust was established in 1979. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade , it was founded with the mission to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare to communities across Karnataka.Since its inception, trust stands as a symbol of service, committed to improving community health and well-being. With a strong commitment to service, Dharmasthala Medical Trust works towards building a healthier and more inclusive society.
Today the Trust is guided by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala and President of the SDME Society. A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour — in 2015, Dr. Heggade has spent decades expanding the Trust's reach across education, healthcare and community welfare throughout Karnataka, while remaining personally involved in the smallest details that affect the quality of care and instruction delivered under its name.
Guided by the belief that its work should transform the individual and, through that individual, the wider world, the Trust today oversees a wide network of colleges, schools, hospitals and research institutions. SDM Eye Hospital draws on this same foundation of trust, discipline and service — bringing advanced ophthalmic care to Mangaluru under the same values that have guided the SDM name for nearly sixty years.
