Dean, College of Nursing
Professor of Adult Health Nursing
MSN
PhD
Prof. Selva Titus Chacko
Prof. Selva Titus Chacko, a distinguished nurse educator and visionary leader, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore a renowned institution in India in 1982 and completed her master’s in Medical-Surgical Nursing with a sub-specialization in Critical Care in 1992. She began her career as a staff nurse, and tutor in CMC, later serving as Principal of a rural School of Nursing in Tamil Nadu before re-joining CMC as a Lecturer in 1995.
Her clinical and academic journey spans over 35 years, progressing from Lecturer to Professor. She held dual roles, with an academic position in the College of Nursing and as the Nurse Manager for Oncology and Haematology wards of CMC, Vellore. Driven by a strong interest in Oncology and Haematology Nursing, she completed a 3-year specialized training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia (1998–2001), and was instrumental in establishing the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at CMC, now a leading centre in India. She earned her Doctorate in Haematology Nursing from The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University in 2014, focusing on infection prevention in immunocompromised hematology patients.
Prof. Chacko has held significant administrative roles including Registrar, Additional Deputy Dean, Deputy Dean, and served as Dean of the College of Nursing, CMC Vellore (2014–2019). As Dean, she fostered international collaborations with institutions in the USA, UK, Scotland, and Sweden, initiated faculty/student exchange programs, and hosted hundreds of national and international students annually. Under her leadership, the College was re-designated twice as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery. She also served as Executive Committee Member for the SEARO region of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres (2016–2020) and contributed to cancer care research in the region.
As an active academician, she has served on Boards of Studies in Nursing in India and contributed to curriculum revision and has been active in policy changes at the national level. She also has served, as an examiner for Master’s and Doctoral programs. She was the Vice-President and President of the Nursing Research Society of India (2012–2020) and was also the Chair of the Nurses League of the Christian Medical Association of India, significantly contributing to curriculum development. Passionate about nursing education, she has worked to integrate education and practice, mentor students and faculty, and empower healthcare professionals.
In 2024, she was awarded the Fellowship by Ad Eundem by the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Nursing and Midwifery.