Ambajogai is a taluka place in Beed District of Marathwada region in the state of Maharashtra, situated at a height of 2200 feet above the sea level, with pleasant weather all round the year.
During Nizam's rule, Ambajogai was a Cavalry Head Quarters, that was dissolved after independence from Hyderabad State.
The area occupied by Cavalry remained vacant. To make the best use of it, the Government of Hyderabad started a small T.B. Sanatorium on the premises of the old Cavalry building units. Following the realignment of states on language basis this region was included in Maharashtra state. Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Beed, Nanded and Parbhani from the former Nizam's rule were incorporated in marathwada region of state of Maharashtra.
First Government Medical College in Marathwada region was started at Aurangabad in 1956. Aurangabad happened to be at the extreme corner of Marathwada region and thus could not meet the requirements of this region.
After years of public agitation, the concept of a Rural Medical College at Ambajogai, which is a central place for Marathwada region was accepted by the Government of Maharashtra and was cleared by the Planning Commission in 1974.
Ambajogai town was selected for this purpose because of its pleasant weather, its central location in Marathwada and large number of building and vast premises left behind by the Cavalry.
The various departments and hospital wards were housed in the converted and modified Horse Stables. The hospital was upgraded to accommodate 350 indoor patients and the medical college was started with intake capacity of 50 undergraduate students. It was named after the leader of independence struggle against Nizam's rule, Swami Ramanand Teerth.
Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Medical College, Ambajogai is the First Rural Medical College in Asia. Dr. V.K. Dawale, FRCS was the founder Dean of this Medical College. His dream, dedication and efforts of starting a medical college in this rural area finally came true.
The first batch of 50 students was admitted in the month of July 1975 and passed out in 1979. The Medical Council of India Inspection Team was impressed at the performance of the students and therefore pleased to give recognition to this college, even before the 1st batch of M.B.B.S. students passed out. The Post-Graduate courses in various subjects were also started with the permission of Government of Maharashtra and Medical Council of India. The first batch of Post-Graduates came out in 1981.In year 1998, the bed strength of hospital was increased to 500.
As on today almost all the disciplines run the post-graduate courses which are recognized by MCI. Large scale Silver Jubilee Year Celebration was held in the year 2000 on completion of 25 years of this institution.
New College building was completed in year 2008, and Deans Office, Pre and Para-Clinical Departments have been shifted in the new building.New Residents Hostel of capacity 124 rooms has been completed in year 2009 and now providing accommodation to the Resident Doctors from Jan 2010.New hospital building (Medicine Unit) was completed in year 2007, and Dept of Paediatric, ICU unit, Medicine Unit have been shifted there.Construction for the New 230 bedded hospital (Surgical Unit) is in progress and will be completed in near future.