Dr. Vaithehi Rajeevan Francis

I am a mother of two, was born and bred in Jaffna which is in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. My medical education started at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna in 1999 and I obtained my MBBS qualification in 2005. I chose Medical Microbiology for my post graduate studies and got selected at the entrance exam conducted by the post graduate institute of Medicine of the University of Colombo in November 2008. I enjoyed my training as a medical Microbiologist working at tertiary care hospitals in different parts of the Island.  After completing my 6 years of MD training in January 2015, I worked as an acting consultant Microbiologist at the teaching hospital Batticaloa from February to May 2015. I and my husband joined the Faculty of Healthcare sciences of EUSL in May 2015 as Lecturers in Microbiology and Medicine respectively. I am fortunate to continue my clinical Microbiology services at the Teaching Hospital Batticaloa. I love teaching Microbiology and learn a lot from my dear students. I and my husband left the country in July 2016 for our post MD overseas training in Cambridge university hospitals, UK. I am looking forward to coming back and continuing my duties at the department soon.

1. Francis V.R., Elwitigala J.P., De Silva A.D. Rapid detection of rifampicin and isoniacid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture isolates- an evaluation of a line probe assay. Abstract and oral presentation. 23rd Annual academic sessions, Sri Lanka college of Microbiologists, August 2014.

• Hospital acquired infections, antimicrobial resistance, food borne infections and prevention, bacterial genotyping and medical education

• I teach undergraduate medical and nursing students about how microorganisms cause diseases, how to diagnose infections, how to treat and how to prevent.

Professional Experience

• Acting Consultant Microbiologist, Teaching hospital Batticaloa from Feb 2015 to May 2015
• Senior Registrar in Microbiology, Lady Ridgway hospital, Colombo from Aug 2014 to Feb 2015
• Senior Registrar in Microbiology, Colombo South Teaching Hospital from Feb 2014 to Aug 2014
• Registrar in Microbiology, Cancer institute Maharagama from Sept 2013 to Jan 2014
• Registrar in Microbiology, Teaching Hospital Kurunegala from March 2013 to Sept 2013
• Registrar in Microbiology, Lady Ridgway hospital, Colombo from Dec 2012 to Feb 2013
• Registrar in Microbiology, Colombo North teaching hospital from June 2012 to Dec 2012
• Research on molecular diagnosis on TB, NTRL, Welisara from Jan 2012 to May 2012
• Trainee in postgraduate diploma in Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo from June 2011 to Sept 2011
• Trainee in postgraduate diploma in Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya from Jan 2011 to June 2011
• Trainee in postgraduate diploma in Medical Microbiology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo from Nov 2008 to Nov 2009
• Senior house officer in Paediatrics, General Hospital Polonnaruwa from March 2007 to Nov 2008
• Intern house officer in Gynaecology & obstetrics and in Paediatrics from Feb 2006 to Feb 2007.